Digital XLR vs. Analog XLR - Balanced Cables

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.

Musicnoise - of course there is a difference in construction and materials. Digital cable geometry is tailored to deliver 110 Ohms characteristic impedance and therefore eliminate reflections. How reflections add up and corrupt edge of the signal (causing jitter) can be calculated using Bergeron diagrams. As for analog cables one of the most important factors is dielectric constant of isolation material. Lowest dielectric constant close to one of air=1 is obtained by using oversized tubes made of foamed teflon. Foamed teflon has even better (lower) dielectric constant than solid teflon while oversizing keeps wire inside away from dielectric. Another factor is purity of the metal - not important with digital cables but very important with analog. The best is very pure zero crystal copper or silver. Purity reaches 99.9999999% for copper (9N) and 99.99999% (7N) for the silver. Zero crystal process is simply forging metal into hot forms instead cold ones. Cooling very slow prevents formation of the crystals (impurities resides between crystals). Zero Crystal copper has just one or two crystals per foot while regular oxygen free copper has few thousands. On the top of this many cables have anti-vibration shields and some have even fluid inside. All this is important of course if you believe, like I do, that cables make a real and big difference. If you don't you can as well use lamp cord - saves a lot of money.

Kijanki-

You point out the parameters which are important for digital and those which are important for analog. However, none of these parameters are incompatible making it entirely possible for a single cable to be optimal for both.

As for anti-vibration shields and fluids, I will not bother to comment.

Kal

Kal - If you think that characteristic impedance can be different (and it is completely different for analog cable) why don't you connect your TV to roof antena using any cheap shielded cable. Reflections that will apear are pretty much what is causing jitter in digital transmission. As for shields and fluids - I had once inexpensive IC Audioquest Topaz. I read on internet that this cable transfers vibrations (is audible). So I turned volume up and hit the cable few times with the stick (pen) and to my surprise I could hear it in speakers.

As for digital cable being optimal as analog IC - you must be kidding! Digital cables are made with complete disregard of quality of materials. Dielectric constant is ignored since above 100kHz only ratio of inductance and capacitance defines characteristic impedance. Metal is also secondary since signal at these frequencies travels only on the surface (usually silver plated).

For the record, I did end up trying a non-digital pair of balanced cables and they worked great. Yes, I will end up replacing them with a digital pair of balanced cables, but wanted to confirm that everything would perform as reported with the dual digital cables from the upconverting to the DAC.

Thanks for all your input and if anybody has any recommendations on balanced digital cables, please feel free to offer them.