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Why do digital cables sound different?

I have been talking to a few e-mail buddies and have a question that isn't being satisfactorily answered this far. So...I'm asking the experts on the forum to pitch in. This has probably been asked before but I can't find any references for it. Can someone explain why one DIGITAL cable (coaxial, BNC, etc.) can sound different than another? There are also similar claims for Toslink. In my mind, we're just trying to move bits from one place to another. Doesn't the digital stream get reconstituted and re-clocked on the receiving end anyway? Please enlighten me and maybe send along some URLs for my edification. Thanks, Dan
danielho
sashav
72 posts
 
Jitter
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drubin
3,275 posts
 
When in doubt about anything related to digital, just invoke "jitter".
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,551 posts
 
Because they have different mommies and daddies.
dazzdax
599 posts
 
Hi folks, I have been using two top of the line AES/EBU digital cables from Pure Note (Paragon Enhanced) and Purist Audio (Dominus). After a while, I inserted back my old Wireworld Gold Starlight II S/PDIF, because I prefer the Wireworld over both the AES/EBU cables. Why I prefer the S/PDIF? With the Wireworld the sound is more upfront, with more PRaT. The midrange is fuller. But both AES/EBU cables had better detail retrieval. Is this a common difference between AES/EBU and S/PDIF? Thanks.

Chris
tplavas
123 posts
 
Dazzdax,

IMO, yes, it is a common difference between coax and balanced digital cables. You've essentially described the difference I hear almost every time between spdif and aes connections. Occasionally, the spdif will be better top-to-bottom, but usually it's just superior from the mids on up. Of course, as always, it depends on the system. If the loudspeakers in use have too much energy in the aformentioned range, aes connection might be just the answer. There's little doubt in my mind that having to 'deal' with 3 wires instead of 2 makes designing an aes cable very difficult.
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