Why do digital cables sound different?

Note that the architecture used for digital streaming can be a variable in determining end results, but I find if done well a certain way, then the wire between the source and DAC seems to make little difference, as long as of good quality, and perhaps not too long as Kijanki suggests.

The architecture I like is wireless network connection from server to streaming device (for physical and electrical noise isolation from potential noisy commercial computer gear), and SPDIF/TOSLINK from streamer to DAC. Most network streaming devices buffer data which help to avoid timing issues at the source.

Then choose your DAC of preference for the sound you like. If it does reclocking very well, then that is an extra insurance policy in case of any doubt. The trend seems to be for more and more DACs to do this these days.

THen use a good quality digital wire that is not too long and you should have all teh bases covered.

I second Mapman's recommendation of network streaming. Computer speed, amount of RAM, playback program, file format etc. make no difference since timing is recreated on the other side of the bridge (saves a lot of money). Sound still can be affected by ambient electrical noise but in this respect slow computer might be better than the fast one.

Asynchronous USB should be good as well since, as name suggests, it does not use noisy/jittery timing from computer by buffering the data and requesting different amount of samples each frame to keep buffer between underflow and overflow.

YEs, asynchronous USB is the other key technology, especially I think if a general purpose computer is the source for streaming to DAC and maybe also if one wishes to push the limits in regards to high resolution digital audio files in that this is a newer technology than traditional SPDIF/TOSLINK. Maybe.

Mapman, you are testing my memory. I believe they were all 1.0 m and all in good condition. The brands were Elco, Legend(?), Virtue, Monster, and some unknown cable. The Elco was the best.

Kijanki, let me make sure I am tracking with you. You are saying that jitter is important. That jitter can also result from cable induced errors. That re-clocking at the DAC does not necessarily correct for all/any errors related to jitter that could occur during delivery of the raw digital signal through a cable. Does it follow that some digital cables are better at delivering digital signals free of or with less added jitter?

On a related note, in theory or in measurement, can a digital signal be corrupted in a cable, say due to exposure to strong EMF, to the point where 1s and 0s are actually deleted or unreadable at the DAC. I.E. outright data loss?