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Why do digital cables sound different?

I have been talking to a few e-mail buddies and have a question that isn't being satisfactorily answered this far. So...I'm asking the experts on the forum to pitch in. This has probably been asked before but I can't find any references for it. Can someone explain why one DIGITAL cable (coaxial, BNC, etc.) can sound different than another? There are also similar claims for Toslink. In my mind, we're just trying to move bits from one place to another. Doesn't the digital stream get reconstituted and re-clocked on the receiving end anyway? Please enlighten me and maybe send along some URLs for my edification. Thanks, Dan
danielho

Showing 2 responses by dazzdax

dazzdax
599 posts
 
Hi folks, I have been using two top of the line AES/EBU digital cables from Pure Note (Paragon Enhanced) and Purist Audio (Dominus). After a while, I inserted back my old Wireworld Gold Starlight II S/PDIF, because I prefer the Wireworld over both the AES/EBU cables. Why I prefer the S/PDIF? With the Wireworld the sound is more upfront, with more PRaT. The midrange is fuller. But both AES/EBU cables had better detail retrieval. Is this a common difference between AES/EBU and S/PDIF? Thanks.

Chris
dazzdax
599 posts
 
Hi Neilejhunt, thank you for your explanation of the jitter issues with S/PDIF. I have a question. How about the new wave of using Ipods with the docking stations that can extract the digital information right off the Ipods? What is here the difference with a CD-player? Is using an Ipod + docking station a superior way of digital music reproduction in comparison with the optical way? This is quite difficult to believe for me because when CD data is stored into a hard drive the data should be read first using an optical device, so you can't skip this procedure.
CD --> optical read out --> I2S signal --> S/PDIF --> Ipod (hard disk) --> DAC receiver --> D/A conversion.
Btw, the Ipod/Wadia 170 combination sounds as good as my expensive MBL 1621 transport! This is plain weird, why should we buy such expensive transports in the first place? Does any of you have the same experience?

Chris
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