Digital XLR vs. Analog XLR - Balanced Cables

Right. The devices may not be connected in the same way although those differences are less common these days. Nonetheless, the only reason for not having the usual direct connections in the cables is to compensate for differences between the devices on each end.

Kal

I've played with this exact scenario a lot over the past few months. I've been using a Cardas Golden Ref analog XLR, and a Cardas Digital XLR Cable. First as has been discussed here already the connection pattern is exactly the same. Meaning they are interchangeable as far as as termination and connection. Secondly the analog XLR does almost as good a job as the digital XLR cable. I'm no expert in explaining what the differences are electrically or anything, but I can give you my opinions based on actual sound comparisons. Third in one of your follow up posts you mention "getting a pair of digital XLR cables". Unless you have more than one DAC you'll only need a single digital XLR. Lastly I have found significant sonic improvements by keeping the digital signal in the digital realm as far down the chain as you can get it. If you do the digital realm can compete favorably with even the best analog rigs. There are some companies that make digital preamps and amps which if you don't need an analog option for a turntable, or have a very large budget, will improve your end sound as it relates to price point.

Mmike84 - It all depend on the DAC. If you use asynchronous up-sampling DAC that rejects jitter like Benchmark it won't make much difference what cable you use. I built my RCA to BNC cable using 75 ohm Canare coax.

I am running a DCS purcel to a Delius. The Purcel upsamples to 24/192 ks/S, but the only cabling method that is capable of delivering this highest upsampling is by using a pair of XLR (AES/ebu) cables, each delivering 96 rates per cable, combined to deliver a total of 192 via the two cables - at least for the DCS equipment. The ideal cabl would be a 6" cable + the terminations.

I have plenty of spare balanced analog cables, but have not yet purchased a pair of balanced digital cables for this applicaiton.

The analog vs digital XLR cable construction, materials etc are not going to make any difference - if indeed there is any difference in construction. As to carrying digital signals are not going to introduce jitter with the cable. Other than compatibility with connectors, there is no benefit to using a balanced connector for transmission of digital signals - there would have to be an incredible amount of noise to corrupt the digital signal, and if there were, the effect would not be in the least bit subtle. There is benefit in balanced connections for analog signals - assuming, of course, that the connections are actually to balanced inputs.