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Hi. I have a pair of interconnects with male RCA connectors on both ends. I suspect they may be a set of digital cables, but I'm not sure and they are not labelled as such. There is a 'signal direction' arrow on each cable, and a molded lump (called an 'iron' by the salesman at a local electronics store) at the downstream end of each one.
I wish to use one of the cables to connect a CD player to a DAC.
Is there an electrical test I can perform, such as checking for resistance; or some other characteristic that would tell me whether they are 'digital' cables or plain audio interconnects?
If you think that 'digital' cables are just advertising BS, then let me know that as well.
Thanks!
Follow Ups:
The only way you can check is by measurement of cable/connector impedance or by visual inspection of the digital waveform using a wide bandwidth oscilloscope.
Experienced listeners can also identify cable issues on a well set up system with known components.
Flame away and remember, I'm keeping score.
Chris
AES/EBU is 110R but there is a problem with the design of the plug ansd socket in that refelctions of the signal takes place.
True 75R transmission is better.
I have been told by more than one designer that a 100 dollar 75 ohm digital cable terminated with BNCs will easily outperform an 800 dollar 75 ohm digital cable terminated with RCAs for the very reason discussed here.
I wouldn't say that there is an 8:1 difference.
Some knowlegeable designers say that some cables with cinch connectors can sound 'good', although I have no evidence in depth to show that except for a couple I have heard to support this.
I stick to 75R BNCs and some 110R AES/EBUs where necessary.
.
I've had that cable for 13 years and I don't think that I've ever had to use it, lol. Still in the original package.
Chris
Use it; DHLabs cables sound better than the usual Belden industry brew
I don't know any manufacturer who sells digital cables by the pair (they're sold as single cables), so I suspect they are not cables made for connecting digital components. If you have a pair because you bought two, then that's a different story.
If they are digital cables, the lumps are probably ferrite cores designed to decrease the amout of RFI radiation from the cable. Some people are OK with that, while others have commented that it has the side affect of changing the cables "sound" for the worse.
Also, RCA connectors pretty much rule out a 75 Ohm cable (you generally need BNC connectors to get within 3% of 75 Ohms).
That said, any cable can be used as a connection between digital components as long as its tip-tip length is ≥ the distance between the two components.
RCA connections are a poor interface - but you can always get accpetable SPDIF performance with them.
RUles of thumb:
1. Keep the length 1.5m+
2. Tend towards BNC connections where possible
3. A thin harsh sound, or a wooly bloated bass are all signs of poor jitter (and not all jitter can be cleaned up by a good receiver - but a good receiver can clean up some of it, maybe even most of it).
4. Tend towards coaxial cables
YOu will be able to get sound out of it with a audio cable. But the sound will suffer.
"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad"
Joe, I think you are right and Elizabeth on the cables forum made the same comment. Digital S/PDIF cables with RCA connectors are sold singly, since one cable handles both channels. Mine were molded together as a pair, so I believe they must be ordinary stereo interconnects.
Thanks.
Took me a few seconds to get it.
> > That said, any cable can be used as a connection between digital components as long as its tip-tip length is ≥ the distance between the two components. < <
jca
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