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SPDIF vs. AES/EBU Sound Quality?

All else being equal (same cable, etc.), will the AES/EBU connection provide better sound quality than SPDIF? I just realized by Lumin U1 mini has AES/EBU output and one of my DACs (my favorite) has AES/EBU input. 

A forum search and even a google search pulled up nothing definitive and I figured I'd ask before buying an $$$ AES/EBU cable

greg7
zavato's avatar
zavato
1,409 posts
 

SPDIF unless terminated in proper 75 ohm BNCs, is my least favored way to move a digital signal. AES works well, and I have also been quite satisfied with USB 2.0 

facten
2,887 posts
 

I agree with mahler123's above comment .

In my particular case , I have a Mojo EVO DAC connected to a SimAudio 260DT transport , I found that shifting to the AES connection on both brought an uptick in SQ from SPDIF. I don’t stream so I have no experience with the USB connection vis a vis the AES or SPDIF

baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,435 posts
 

I2s/IIs

vinylmisterd
11 posts
 

For what it’s worth, I recently bought a Simaudio Moon transport to pair with my Moon DAC. I called Simaudio and asked if I should upgrade to AES/EBU or keep using my current SPDIF cable. Their reply was “spend the money on music.”

auxinput
2,920 posts
 

I will mirror opinions above.  Any S/PDIF interface that does not use a true BNC connection is compromised.  If you are unfortunate to have RCA connections for your SPDIF, the best results you will get is if you use BNC cables with BNC-to-RCA adapters.  If you just use RCA cables, even the best SPDIF cables will have compromised high frequencies.

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