Optimal lengths for USB and Ethernet cabling for digital audio


Hello, I have learned over the years that for coax digital cables, like those with RCA or BNC ends should be 1.5-2 meters in length to avoid some digital reflections being transmitted. Does this apply to USB cables and Ethernet cables that carry music in data form when a person uses those types of cables from network to DAC or streamer or from a streamer to DAC?

It seems to me the USB or Ethernet cables have more specific wires in them, and they carry power and computer communications data in those wires along with the digital music signal, but that may be, they still carry the music that will be decoded later.

troidelover1499

Showing 1 response by lordmelton

USB 1.5m with seperate output tails, most DACs don't need USB power so tape over pin 1 in the output power tail, or pin 1 if it's an ordinary single cable.

USB cables offer two way communication so length is an issue.

My system uses Ethernet cables between 0.4m and 1.2m, shorter seems better but I haven't done any critical experiments.