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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 4 responses by jimbones

jimbones
261 posts
 
A friend lent me 4 digital cables. 3 sounded the same but one sounded very different. You just have to find there "one"
jimbones
261 posts
 
I recently sampled about 5 rca spdif cables, one really stood out head and shoulders above the rest. However the rest were pretty similiar.
jimbones
261 posts
 
I agree with Frogman, If someone claims they can hear the difference and are willing to spend the money, Thats great, it's their money and ears. I for one, do hear differences. I have had to train myself to UNDERSTAND what i am listening for. For example I find that evaluating spdif cables is way different that evaluating IC's. Also, I have compared speaker cables where I heard minimal differences and returned them so sometimes you win sometimes you lose.
jimbones
261 posts
 
Mapman, you are testing my memory. I believe they were all 1.0 m and all in good condition. The brands were Elco, Legend(?), Virtue, Monster, and some unknown cable. The Elco was the best.
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