Digital XLR vs. Analog XLR - Balanced Cables

First, we have a basic disagreement about the significance of some parameters but just because a parameter is ignored or not specified for a particular application does not mean that it cannot share that parameter with the other application. So, making a digital cable with regard for quality of materials and dielectric constant is entirely possible making it suitable for analog and digital applications.

Second, you suggest "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." That's a red herring but let me suggest to you that a defined impedance cable suitable for that would also work for analog since there is no defined impedance for analog that would prevent this parameter from being suitable.

So, despite our differences, let me ask you if there is a specific parameter necessary for digital that would make it unusable for analog? Or vice versa?

Kal

Kal - That's a tricky question since there is no parameters for cables at all (other than characteristic impedance - irrelevent for analog).

If you like sound of digital cable as IC then used it. I'm merely suggesting that you won't find good metal or fancy dielectric (like foamed teflon) there. Other way around, you might find IC that has close to 110 ohm or have DAC like Benchmark that ignores quality of the cable. By all means use it. It is also possible that differences are there but you don't hear it - even better because it saves a lot of money.

I tend to do things by the book. When it says digital cable I go to store and buy digital and not the analog cable.

Sometimes things are not audible because are masked by other factors and improving system is like peeling layers of pink from the pink sunglasses - you don't notice each single peel but eventually you'll get clear uncolored picture.

OK. IMHO, it is hard "to do things by the book" when there are are no definable parameters except characteristic impedance for digital and LC values suitable for the loads in both cases.

I tend to ignore the labels that manufacturers put on a cable unless they say what their reasons are for putting on that particular label. I do know that some have used the same cable/connector for digital and analog.

Kal

I don't see reason why any company would use oversized foamed teflon tubes and 99.9999999% pure copper in digital cable but if you say they do - I trust you.

Ckoffend - Purcell, being upsampling DAC (and not oversampling), most likely rejects jitter. Quality and type of cable might be not very important (it isn't with my Benchmark - also upsampling DAC).