I found that when switching from a standard quality coax to a coax cable from Zu, for connecting my CAL Alpha DAC to my transport I got a significant improvement. So the specific coax in my experience can make a big difference. The Zu coax was also superior to the Toslink connector I had tried.
Analog and Digital signals: Why settle for less?
Here's a question to the Audiophile community that I don't rightly know the answer to. Audiophiles are known for their pursuit of the finest in audio playback technology, pursuing even the smallest of tweaks to squeeze the most out of their audio recordings.
Why then have we settled for something less when it comes to signal transmission for both analog and digital?
Between digital components, it seems the de facto standard is either an AES/EBU, Toslink, or Coax connection. Yes there are others, but it seems 99% of the equipment out there uses these. The problem here, is that they are a compromise. They put the clocks and data stream combined together on the same wire. This introduces significant jitter. A solution already exists in the form of the I2S interconnect which separates bit clock, word clock, master clock, and data stream all onto their own separate pins. Very few components (that I know of) use I2S. Why has the audiophile industry not standardized on I2S? Why have we not ditched the "consumer grade" digital signaling?
Between analog components, it isn't 99%, but still, the vast majority of Audiophile gear uses single ended RCA interconnects. This has the potential for introducing EMI and RFI. Once again, a solution already exists, in the form of balanced differential interconnects. Balanced interconnects are the defacto standard for audio equipment used in live stage performances, heck, even my Church has a fully balanced audio system for the pipe organ and choir. Why has the Audiophile industry not standardized on balanced analog interconnects? Why are we still using this low cost consumer grade connection that dates back to WWII?
Your thoughts and comments?
Why then have we settled for something less when it comes to signal transmission for both analog and digital?
Between digital components, it seems the de facto standard is either an AES/EBU, Toslink, or Coax connection. Yes there are others, but it seems 99% of the equipment out there uses these. The problem here, is that they are a compromise. They put the clocks and data stream combined together on the same wire. This introduces significant jitter. A solution already exists in the form of the I2S interconnect which separates bit clock, word clock, master clock, and data stream all onto their own separate pins. Very few components (that I know of) use I2S. Why has the audiophile industry not standardized on I2S? Why have we not ditched the "consumer grade" digital signaling?
Between analog components, it isn't 99%, but still, the vast majority of Audiophile gear uses single ended RCA interconnects. This has the potential for introducing EMI and RFI. Once again, a solution already exists, in the form of balanced differential interconnects. Balanced interconnects are the defacto standard for audio equipment used in live stage performances, heck, even my Church has a fully balanced audio system for the pipe organ and choir. Why has the Audiophile industry not standardized on balanced analog interconnects? Why are we still using this low cost consumer grade connection that dates back to WWII?
Your thoughts and comments?
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- 5 posts total
- 5 posts total