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Digital Cables: Optical, Coax, BNC, or a simple RCA interconnect?

Until recently I've been using a WireWorld Optical cable (~$100) which I bought when I was using a Pioneer PD 65 CD player as a transport (until it died) and optical was the only out option. So, I've been using my Oppo 105 to play both SACDs direct via XLRs to my Audio Alchemy DDP-1 dac/pre and recently using the optical cable for redbook playback.

Last week I was reading up on Coax, and one thread suggested trying a regular RCA interconnect, although the connectors are not 75ohms. I had a pair of DHLabs BL-1 (older light blue jacket) laying around and decided to compare it to the optical. Easy Peasy as the DDP-1 has various input connections which can be accessed on the remote. Well, amazing doesn't come close to how much the music became alive/tactile/3D.
So, I looked on DHLabs site after reading that their D-750 was highly regarded. They will let me return it if Im not satisfied. That's the good news, but a 1.0m cable is $150, certainly not expensive, but Pangea makes one that seems extremely well thought out and it's on sale at Audio Advisor for $49.95 plus free shipping, so I ordered it. Depending on how much it blows me away I may go ahead and order the DHLabs too, just to compare
Anybody have anything to contribute?
tweak1
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,821 posts
 
Well, I’m in the same area code as they are so If I ever find myself in need of one of their cables, it shouldn’t be too hard to simply call them up. 👍
I still have one that Tony Minasian made for me some years back (he's a recording engineer) so I'll have to see where I stashed that one.

All the best,
Nonoise
tweak1 OP
3,645 posts
 
@boxer12

Interesting. Do you also have the PS 5? It took me about 6 months to locate one. It is well worth the price. If you need on contact Peter M direct

pengun
79 posts
 
My life is so simple. I just buy the appropriate Cardas cable that I can afford. ;) Just bought their cheap digital RCA one, for my somewhat experimental network bridge I have built.
boxer12
8,656 posts
 
Tweek1,
Yes I do. I really like this dac (with optional power supply)! 
tweak1 OP
3,645 posts
 
I installed the Pangea 1.0M late yesterday. Some of the improvements were immediate; much better separation of singers/instruments, deeper sound stage, better bass impact. Over several hours this improved as well as timber and tone, and  location of instruments and backup singers on a much more believable stage.


CSN, which I have owned for 3+ decades was a perfect example of how amazing this cable is. Each voice was considerably more distinct from each other, and easy to tell whether it was Crosby or Nash; Stills sang mostly harmony until the last cut. New Favorite is a much better recording with similar distinctions 


How much better can the multi-hundred dollar coax cables be? Best $49.95 I've spent, well maybe the Machina Dynamica NEW Dark Matter applied to the CD tray.  This is a must for CDs


I ordered the 1.5M yesterday (only $10 more). It takes 3 days to get here, so I will have a couple days playtime should there be more break in. Which begs the question, what is approximate hours needed before coax breaks in? 
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