Digital Drive

Upsamplers, DACs, jitter, shakes and analogue withdrawals, this is it.

Return to Digital Drive

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Digital Cable Redeux

74.124.172.45
Posted on March 8, 2017 at 05:47:43
double28
Audiophile

Posts: 3235
Location: Greensboro, NC
Joined: February 20, 2008
 Need a suggestion for a good digital cable running from Sonos Connect to DAC.

Nothing esoteric, just good sound and quality. Will an ordinary RCA to RCA work just fine?

Will

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
RE: Digital Cable Redeux, posted on March 8, 2017 at 08:13:00
Roseval
Audiophile

Posts: 1846
Joined: March 31, 2008
 " Will an ordinary RCA to RCA work just fine?"

If you mean an analog cable, it will work if it is short.
What you need is a 75 Ohm "Digital" cable.
The purist will object as a RCA plug is not 75 Ohm

The Well Tempered Computer

 

RE: Digital Cable Redeux, posted on March 8, 2017 at 08:17:19
double28
Audiophile

Posts: 3235
Location: Greensboro, NC
Joined: February 20, 2008
 Thank you for the reply and that is what I have been thinking. Been doing this too long to agonize over the "right " cable. Just looking for several good suggestions...

Get a Kimber or Cardas from Music Direct/Audio Advisor???

Wil

 

RE: Digital Cable Redeux, posted on March 8, 2017 at 09:03:28
Roseval
Audiophile

Posts: 1846
Joined: March 31, 2008
 Kimber, Cardas etc I do consider overpriced
Have a look at Mogami if you want to spend much on a cable.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GoldRCA12
The Well Tempered Computer

 

If you don't mind DIY ..., posted on March 8, 2017 at 09:40:42
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 Duster is working on what looks to me as a very high quality cable over at the DIY Asylum. The parts are not expensive. You'll get the best of both worlds, IMO.

Dave

 

RE: If you don't mind DIY ..., posted on March 8, 2017 at 10:05:03
double28
Audiophile

Posts: 3235
Location: Greensboro, NC
Joined: February 20, 2008
 Bingo... I should have posted there....

Will

 

RE: Digital Cable Redeux, posted on March 8, 2017 at 10:06:41
double28
Audiophile

Posts: 3235
Location: Greensboro, NC
Joined: February 20, 2008
 Great suggestion. Thank you

Will

 

RE: Digital Cable Redeux, posted on March 8, 2017 at 18:47:00
sleeper
Audiophile

Posts: 1166
Joined: May 21, 2002
 Check these out - many options at all price levels.

 

RE: Digital Cable Redeux, posted on March 8, 2017 at 18:47:43
Dynobot
 Basic digital = Blue Jeans cable, you can order 75ohm cable with any type of end you want

 

RE: Digital Cable Redeux, posted on March 8, 2017 at 19:39:17
Tidycat1
 Experiment with whatever RCA cables that you have on hand.Don't get hung up on only using those that are labeled "digital".Most "digital" cables I tried sounded bad and very "soft".
Maybe Duster would allow you to purchase one of his,after he completes his assembly.

 

See email (nt), posted on March 9, 2017 at 00:34:06
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 nt

 

RE: Digital Cable Redeux, posted on March 9, 2017 at 03:25:21
Dynobot
 Don't know why you keep posting to me as if I am the original poster.

 

RE: Digital Cable Redeux, posted on March 9, 2017 at 15:14:59
flood2
Audiophile

Posts: 2558
Joined: January 11, 2011
 The important parameter is characteristic impedance matching. You need 75 ohm coaxial cable and can make your own from RG-59 coaxial cable. You can also get RCA connectors that are supposedly impedance matched to 75 ohm for use as terminations for the coaxial cable.

Regards Anthony

"Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty.." Keats

 

75 ohm rca connector., posted on March 10, 2017 at 20:57:48
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 The issue of a 75 ohm characteristic impedance coaxial cable is valid, while the notion of a 75 ohm impedance matched rca connector is a misnomer. The proper function of an rca connector when used for a 75 ohm termination is to preserve the hopefully precision 75 ohm characteristic impedance geometry of a coaxial cable dielectric when terminated with any given rca connector. The most vital aspect is simply not to crush the foamed/cellular/solid dielectric (insulation) between the center conductor and the braided shield, which will do well to keep the 75 ohm characteristic impedance of the coaxial cable unaffected from end-to-end.

 

RE: 75 ohm rca connector., posted on March 10, 2017 at 22:38:37
flood2
Audiophile

Posts: 2558
Joined: January 11, 2011
 I was referring to specific connectors to accomodate RG-59 cables. To anyone unfamiliar with the requirements of a coaxial cable, they would be otherwise tempted to use RCAs normally for use with a typical "interconnect" cable which of course would be completely unsuitable for accommodating the solid centre conductor.

If you really want to get down to the nuts and bolts of the matter, an RCA is the least preferred connector for interfacing with 75 ohm coaxial cable!




Regards Anthony

"Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty.." Keats

 

RE: 75 ohm rca connector., posted on March 11, 2017 at 16:50:27
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 I know that theoretically the RG-59 is the best, but it is a big pain to switch over. Has anybody done it an felt the sonic benefits are worth the effort?

Dave

 

RE: 75 ohm rca connector., posted on March 11, 2017 at 20:39:25
flood2
Audiophile

Posts: 2558
Joined: January 11, 2011
 Hi Dave

I made my own from Belden quad shielded RG59. Very happy with the results. I've never been one for spending on the Big Name cables because I don't feel the prices charged are justified. I swapped over some of my equipment to BNC connectors, but I couldn't in all honesty say that I heard any signficant difference over my RCA/RG-59 combination. However, as my Big Ben and Grimm CC1 use AES/EBU (XLR) connectors, I have a real mixture of cables now.
The quality of the actual "connection" between the cable and connector (and of course to the socket) are arguably the most crucial connections to get right. The other important point is not to have a tight bending radius.

As to whether it is worth it? Well I didn't spend much in the first place (compared to buying the commercial name brand offerings of course!) and definitely heard an improvement over the cheap 75 ohm video cable I was using as an interim solution.
If you are happy with what you have, I wouldn't worry too much. I know that curiousity about what is "just around the corner" is what drives us to keep tweaking and upgrading, but I'll be honest, once I started doing my own digital recordings and realised that my digital system was about as good as I needed it to be in terms of realism and accuracy, my days of Chasing the "Audio Tweak" Dragon are gone and I prefer to focus on just enjoying the music.

Regards Anthony

"Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty.." Keats

 

RE: 75 ohm rca connector., posted on March 12, 2017 at 19:16:32
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 As i suspected, but the voice of experience is fare more valid than supposition. Thanks for the detailed answer!

Dave

 

See my post on cable asylum, posted on March 13, 2017 at 10:29:38
jedrider
Audiophile

Posts: 15167
Location: No. California
Joined: December 26, 2003
 Admittedly, it wasn't a great variety of cables that I tried, very few actually. Most remarkably, I experienced steady, and significant, improvement as I went up the line. Still, I spent so little that the upgrade was a no-brainer. I am still enjoying that last cable I tried and am ready to move up on both DACs and cables now, but still enjoying that last upgrade.

 

Second on Blue Jeans Cable, posted on March 20, 2017 at 22:29:15
mr.bear
Audiophile

Posts: 4167
Joined: November 13, 2001
 I'm a cable pragmatist- you don't want to overkill the level of cable, considering the level of your system. Most of my analog cables are DIY.

The cables I choose NOT to build are the digital ones because it is somewhat difficult to assure a consistent 75 ohm impedance end-to-end, which is essential.

The cost of a BJC cable is actually not much more than the cost to build it yourself and they are very high quality. Sonically it seems very close to my older AQ "Video-2" which I feel is pretty darn good. I did throw out a Monoprice which made sound but didn't establish a good solid image.

If you believe in auction websites and are patient, you can occasionally find an older AQ like the Video-2 for cheap. If that seems around the level of performance you're aiming for. Or BJC can make one in any color you like.

I recently found a fine value cable. It's another AudioQuest- the YIQ-1 component video 3-cable snake. I believe with a gentle use of an X-acto knife it could be disassembled to yield three, fine 75-ohm cables with heavy duty double-shielding and silver plated inner conductor. People are practically giving them away since nobody wants composite video any more, I suppose. You can pick up a 1m trio for around $20. Decently made nd they sound great for analog audio too.

 

You don't need 75ohm connectors!, posted on April 3, 2017 at 10:41:24
gusser
Audiophile

Posts: 3649
Location: So. California
Joined: September 6, 2006
 That is below 96khz. You need to take into account the wave length of the signal. At 96khz or below, it's longer than the physical length of the connector. Therefore any impedance mis-match is irrelevant.

Case in point. During the dya of analog NTSC video, with a max bandwidth of about 6mhz, we used 50ohm BNC connectors as well as 50ohm patch bays.

Now when we satarted using digital video at 270mbs or 143mhz, The connector impedance became more critical. Yet you still could get away with 50ohm parts in many cases.

When we got into HDTV digital video at 1.5gbs or 745mhz, true 75ohm BNC connectors became mandatory. Now we are pushing 12gbs around in some cases for UHD/4K.

The reason BNC connectors were only 50ohm for mnay years is that the RF industry is typically 50ohms. And as it mattered there and now with broadcast video, the bulk of connectors manufactures were 50ohm.

The only reason true 75ohm connectors are wide spread today is because of digital video systems.

 

Blue Jeans Digital Cable, posted on April 3, 2017 at 10:45:40
bullethead
 I use this one...

 

Page processed in 0.034 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]