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What is the optimum rca digital cable length?????

Hello,
I've been looking to buy some used digital cables to experiment with my system. My line of thinking has always been the shorter the cable, the better the sound, for all my cable applications. A fellow Audiogoner with lots of knowledge recently corrected me and told me for rca digital cables, 1.5 meters was optimum. He explained that in a 0.5m cable the signal has to many reflections, and when you get much past 2m, the signal arrives out of phase. Can anyone enlighten me with their expertise, as I'd like to KNOW before I start shelling out DOE!
Thanks A'goners
dudeaudio
dudeaudio

Showing 1 response by seandtaylor99

seandtaylor99
1,262 posts
 
Sean is absolutely correct. With perfect impedance matching shortest is best, as it usually is with all non-RF cables.
If the impedances are not perfect then I'm afraid you'll need about $50,000 of test equipment (an RF network analyzer) and the answer will be good only for your specific DAC and transport, and will vary if you change either. Not good, eh !?
It's probably easier to compare a few and pick one you like best.
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