@blindjim thanks for the good summary of your experience
Through 30 years experience in digital my realization has been that while cables do make a big difference the initial and dominant factor is choice of interface itself. S/PDIF is about the worse possible platform for carrying digital data. In my experience (most recently with dCS stacks) there is a clear hierarchy (assume here we are carrying 16/44.1, of course the latter several formats can also carry DSD and higher rate PCM)
S/PDIF (TOS) -> S/PDIF (RCA)->AES3->FireWire (presumably also other similar proprietary HDMI based formats)->Dual AES/EBU
In any configuration a step up in cables will bring benefit but generally lesser cables in a better interface will outperform better cables on a less stable interface.
Of course with your Oppo you only have S/PDIF so this is moot but even so changing the cable will make a difference. I do wonder however if there is any way of using the HDMI out (audio only) - presumably this is primarily provided for multi-channel but I suspect this may be a superior stereo interface, it could be worth exploring.
.... Also as you are no doubt aware the cable itself will be directional
The only 75Ohm cables in my current setup are those carrying the clocks -- which is actually a tough proposition and very cable sensitive. Going from AQ Eagle Eye to Transparent Ref XL was a substantial step up. For my most recent addition of a 10MHz master I used a Marigo 75Ohm cable and was a) again amazed at the step up from a generic BNC but b) most surprised at how different it sounded one way round rather than another
Through 30 years experience in digital my realization has been that while cables do make a big difference the initial and dominant factor is choice of interface itself. S/PDIF is about the worse possible platform for carrying digital data. In my experience (most recently with dCS stacks) there is a clear hierarchy (assume here we are carrying 16/44.1, of course the latter several formats can also carry DSD and higher rate PCM)
S/PDIF (TOS) -> S/PDIF (RCA)->AES3->FireWire (presumably also other similar proprietary HDMI based formats)->Dual AES/EBU
In any configuration a step up in cables will bring benefit but generally lesser cables in a better interface will outperform better cables on a less stable interface.
Of course with your Oppo you only have S/PDIF so this is moot but even so changing the cable will make a difference. I do wonder however if there is any way of using the HDMI out (audio only) - presumably this is primarily provided for multi-channel but I suspect this may be a superior stereo interface, it could be worth exploring.
.... Also as you are no doubt aware the cable itself will be directional
The only 75Ohm cables in my current setup are those carrying the clocks -- which is actually a tough proposition and very cable sensitive. Going from AQ Eagle Eye to Transparent Ref XL was a substantial step up. For my most recent addition of a 10MHz master I used a Marigo 75Ohm cable and was a) again amazed at the step up from a generic BNC but b) most surprised at how different it sounded one way round rather than another