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  3. 181412-7564

AES/EBU vs XLR cables for digital connection

I did look to see if this issue was addressed in earlier discussions but couldn't find any specific information, so here's the story: I've ordered a Sonnet Hermes streamer to complement my Sonnet Morpheus DAC, and since the DAC doesn't have the I2S port (it's USB instead, though I understand I can change this if I want to), the best available connection will be via AES/EBU. I already have a pretty good XLR cable (Clarus Aqua) which I previously used for analog connection but I'm wondering if there's any advantage to using a true 110-ohm AES/EBU cable or if the standard XLR (the impedance of which I don't actually know) will work just as well. Have any of you done an A/B comparison between these two types of cable? Opinions are welcome. Thanks.

cooper52
lcherepkai
277 posts
 

I haven't compared aes/ebu directly to an xlr interconnect but I was using the Acoustic Zen MC2, rca on one end and bnc on the other, and tried using a .5m Moon Audio Silver Dragon (xlr) in its place (between a Red Dragon S500 and Audio Alchemy DDP 1).  I prefered the Silver Dragon and have used it there since.  I also tried the 6Sons Audio Golden Eagle interconnect as a digital cable and it is even better so yeah, you can go with a simple balanced interconnect and get quite good sound.  An aes/ebu digital cable may sound better but I am satisfied with this for now.

 

jerrybj
849 posts
 

I've chosen AES/EBU to go from DDC to Dac, as a preference over I2S.

Have ordered an Audience AU24Sx cable.

fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,503 posts
 

Analog might work OK  I don't see ANY comparisons inquired about in the responses. Just try it 

mitch2
3,697 posts
 

You have received good answers but I suggest also trying the USB connection.

I have owned Cees Ruijtenberg designed Metrum products and would not necessarily say AES/EBU sounded better than USB.  I2S sounded good out of the Metrum Amber into the Pavane and Adagio DACs and it is easy to swap out the USB board for the I2s board.  You can order the I2S board directly from Sonnet for 80 euros.

xboom
24 posts
 

The impedance matching is more for technical aspect of designing. The common analog XLR will still work, but may not sound as good.

 

The importance of impedance matching is to reduce signal reflections from both ends and would generate distortions & cause power loss to the signals. The DAC itself would internally reclock the data, and might not affect the sound after all.

 

Go try it. No worries, your equipment is not going to explode due to impedance mismatched of the XLR cables. HAHAHAHA~

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