Optimal digital cable length -- science or voodoo?


I'm doing research toward purchase of a new 75-ohm digital cable to feed a DAC, and I am coming across claims that the "optimal" length for a digital cable is 1.5 meters. Some even claim that, given the exact same brand and model of cable, there's a significant audible difference between a 1-meter and 1.5 meter length. Can an extra half-meter make any improvement? Is there science behind this claim, or is it just voodoo?
jhold

Showing 1 response by tobias

It doesn't have to be expensive to test this claim, if you're skeptical.

After reading Steve Nugent's white paper, I used Apogee Wyde Eye and made up two cables, in 1-metre and 1.5-metre lengths, using Canare connectors and silver solder.

(Apogee Wyde Eye is one of the best-regarded inexpensive digital cables and was a Stereophile recommended component. Canare connectors are also inexpensive.)

I listened to the same music, using one of these cables each time. I did this with a pal, first in his system and next in my own. IIRC he was using a Theta transport and a Kora Hermes DAC with Siemens cca tubes. My own system was a TEAC T1 and an Apogee DA-1000E-20 at the time.

In either system, we both felt there was no doubt that the longer cable provided increased resolution. Instrument locations were more defined, soundstage height / width / depth were improved, timbres were more complex and natural.

I reported these results to UHF Magazine. They ran the test that Mr. Nugent refers to above, and as a result no longer recommend any cable length but 1.5 metres.