Depends on what digital you are talking about.
S/PDIF coax is very sensitive to cabling because the jitter of the signal is affected. Jitter causes frequency modulation distortion on the output of the D/A, so it must be minimized.
USB is also sensivie to the cable for all types of interfaces because of either jitter, RF or common-mode noise.
Here are some guidelines for S/PDIF coax:
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue14/spdif.htm
In general, if a cable is built to the correct impedance, uses good silver conductors and teflon or expanded teflon insulation, it will be a decent cable. these types of cable are not cheap, usually $400 and up.
Cables like USB or firewire to an external drive do not factor into the D/A so they are only data and having really low jitter does not matter. Likewise for Ethernet cables.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio
S/PDIF coax is very sensitive to cabling because the jitter of the signal is affected. Jitter causes frequency modulation distortion on the output of the D/A, so it must be minimized.
USB is also sensivie to the cable for all types of interfaces because of either jitter, RF or common-mode noise.
Here are some guidelines for S/PDIF coax:
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue14/spdif.htm
In general, if a cable is built to the correct impedance, uses good silver conductors and teflon or expanded teflon insulation, it will be a decent cable. these types of cable are not cheap, usually $400 and up.
Cables like USB or firewire to an external drive do not factor into the D/A so they are only data and having really low jitter does not matter. Likewise for Ethernet cables.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio