Why do digital cables sound different?

If a person Pays $5000 for a cable, they are going to have higher expectations. They sound better because one expects it to sound better.

As usual, when I explain audio cables, I remind everyone first exactly what is "the scientific method". As an engineer myself, trained in science, I don't try to explain anything until AFTER I have conducted a test, using my senses and my powers of observation to determine the human response to an issue. Then, and ONLY then am I ready to search for the explanation of why these observations occured. As scientists, we NEVER search for an explanation first, then force ourselves to observe what we logically determined to be true before-hand. So, the answer to "do digital cables sound different" is 100% in the ears of the observer. Then, the EXPLANATION of why must be consistent with that subjective experience. In other words, I listen first, with a complete reliance on my subjective ability to hear any difference. Then, and ONLY then, can I create hypothesis to explain why.

I have to admit it, I love this thread!!!

Ethernet has VASTLY improve bit error correction chips. Audio DACS benifit...a LOT from this. A one or a zero has no sound, it is just a toggle of logic a DA converter uses to construct the analog waveform.

Missing bits are "filled-in" and interpolated between bits for an analog signal. To that end, the analog circuits are what we "hear" if all the bits get through (and they do to a crazh high level of perfection!). So my ears tend to say that the analog waveshaping circuits don't all make the same decisions with the same bits.

One factor I have observed with the optical cables I have used is that the bandwidth of the cable plays a significant role in the sound reproduced.

I have three basic grades..
1. Consumer grade - unknown bandwidth, but definately the least accomplished performer
2. A medium bandwidth cable rated at 50Mbps
3. A high bandwidth cable rated at 150 Mbps

The difference between these three are clearly audible in the micro details that become more pronounced as each grade is installed.

The specific micro details are those that contribute to the acoustics of the recording venue - not so much the actual musical sound or tone.

The difference when #3 introduced was very noticeable - so much so I immediately purchased a second cable for my A/V system which made a huge improvement to the spacious aspect of the system.

To this reader at least, there is a difference, which I attribute to bandwidth, but this can be attributed in turn to the slew rate and other technical attributes of cables cited in the many prior posts.

The faster a cable can respond to going from a 0 to a 1 (i.e. higher bandwidth) allows more "data" to get though to the DAC, which in turn produces a better analogue waveform with fewer interpolated distortions.

Maybe build quality is also a factor, all I know is - it sounds better :-)