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Digital inputs ....is one really better than another?

My current digital system is a Bryston BDP-1/BDA-1 combo connected via AES/EBU. My plan is to upgrade at least the DAC in the very near future. I noticed that most higher end DACS don’t have AES/EBU inputs. Is it because the AES/EBU is inferior in SQ? If this is the case, I want my replacement DAC to have AES/EBU for use with my current player and the preferred input for a future player upgrade.  
rockyboy
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

No, AES/EBU is eliminated from many designs because of the cost savings and panel or board savings, or maybe because it’s a more squirrely interface, or maybe the designer does not know how to implement it.

It is squirrely because the XLR connector is not designed for a good termination to 110 ohm cables and the connector itself is not 110 ohms characteristic impedance.

It’s much easier and less expensive to design and implement a high-performance 75 ohm S/PDIF cable than a high-performance 110 ohm AES/EBU cable.  The cabling or circuit board inside the DAC and Transport are also a consideration.  These are more easily made 75 ohms than 110 ohms.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
In the case of the Schiit Yggdrasil, AES/EBU input is preferable over S/PDIF. Mike Moffatt says so.
rockyboy OP
335 posts
 
Bryston rep claims AES/EBU is best for BDP-1/BDA-1; but USB connection is best with the BDP-3/BDA-3. I wanted to upgrade to an Aurender player but the Aurender lacks AES/EBU; and Bryston told me SQ would suffer using the BDA-1’s USB. So my path forward appears to be either 1) keep the Bryston player and upgrade DAC to one with AES/EBU or 2) upgrade both units with ones having USB inputs. Right now i’m looking at buying a Lampizator DAC with AES/EBU. 
mesch
3,530 posts
 
Rockyboy, If I were considering a DAC upgrade over my BDA-1, I would also be considering the Lampizator line of DACS. I have heard elsewhere that the AES/EBU interface is superior. I but would like to add that I use a Audiophileo2 connected to my BDA-1 via AES/EBU directly without cable. I believe I heard on another forum that using a cable is better however I have not tried that. Wonder if the recommendation of use of cable is due to the 110ohm  requirement.
rockyboy OP
335 posts
 
Steve, are you saying that AES/EBU, when done right, is the best connection?
Mesch, you say your Audiophleo2 is “connected via AES/EBU directly without cable”.  Huh? How is that accomplished?
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