S/PDIF coaxial Digital Audio cable myth?

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antagony

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I have a question for all of you experienced in S/PDIF cables and those knowledgable on the construction/engineering of cables.

I have read advertisements on how "this is the best sounding cable etc because it's built upon the most premium of copper and double shielded etc." But I also hear that all you really need is a solid connection and if it works, it works. Using more premium cables is not going to give you a better sound.

So are these companies just luring stereophiles to pay 4 times more for cables that look pretty when all you really need is some copper wire (coaxial) and RCA connectors?

BTW - I purchased a 3 foot Radio Shack FusionAV PCM Digital Audio Coaxial cable...it seems to be made similar to all the other premiums (Monster Cable, Cobalt, etc) but it's core looks like 2 copper cables twisted together instead of the big copper cable. Anybody have an useful info?

thanks
 
In this stereophile article they measure the jitter levels of different transports and cables. The premium digital cables had lower jitter (however that doesnt mean all expensive cables are better - some maybe and some might be worse). They also found that if you used the cables the wrong way (some of the cables had arrows indicating cable direction) the jitter went up. So yes there are measurable differences. How audible they are will depend on the rest of your setup and your hearing.

http://www.stereophile.com/fullarchives.cgi?368
 
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That won't make a difference, interconnect jitters are insignificant.

The only potential problem (such as the article explained) is in CD trasport but I would for the sake of everyone hope that all modern non-budget CD players be buffered.

So to answer your question, those expensive low level cables, or any digital cables that are ridiculously priced are just made to fill an audiophile's pants and empty his pockets.
 
well, it is possible to get such poor quality cable that the signal is just unusable, dropping sync everywhere. This is my generic 6 foot single Radio Shack RCA. 6 foot! Even at that length, absolutely unusable in connecting my LD and CD players via coax digital to my audiophile. Replacing the cable with even a slightly higher quality cable made all the difference.
 
This is a digital transfer.

It either works or it doesn't work.

I'm using a (don't laugh) HOSA S/PDIF cable and it rocks.

This cable works.
 
Jitter can often be corrected at the DAC stage. The main difference between cable quality is usually the durability and performance over longer distances.

Digital audio cables do require a different resistance than analog, 75ohm I think, which is the same as most video cables.
 
drstawl said:
It either works or it doesn't work.
Click to expand...

Yup.


And nope. :)


You can indeed have problems where bits drop out or change randomly. This will be hard to hear when the problem is small, but it's there, and would probably make the signal less clear, or be percieved as noise or clicks.

But it's not a common problem. In most cases, as you say, it either works, or doesn't work.
 
When it comes to microphone or guitar cables, I'll pay the extra to money to increase reliability, reduce noise, etc.

But when I needed a 15 foot SPDIF connection from my sound module to my Aardvark, I used the cheapest RCA audio cable I could find.

It works great.
 
I recently went through this and almost started this exact same thread. I own an aardvark Q-10 and I wanted to hook my TC Electronic M300 effects unit up to it digitally so my tracks wouldn't have to leave the digital domain.

In the Q-10 manual they adress the SPDIF cable inputs with the comment (paraphrased) that while RCA cables will work with the SPDIF input and outputs that for best results you should use a cable that is specifically designed for SPDIF signals.

That was good enough for me. They have no reason or vested interest to make you buy a more expensive cable...they are not making money off of it. Obviously they have reason to believe that a SPDIF cable works better on their equiptment. They admit you can use RCA, but suggest SPDIF for best results. After looking at rediculously expensive SPDIF's from a few electronics stores, I went to our local pro audio store and got two Hosa's for about double the price of a stereo RCA. Not the best company I know, but the cable works great.
 
TexRoadkill said:
Digital audio cables do require a different resistance than analog, 75ohm I think, which is the same as most video cables.
Click to expand...


You win the prize Tex, just don't ask what it is.

The only thing which is critical in a S/PDIF cable (other than the obvious continuity) is the impedenance. It must be 75 ohm wire. Beyond that, just about any extra money spent is money wasted. I personally would chose to use Mogami, because the inherent quality of their cable translates to long term reliability and confidence (on my part) that it will work. Beyond that, it is all just smoke.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
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