2. digital
  3. 139886-13434

Why does my DAC sound so much better after upgrading digital SPDIF cable?

I like my Mps5 playback designs sacd/CD player but also use it as a DAC so that I can use my OPPO as a transport to play 24-96 and other high res files I burn to dvd-audio discs.

I was using a nordost silver shadow digital spdif cable between the transport and my dac as I felt it was more transparent and better treble than a higher priced audioquest digital cable a dealer had me audition.

I recently received the Synergistic Research Galileo new SX UEF digital cable.  Immediately I recognized that i was hearing far better bass, soundstage, and instrument separation than I had ever heard with high res files (non sacd),

While I am obviously impressed with this high end digital cable and strongly encourage others to audition it, I am puzzled how the cable transporting digital information to my DAC from my transport makes such a big difference.

The DAC take the digital information and shapes the sound so why should the cable providing it the info be so important. I would think any competently built digital cable would be adequate....I get the cable from the DAC to the preamp and preamp to amp matter but would think the cable to the DAC would be much less important.

I will now experiment to see if using the external transport to send red book CD files to my playback mps5 sounds better than using the transport inside the mps5 itself.

The MPS5 sounds pretty great for ca and awesome with SACD so doubt external transport will be improvement for redhook cds


128x128karmapolice
163 responses Add your response
mzkmxcv
777 posts
 
@melm

I will be the first to say I don’t have a golden ear, my $4000 towers speakers don’t sound much better than my $300 bookshelves and my $15 headphones don’t sound much worse than my others costing far more (all are well reviewed/measured, so it is simply on my ability to differentiate being poor). The good thing though is that doesn’t matter as the signal is 100% identical for music.

I have seen measurements showing jitter in Toslink, but they were showing >100kHz and even in the MHz range, so it has no influence on music.

audioengr
3,282 posts
 

If you want a good Toslink cable, get this one:

https://btpa.com/TOSLINK-XXX.html

Post removed 
melm
1,075 posts
 
@mzkmxcv
Some people have better hearing than others.  They hear differences that others don't.
Some people have better equipment than others.   And by better I do not necessarily mean more expensive.   That equipment reveals differences that lesser equipment doesn't.
Some people, having less discerning hearing and/or lesser equipment don't hear any differences among cables and other relatively passive devices.  Not experiencing those differences themselves they cannot comprehend that others can! 
It's an argument that has been going on among audiophiles as long as there have been audiophiles.

mzkmxcv
777 posts
 
@audiothesis

Yes, a 50¢ optical cable you find on Aliexpress may have issues, but any AmazonBasics, Monoprice, etc. cable will not have any issues unless it’s a super long run, but anything under 10ft will be fine.

@karmapolice

Saying you heard a drastic difference that means the decibel change would likely be 2dB or higher, or the original one you had (>$50) had audible distortion that was really close to the fundamental, which just isn’t going to happen.

@melm

Jitter is well documeneted. However, comparing jitter between DACs has nothing to do with if you are using a $20 generic digital cable (coax or optical) or a $4000 Nordost one.

There’s one story where people have said they’ve hear a difference when switching between a cheap solid state amp and a McIntosh tube amp, yet the McIntosh didn’t even work and the solid state amp was always in use. If those people heard a difference when nothing in the system changed, you should just own up to the fact that your brain is telling you that your new digital cable sounds better when it in fact is outputting an identical signal.

Now, if you hear difference, then that’s money well spent. However, there is no difference and I hope you never recommend someone do the same as you. Spend money on better room acoustics, not replacing your over expensive optical cable with one even more expensive.
audiothesis
168 posts
 
As nonoise hit on, a digital cable still is just transmitting analog signals in pulses. Doubters seem to focus on the concept that a bit is a bit and it’s an irrelevant argument. The issue isn’t the data usually but the transmission of it. The same design philosophies that can be beneficial or detrimental to analog cables apply to digital cables. Noise picked up, created, or transmitted by the digital cables will carry through your system and be audible artifacts. Also, conductor type and sound signature of the cable will also showcase themselves. 
melm
1,075 posts
 
As was said above, what passes through the wire that we CALL a digital signal is really an ANALOG signal.  It is subject to distortions.  This video is a pretty good, clear and simple explanation of what can go wrong:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grzoqEb2KMk&feature=youtu.be


karmapolice's avatar
karmapolice OP
256 posts
 
the difference is huge....no placebo effect.....you guys are hitting the pipe hard if you think its just placebo
cogito1965
16 posts
 
mzkmxcv Stole the words right out of my mouth. 
mzkmxcv
777 posts
 
It’s really simple, there’s documented studies showing that digital signals can sound totally different when using S/PDIF cables that are over $30...it’s called placebo.
gakerty's avatar
gakerty
175 posts
 
Recently, for the first time, I actually heard a difference between two optical cables w/ my ADI-2 DAC. One was: https://www.ebay.com/itm/12-12ft-GLASS-Digital-Audio-Toslink-Cable-Premium-Perfect-for-Sound-Bars/39... The other was a Lifatec glass optical cable "TOSLINK / TOSLINK Premium Silflex Glass Cables with Optisilk™ Jacketing " Both were 10 ft in length. The former had brittle, harsh sounding highs, and the latter smoother, cleaner highs. The difference was not subtle. Perhaps the Lifatec had better connectors, or the cheaper cable was in general poorly constructed? Thus the Lifatec stays in. This was the first time I’ve ever noticed differences between digital cables.
jeenam
131 posts
 
Read this. Same principles apply to all digital cables. The digital signal is actually generated from analog electric signals. In the case of optical, it comes down to how precise the optical transceivers are.

https://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/why-usb-cables-can-make-a-difference/
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,838 posts
 
Just remember that everything about audio is not written in stone or was dictated by a burning bush and you'll be fine. Trust your ears.

All the best,
Nonoise
Log in to respond
More to discover
80x80
Audio Mirror Tubadour V
80x80
Ayon Audio CD-TII
80x80
Naim Audio CD-555