I am looking for a high-quality HDMI cable for I2S from a CD Transport to the DAC...


Understanding from what I've read, it seems that I2S is a great way to go as an interface from the CD transport to the DAC...  I'm looking for a sonically high-quality HDMI cable that anyone is using for this purpose only.  If you can give me an idea as to what HDMI cables you've tried and why you chose the one you're using, that would really help !  My DAC is the Denafrips Terminator+ and I'm considering purchasing the Jay's-Audio CDT2-MK3 transport...  Both units are directly compatible with each other in terms of I2S.  
Thanks !  John
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Sorry, I don't have a definite recommendation here because I don't have experience with i2s (which is a different beast).  The consensus seems to indicate that silver conductors work best here.  It would make sense because solid-core silver turned out to be best for my ASE/EBU digital cable.

Essentially, you should look for large awg solid-core conductors.  Avoid copper only cables unless you want a warmer sound.  The Nordost Heimdall would be a good cable in general.   Heimdall has extremely high purity 25awg silver-plated copper conductors.  Another good cable is Wireworld Silver Starlight 5.2 with 24awg silver-clad OCC copper conductors - the only HDMI cable ever made that used OCC copper! (the really old cable that still beats most other new cables).   You can generally pick up a Silver Starlight 5.2 for anywhere between $150 and $350 depending.  Just be patient because they are rare.

Others have had good success with the Wireworld Platinum HDMI cable (2 x 26 awg solid silver conductors).  These are likely to be $600-1200 used if you can find them.

Revelation Audio Labs has a HDMI cable made only for i2s (their cable will not work as a normal HDMI cable because it's missing conductors).  There are a variety of other i2s specific HDMI cables.

The AudioQuest Vodka is pretty awful: bright, thin and “tinny” sound.

Audioquest Vodka HDMI cable uses really tiny 30awg conductors.  This is why sound is so tinny and bright.

 

 

I us an Audioquest Diamond HDMI cable from my Jay's transport to my Denafrips Terminator.  The Diamond is a silver cable that has been replaced by another product.  I listen to classical, jazz, blues, and other in that order - mostly classical.  I appreciate the cable's clarity, dynamics, and fullness.  I also use a Diamond form my Auralic streamer to the Terminator.

I also use  Moon Audio Silver Dragon and Black Cat Silver Star 75 Mk II coax cables in other transport to DAC systems.  This is a cheaper alternative with a smaller sound stage and good sound.

This is what I  like.  It is not a universal truth, its just what I like.

If you want warmth copper may be a better chose.  Its cheaper, and it feels better to step up versus down.