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Digital cable optimal length?

Last time I asked about optimal phono cable length, i got mostly answers like 1.5 m or less. I had experimented since then using 6 ft long RCA/RCA as phono cable and compared with same make 1.5 RCA/RCA cable as phono for along time with all my three TT set ups and result was same.

it does DETERIORATE the sound quality drastically as the cable gets longer (i had tried 4ft long also)

Now the question about digital cable.
Would having 3 m long BALANCED /BALANCED digital cable have similar results?
Have you tried?

Thanks,
nilthepill
mrderrick
292 posts
 
Plenty of reading material and links if you do a search for "length" in the Digital forum over at Audio Asylum. You can also search the Digital forum on Audiogon. I've never had the opportunity to compare different lengths of digital cables. My understanding is that the shorter 1/2 meter cables are not the best way to go. The 1 1/2 meter length appears to be the recommended length for regular SPDIF. I thought that I read somewhere that Kimber states that the Orchid AES/EBU performs best at a 1 1/2 meter length also. I do not know if that would apply to all AES/EBU cables. Apparently the length affects how resistant the cable is to "back reflections" of the digital signal that can cause added jitter.
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
I agree with MrDerrick. See the post by Tobias, and the subsequent comments by me and others, in this thread:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1233206618

The technical factors for digital audio transmission are completely different than for a phono cable, due mainly to the much higher frequency spectral components that are present in digital audio signals, as well as cartridge sensitivity to cable capacitance (for moving magnet cartridges), very different signal amplitudes, etc.

Regards,
-- Al
theaudiotweak
2,797 posts
 
1.42 meters..Tom
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