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Best for my CD > DAC - Optical or Coaxial digital? - Page 2

post #16 of 29
10/19/08 at 4:52am
OP, technically coax, but a big variable is how good/bad that Sony's coax out is! Stereovox is one of the best S/PDIF cables I've tried.
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post #17 of 29
10/19/08 at 12:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1UP View Post
OP, technically coax, but a big variable is how good/bad that Sony's coax out is! Stereovox is one of the best S/PDIF cables I've tried.
I wouldn't say this is a big variable. You really don't need to spend $100 to transfer a digital signal. You need good shielding and good terminations, which most coax cables have.

I did not pay $100 for the cable that is connecting digital HDTV to my cable box or the the cable box to the wall and it transfers a 5 channel Dolby Digital audio signal and an HD video signal perfectly. I think the Sony coax can handle 2 channel audio.

I am curious, what makes the Stereovox the best cable you have heard?
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post #18 of 29
10/19/08 at 12:29pm
Can you also provide link to the Stereovox you are talking about? and price?
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post #19 of 29
10/20/08 at 7:46pm
Sorry guys, missed the trail-end of this thread.

S/PDIF is a RF transmission line / protocol; each step in the line from transmitter to receiver is what determines its quality or lack of it which we'd measure as jitter and hear as cruddy sound. In contrast and IME, a nicely done implementation gives the sound great focus and musicality.

The best S/PDIF cable I've used is my ART Ubyte (16ft BNC-BNC); the next best is the Stereovox HDXV - now the XV2.

The best posts to elucidate what I've written can be gleamed here and here. Pat is Jocko Homo from diyaudio and diyhifi, he is an acerbic RF engineer...with a TDR...and a great product

When I was pointing a finger at the Sony's coax output, I was simply saying that as the TX end of the line, it could suck horribly, or be OK - this would certainly determine whether coax is comparatively going to be "better" than its optical, in this case.

ART's Ubyte is $200 and I think the Stereovox is about the same. I just moved to the USA from the UK; seriously sold all my hi-fi gear (including my HDXV); the only thing I kept was the ART S/PDIF cable! Now for the rest!
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post #20 of 29
10/20/08 at 8:08pm
To state the other side of the argument (digital cables / protocols don't make much difference) - this view is more coherent when the DAC considered reclocks (e.g. the Benchmark guys always maintain the DAC-1 is jitter and cable immune and also indifferent to what connection is used).

All I can say is I haven't found the DAC-1 to be 100% immune to partnering equipment, though I do feel it is less variable to such things than other gear out there. Further, not all DACs out there have similar reclocking/anti-jitter circuitry.
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post #21 of 29
10/20/08 at 9:04pm
Well put 1up.

That is really the issue for all of the "what is best" questions. It is dependant upon your specific system and preferences, there are too many variables to declare a winner. In a perfect world they would both sound the same, but unfortunately life isn't perfect.

I'd venture to say even the dac-1 wouldn't sound great with a 50 ohm rca cable. If I recall correctly the dac-1 also isn't utilizing bulk mode transfer with a huge buffer either so it is still susceptible to some degree.

Dave
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post #22 of 29
10/21/08 at 1:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by myinitialsaredac View Post
Well put 1up.

That is really the issue for all of the "what is best" questions. It is dependant upon your specific system and preferences, there are too many variables to declare a winner. In a perfect world they would both sound the same, but unfortunately life isn't perfect.
Exactly!
It all comes down to personal preference, and the audio gear used.
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post #23 of 29
10/25/08 at 1:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pars View Post
SPDIF spec is 75 ohms... if you are buying cable for digital audio (SPDIF) and you go with BNC because it is (or can be) a real 75 ohm connector vs. an RCA which can't, you don't want to go buy one with a 50 ohm connector on it
Are you sure about that comment on RCA connectors. Im sure that a video signal is 75ohms. And im sure if it was really not a true 75 ohm connection then high end company wouldnt even bother with it, but i see it commonly used on high end equipment. But correct me if im wrong.
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post #24 of 29
10/25/08 at 2:21am
Yes. RCA connectors are typically 30ohms. Many manufacturers are either ignorant or basically misleading consumers cause their overpriced out of spec cables otherwise wouldn't sell.

Reasonably inexpensive soundcard with bit-perfect COAX output? - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio
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post #25 of 29
10/25/08 at 9:07pm
um

Tributaries Cable

Tributaries Cable

And as i said before i am sure a video connection is a 75 ohm connection, and i think a sub woofer is a 115 ohm connection.. and they both use a rca connection. I know that Linn gear does use rca connections, and if you are familiar with Linn you know that they would not sacrafic anything it terms of sound quality.

And it seems form your bs forum links, that it is possible with a proper male and a proper female connector.

And really for the OP just try out both te coax and the optical and let your ears be the judge, audio cannot be compared over the internet.
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post #26 of 29
10/26/08 at 7:17pm
sahwnfras - read those links again - it's not bs, tyvm.

The whole point is you can use 75ohm video cable as the cable but normal RCA connectors will ruin the desired impedance. Also just having custom RCAs on the cable isn't enough to maintain that impedance when the mating connectors on your components are not also moulded the same.

You have to think along the entire transmission line.

Whereas with BNC it just de facto IS 75 ohm so why bother paying for a WBT type megabucks connectors when BNC is the right connector for the job.
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post #27 of 29
10/26/08 at 8:19pm
sahwnfras: do you really believe everything you read, in marketing literature particularly, from companies trying to sell you something? They can say anything they want (our cables are 75 ohm, blah blah) and some (well, probably alot) of people will believe them. As you yourself said, trust your own ears. If you hear differences, particularly between digital cables, ask yourself why... and don't be blinded by BS, because there is an awful lot out there.
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post #28 of 29
10/26/08 at 10:30pm
Well i put those up ther because i work with those cable and have tested them.

But 1Up you say BNC is the end all be all, but really couldnt you have a low quailty BNC and lose impedance. Just as with a low quality RCA you can lose quality. Now these WBT things people keep mentioning i have no idea wtf they are.
I just believe that if you use quality parts you can get the job done right. And it will never be cheap lol
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post #29 of 29
10/26/08 at 11:34pm
I'm not saying it's the be all and end all, and I'm not advocating that it is cheap or expensive.

Either something is rated for 75ohm impedance or it is not. BNC can be, and if rated so (rather than say 50 ohm), it's virtually guaranteed to be so. Run of the mill RCA won't, can't and isn't going to be. Any RCA jack that claims to be, is going to be more expensive than even the most expensive BNC, AND won't give a fig unless its mating chassis connectors are also designed to be 75 ohm. Again, these will be more expensive (e.g. WBT connectors) than even the most expensive BNC.

An Amphenol BNC jack costs $6 from Digikey - a WBT 0152 AG what $50, $100??!!
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