@folkfreak
Appreciate the thoughtful insights and personal EXP accounts. Very cool.
ULTIMATELY I FOUND THRU THESE PAGES AND OTHERS, bnc AND aes WERE BETTER INTERFACES. SOME INTERESTING GEAR HOWEVER DID NOT ALWAYS provide both or either. Then many digital devices began hanging their hats onto USB conversion to get past or beyond PC Sound cards. Albeit I had quite good results using the likes of Lynx or a Hammer (??). I still enjoy what the Lynx AES 16 express brings to the what ever DAC it feeds, even though the AES cable is quite low on the food chain. Gotham.
Presently it seems the streaming fascination has exploded in my absence and much press says the inherent bug a boos of USB have been soundly addressed to the point USB has once more become a solid avenue for data transference.
I’m still residing in the camp of Ethernet to the streamer thingy but would then prefer the conduit du jour either be AES or BNC at the what ever dAC side.
RE directional cable
Every cable I’ve ever owned is directional.
Each one goes DIRECTLY from one conection to another. No stops in between. No detours. Picture taking. No Autograph seeking. No Chucky Cheese and definitely no loitering.
With luck, we’ll see first hand on several accounts in due time. Thanks.
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@lowrider57
lol
blindjim > organics are key. Thereafter, imaging. Is the
Aren't we looking for these attributes in the rest of our system?
Thank you. yes. Of course.
That brief insight on tones and presentation is the bar I hold for any thing entering and remaining in my main audio system. Albeit, the usual arbiter is its affordability and just as with any long term relationship compromises eventually find their way into the equation due to financial constraints.
Fortunately, I’ve been able to put together outfits which demonstrate loads of ‘they are here’ or I am there events, without inordinately reducing the on hand listening catalog. Music listening for me is a devotion, not a discipline. Music making? That is where discipline is unavoidable.
… and yep. It do take a while some times.
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tommylion
fascinating. Many thanks.
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wloeb
I am very grateful. Tanks.
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roxy54
OK. I’m thinking I’m sold. Actually on a couple two or three wires mentioned here.
Very nice. Huge thanks.
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@ghosthouse
Thanks. I have a BNC by Oyiade 1.3M I like a lot. Full and smooth while being extended and with quite sufficient bottom end.
I’ll look into what’s up with them currently. Thanks again. Good call.
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@akg_ca
Natch! But ya gotta get in where ya fit in sometimes too.
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david_ten
yeah. Mostly. PM me. I’ll fill ya in.
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@folkfreak
I recall that name. was he behind the Streovox ultra thin steel cables? I bought one of those and it was OK. a tad edgy back then but did well with most well done recordings. It sat on my USB to BNC stick thingy. Hell, I can’t even recall what its name is. Hahaha
The Oyiade BNC wire replaced it eventually.
> $200 though, is gonna be off limits for me I think for this particular operation..
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@folkfreak
would you mind including a link to Chris’ cable?
Thanks.
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@tgrisham
Thank you.
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@audioengr
Hey steve….
Wow. Very cool. Many thanks. Especially for the link. They are always definitely tremendously appreciated.
Maybe I should rethink this budget and or wait a wee bit more to get something better. Albeit, less jitter ain’t the whole dance. Definitely interesting though.
Thanks immensely.
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@jayctoy
Very much appreciated. Tanks.
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Things invariably change with tiome. Its good to see input on wires one doesn’t have to use a helicopter with a large electromagnet, a semi tractor trailer, and laughing gas, to pilfer an armored truck in order to afford one.
The semi, high speed drills, and gas are easy. Finding a helicopter pilot that ain’t finicky … and has skills…. now there is the trick.
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folkfreak
got it. cool. Many thanks.
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@audioengr
That’s better. Wasn’t able to see exactly which wire you refered to in the previous Link.
Can’t RCA termination maintain the 75Ohm protocol?
The flexibility from B.. to R.. is attractive, but I’d prefer the most stable, better performer per se, than a one size fits all solution. Usually.
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soix
excellent. Huge thanks. Having something is better than having not something. It breeds freedom and nonchalance, making the hunt a stroll rather than a gallop..
that’s the one! I had the v2 as well. Cool.
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yping
considerable thanks.
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As this particular item gets dedicated for RCA to RCA digital 75 ohm use, it should be self evident the proposition leans heavily onto convenience with performance attributes being slightly less important.
For one, its merely an Oppo universal format player and used in an HT array where audio is a supportive element more so than the star.
Only streaming audio and CDs with 16/44 is getting passed out via SPDIF anyhow. Unless it will as well pass higher sampling rates with HD audio files. Hmmm. Dunno.
Consequently, throwing wads of dough into this bucket just makes little sense to me.
There is little sense in putting a $4,000 trailer hitch on a 1980 F 150 300 cid Pickup that hauls around bee hives, lawn debris and the occasional building supplies. Right?
Right. Although, YRMV.
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@carmenc
Agreed. Tanks.
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@audioengr
Wow. Good to know.
Got any compunction to explain why?
Your input is always valued and appreciated. Tanks much.
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@uberwaltz
Thanks. I agree on some wires not palying well with various setups. Funny how that works. I refer to when a certain thing is either working or not working out well as the FM circuit. F*****g Mystery ckt.
It do happen! Tanks a lot.
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@roxy54
Certainly exciting news!?
I would echo other comments asking for subjective or anecdotal appraisals of the cable’s sonic and presentation attributes if you please.
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@auxinput
Great info! Very thoughtful! Definitely interested.
Big thanks.
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Sorry if I missed anyone.
Its odd that something of a consensus seems to be materializing on the disparity between modest or moderately priced SPDIF conducting cables and those costing far, far, more. It is in fact my own EXP as well.
In years past, I auditioned some SOTA wires costing upwards of $1200 vs those of $100, to $500. Naturally it was system dependant in that all were rolled into and out of one particular point for data transference, Sony XA 777 to Bel Canto DAC 3. Later on as the link from sound upper end cards and or Hiface to the same BC D3.
In each instance tone, musicality and special cue disparities were readily observed.
However, those beyond or above the then modest cost of $200 and under were tuff to totally beat in overall performance..
For my concerns, organics are key. Thereafter, imaging. Is the note being propelled more by the steel strings of the banjo or guitar and the resonance of the instrument itself? Is the sound of brass all about its leading edge demonstration or is the timber of its notes honest and musical? Is there note development and decay? Does it simply feel right sounding or off, or exaggerated??
That said, I regularly prefer as transparent a reproduction as possible so long as it is not fatiguing.
I feel things are right when my head quits questioning this or that all the time a tune plays and my knee is bobing up and down, or a smile gets plastered on my face during the listening session..
Although…. I have unerringly experienced in a very familiar system owned by a friend, that one unobtainium cable ($2K plus) can unquestionably place itself way above many when auditioning several dACs in a casual DAC comparison some time ago. I wrote about this instance in a former review I posted on these pages 5 or 6 years back. the SPDIF link fed from a Wavelength USB to SPDIF converter and it handed data off to the then most recent iteration of the Bel Canto D3.1 or .2. can’t recall exactly now.
Without controversy from the crowd, that array once feeding the audio system was simply and utterly goose bumpy impressive playing the same well known files all were familiarized with during the session. Whoa.
The degree of virtual ‘reality’ was not even close. It must be said too, the Wavelength, BC D3.1, arrangement overall was the most expensive setup of the three DACs being auditioned.
Was it indeed the SPDIF link? Gordon’s USB to SPDIF Brick? The BC D3.1? whatever carried the day, hauled it off without regrets!
The other DACS were Mitner USB DSD DAC, and a Berkley USB DAC. See account for more details.
Naturally then I’ve been convinced there is something to the notion of cabling expenses contributing to increasing system performance.
And certainly, the setup itself really, really does matter.
This bottom line remains, is it justifiable? Further, is it in your world, then doable?
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@tom_hankins
Hmmm. Did not know the Carbon was available as a SPDIF. Thought it was just a USB wire. Good.
Do you feel the Carbon is similar in either respect, USB or SPDIF, acoustically or sonically speaking of course?
Thanks.
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aolprodj
thank you for your input.
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Some time back, there was much to do about the length of digital cables. The upshot of it all was that 1.5M (6ft) cables were the prime choice for ANY likewise application.
In fact, this desired or presumed length of 6ft. began expressing itself as the golden rule length for analog cables too.
Does this still hold true? Or has the current advancements in jitter correction within the devices addressed this to the point of making one particular length vs another, irrelevant to the conversation? Thanks.
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@auxinput
Impressive.
Certainly appreciated. Thanks.
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@in_shore > Anyway I find this cable subject interesting especially Audioengr comments and test results which got me to order his reference coax cable .
Blindjim > I’ll echo the need for you to clue us in on your subjective appraisals of the reference wire.
Plese. Thanks.
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@lowrider57
Thoughtful.
Many Thanks.
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@teo_audio
Thanks for the input.
Jim will need something else….
10 – 4!
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Yep. I’m still here.
I’ve decided to get a couple wires and some BNC to RCA adapters for my Oyaide BNC cable and do a wee comparison test among the three. One of the new wires is decided. The other one is still a question mark, but the dust is settling.
Although the Oyaide BNC on site is a 1.3M (4.27ft) cable, I’ll shoot for lengths of 1.5M (4.92ft). the application in this case simply does not warrant more investment IMHO.
Stay tuned for feedback on things going forward. Hopefully this will not turn out to be a matter of preferred differences, rather than improved performance given the constraints of the associated gear at this interval. We’ll see.
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@in_shore
My curiosity grows on the PSA WAVE setup. Albeit, given the biz with DSD vs all other formats, I believe I’ll aim for merely Red Book playback DACs. If they have more attributes or support more BR and SR then fine.
Have you found via comparison sake, between two identical titles, one off SACD disc, one streamed via the I2S one is best on all accounts?
That question seems loaded, as there are a few variables, but generally speaking if the I2 and USB cables in play are the exact same level from the same maker, it should be a close enough experiment I would suspect.
LowRider
RE “its great with video”
At $700, it ought to be. I’ve found too merely adding a nice upscale Power Cord on the rendering device vastly improved the video. Good to very good will suffice for my needs, its mostly for company or a date night anyhow. I tend to use the Narrative Audio track now on many BR discs. Using this optional audio track, it is almost like old time radio. Most things are verbally explained during the film by a separate voice. Even in the chasing, combat, and fighting scenes. Description rests in between the standard dialog.
It’s a brave new world sports fans!
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@mr_m
Thanks. Yeah. I did not mention optical on purpose. Although I’ve had somewhat similar results to your own with various low end TOS links.
One issue arises in what your post says… ‘glass’.
It is my understanding the glass refers to a different connector or interface than simpler TOS cables.
Is this your own EXP with the one you mention? Did it come with adapters if so?
With various iterations of el cheapo TOS links from the early ‘s, $20 - $40, the sound was hard on most discs, and from CATV boxes via bit stream except for greater sampling rates above 44K.
Surprisingly, a 6ft TOS I picked up at Wally World in a pinch eased up the stern presentations of the shorter thinner 1M links from Best buy or online outlets. In fact that wally cable became my go to TOS for CATV boxes and Megga CD changers. $15 I think.
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Thanks to all. Especially teo_audio & Steve N.
Furthermore, many thanks to those whose comparisons have been included so far.
I’m sorry I’ve not been paying more strick or timely attention of late.
I’ve been learning the UDP 203 and thus far am pleasantly impressed. I’m bringing in two wires next week to begin the trials. Figured it a decent idea to get the 203 a bit of time spinning discs and integrating . it into the present bare bones outfit. Everything has been sitting idle for months as I’ve been leaning on the personal confuser and headphones or a pair of so soLogitech desktop speakers for any listening.
That is, of course, in between Dr visits and Atty visits, and as well I’ve been learning to play my new/used Kurzweil Model Pc88 88 key and controller
keyboard. The keyboard needs a better powered speaker for sure, but for now its good enough.
BTW.. any and all anecdotal info is welcome regarding RCA or TOS links. As well, subjective user accounts in terms of A ‘versus’ B comparisons are quite welcome too!
Ya simply don’t know what ya don’t know! Until you do. End user input always helps. Consequently so does maker feedback!
Many many thanks.
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