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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 1 response by kirch

kirch
7 posts
 
And 11 years later . . . !

Recently upgraded to a new Benchmark DAC1. Amazing, especially for the $$.

Anyway, I've tried three different cables to see if I hear a difference. Granted, none of them qualify as expensive - all were less than $75, but I'll be darned if I hear any truly discernible difference. They all sound great - BUT - I think there's a tiny improvement with a standard interconnect and not the one designed specifically for the digital coax in/out from my cdp to the DAC. And I think even that may be my imagination since the apparent improvement is minuscule at best.

Cables!! Jeez!!
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