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HDMI cable to utilize I2s Connection from LAIV uddc to Denafrips Terminator 2

So I’ve decided to test out the LAIV UDDC. I’m doing this to utilize the I2s connection route. Can folks who do this recommend a proper HDMI cable for the connection? Would a standard HDMI cable be sufficient to test the sonic benefits?

 

Thanks for your insights.

toneranger58
sls883
631 posts
 

You want to use the shortest cable possible. Typical hdmi cables might be fairly long.

I'm using a 0.5 meter Wyred for Sound cable that I linked above. It is supposedly designed for I2S and not simply a hdmi cable.  I thought the price was reasonable compared to a lot of other cables. 

soix
9,889 posts
 

Any HDMI cable will work, but optimally you want the cable to be a foot or less.  I use this and the sound is so good I’m not itching to upgrade, and as the 1 foot length is only 8 bucks it might be a good option just to test it out without risking $$$.

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24187

If you wanna buy something better I think the Wyred 4 Sound cable mentioned by @sls883 mentioned looks very interesting, and the DH Labs HDMI 2.1 is probably good as well but minimum length is 1.6 feet.  Frankly I think any are good enough to tell you if the connection itself is superior.  Hope this helps. 

sls883
631 posts
 

@soix I did use the Monoprice cable and a DH Labs cable, but not with my current dac. They seemed to work fine. I used a short cable in both cases.

I had forgotten about the short Monoprice cable until you mentioned it. I was thinking of the many longer hdmi cables that I use for computer monitors, etc. 

I’ve never tried swapping them out and doing an a/b comparison.

lak's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
lak
4,707 posts
 

SUPREME HDMI MKII Digital Video Cable HDMI 2.0 Bandwidth 29 Gbps and Audio I²S

https://www.ricable.com/en/prodotto/supreme-hdmi-cavo-video-digitale-hdmi-2-0-bandwidth-29-gbps-e-audio-i2s/?swcfpc=1

 

 

whart's avatar
whart
3,103 posts
 

I tried almost a dozen different cable manufacturers to no avail in trying to get a custom made I2S cable with different "pinouts" at each end. Most of the hardware manufacturers do supply a diagram of the pin configurations which use a male HDMI style connector. Some of the newer gear has user configurable options for the pin-out, but it is worth verifying before you buy the gear that the I2S connection on both ends will match. I finally got what I needed by buying a DDC from the same company as my DAC (Gustard) and it can accept a standard HDMI configuration for I2S. I had temporarily used a 6" HDMI cable which was probably HDMI 2.0 and eventually bought the DH Labs .5 meter for connection between the DDC and DAC. That I2S connection, and the additional isolation provided by the DDC give a low cost digital front end a real qualitative improvement running through a top tier analog system. I was never a digital fan, and I am actually enjoying this- using the set up to play files from an SSD using the Shanling ET3 as the player. It is a fraction of the cost of my analog front end and I'm quite impressed with the SQ, especially given how little money was spent on the digital front end. 

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