Looking for a Giant Killer Digital cable

Chris Somoviggo makes some of the best and best value true 75ohm cables there are -- his current entry level SilverStar is $222 but you could look for one of his products used (although I don't see any of the entry level currently out there)

@blindjim --sorry the link I provided didn't work --  here it is in ugly format
https://blackcatcable.com/products/c-silverstar-75-mk2-spdif

Chris’ original cable with Black Cat (and one to look for used) was the Veloce
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/blackcat/veloce.html

@blindjim thanks for the good summary of your experience

Through 30 years experience in digital my realization has been that while cables do make a big difference the initial and dominant factor is choice of interface itself. S/PDIF is about the worse possible platform for carrying digital data. In my experience (most recently with dCS stacks) there is a clear hierarchy (assume here we are carrying 16/44.1, of course the latter several formats can also carry DSD and higher rate PCM)

S/PDIF (TOS) -> S/PDIF (RCA)->AES3->FireWire (presumably also other similar proprietary HDMI based formats)->Dual AES/EBU

In any configuration a step up in cables will bring benefit but generally lesser cables in a better interface will outperform better cables on a less stable interface.

Of course with your Oppo you only have S/PDIF so this is moot but even so changing the cable will make a difference. I do wonder however if there is any way of using the HDMI out (audio only) - presumably this is primarily provided for multi-channel but I suspect this may be a superior stereo interface, it could be worth exploring.

.... Also as you are no doubt aware the cable itself will be directional

The only 75Ohm cables in my current setup are those carrying the clocks -- which is actually a tough proposition and very cable sensitive. Going from AQ Eagle Eye to Transparent Ref XL was a substantial step up. For my most recent addition of a 10MHz master I used a Marigo 75Ohm cable and was a) again amazed at the step up from a generic BNC but b) most surprised at how different it sounded one way round rather than another

@audioengr I have no reason to disagree with you that S/PDIF cannot perform well if properly implemented -- but my comment related to consumer implementations with RCA or TOS termination, not a true 75ohm BNC -- if we assume you cannot get a true 75ohm out of an RCA ... I wonder why more manufacturers don't get it right, maybe as those that care that much are including S/PDIF on RCA as a convenience and prefer you use AES3 or some other method?