“the shortest signal path is the best”
@nonoise
Since you asked……
The “shortest signal path is best” principle originates from the analog era, where every additional connection or component introduced potential for signal degradation, noise, and distortion. This was especially true for fragile analog signals, where maintaining purity was paramount.
In the digital realm, however, the game changes. Digital signals are far more robust over distance because they are transmitted as data packets, which can be error-checked, corrected, and reclocked to ensure integrity. A digital signal traveling halfway around the planet via fiber optics or Ethernet can arrive virtually unaltered, assuming the network and equipment are high-quality. This is why streaming, when done right, can rival or surpass traditional physical media playback.
That said, the transition from digital to analog still matters. The quality of the DAC, power supplies, and even the local signal path in your playback chain remains critical. Audiophiles who value the shortest signal path may need to reconcile their beliefs with the fact that in the digital domain, distance and path length are less of a concern than implementation and system design.
Hope this helps!
