2. digital
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Length of digital cable?

Picking up where I left off a year ago, somewhere on the net I ran into a recommended length of 18 ft of digital cable between transport and D/A converter. Various lengths were discussed and one source was very confident of the 18 ft length to successfully resolve jitter. And the Beldon 1694A was recommended. For $30+ or whatever I gave it a shot and was surprised by the quality of sound, and I swear on a stack of owners' manuals that this length with this brand of cable resolves jitter. The sound is rock solid gorgeous.

The Beldon lies behind the system mostly in a coil, and I think coils are probably not ideal. I'm wondering if anyone has found a shorter length that works. Al suggested 8", but I was unable to make it work because the components aren't close enough. I know that 1 ft" doesn't work and that 1 meter doesn't work.

Part 2: Does length of ethernet from computer to avr also affect jitter? My sister who is a computer person and not an audio person set up my avr with computer using cat 5. The sound quality is bad. I'd like to get good sound quality with computer as source down the road but need advice on how to get it.
arnettpartners

Showing 4 responses by ps68

ps68
230 posts
 
We found that the shorter the better if the cable is well designed. I use 40cm, it is astoundingly detailed and tonally very accurate..
ps68
230 posts
 
Although BNC would theoretically be preferable to RCA connection, there is actually next to no audible difference between an spdif using either. Steve mentions that the BNC must be designed for a particular cable, which frankly is a dubious statement. The connectors 'are what they are', and the cable that exists to connect them together should offer as close to the 75ohm Zo as is possible, which is not difficult. If using RCA connectors, the shorter the better, i.e. Furutech FP126, and designing the cable to terminate at 75ohms exactly can make a perfect match. Using adaptors also makes little difference, both on a scope and audibly. Saying that, I do agree that more equipment manufacturers could do with offering them.
Cable length should not be an issue if the said cable is an exact impedance match for the output and input, as refections should not occur. Cable length is an issue in mismatched impedances though. As I mentioned earlier, I use 40cm of my own design, which offers one of the cleanest, detailed and most spacious and unfatiguing sounds we have heard from many digital cables, which are in fact just high speed analog signals really anyway. It is most likely that there may be system limitations that would mask the subtleties of the true sonic differences between connection options.

Best Rgds,
Paul.
ps68
230 posts
 
Hi Camb,

Thank you, it all depends on the cable design, termination, and transmission and receiver circuits. In our tests, the audible results are superior with a specific design over short lengths, which also minimises potential interference from all the mass of power cables etc usually found behind a system. What would be the shortest you could use?

Rgds,
Paul.
ps68
230 posts
 
Cam,

It would be an interesting shoot out, the IC you have has a reputation for excellence!

Rgds
Paul.
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