I don't know if this response has been given before but this is what I know. For digital signal paths the frequencies of concern (pulse rate, pulse edges, etc.) are outside (higher) than the normal audio domain. In fact, they behave more like RF. So, the digital cable is essentially a specialized RF cable. At RF frequencies it is the cable impedance, especially at the interfaces (connectors) that is important because mismatches with the commected components can cause signal reflecttions. What this means, obviously, is that phantom bits may been ADDED to the digital stream. So, a good quality digital cable is just as important, if not more so, than your analog interconnects!
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
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- 291 posts total
- 291 posts total