SPDIF Cable?

jmoore · Post by **jmoore** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 6:00 pm

Does the quality of the cable really make a noticeable impact on the sound quality? I'll be specific. I'm getting ready to take the SPDIF OUT on my 828mkii and run it to the SPDIF IN on my Presonus Central Station. I've got gobs of Radio Shack quality RCA cables lying around, but I don't want to use them if they are going to really jack with my audio. On the other hand, I really don't want to drop $40 on a Monster Cable (not trying to rile you up James) if it's not going to sound noticeably better. And to answer other questions that may follow. I'm monitoring with Dynaudio BM5A's in an untreated and somewhat crappy sounding room.

Kubi · Post by **Kubi** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 6:07 pm

1. I boycott Monster cables. Overpriced and made by an overly lawsuit-happy company... just my personal take.

2. Good SPDIF cables made a measurable difference for me... in fact I was floored. The cables that I use now are Apogee Wyde-Eye.

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 6:12 pm

Well understand that digital is digital is not really true, there is a difference in digital cables. While I am a fan and user 100% of ONLY Monster Cables in my studio for analog, I do prefer the Apogee cables when it comes to digital. There is a difference in cable even if it's digital, even more so than analog. In analog, interference isn't that noticeable until you do comparisons of one cable v/s another. The worst case is ground hum. In digital, interference can be bad--very bad....such as dropout, errors, etc.

The other thing of digital is, something has to be the D/A converter....... in the case of the 828mkII, it's a good converter. BUT surprisingly, that DAC in the Central Station is VERY VERY GOOD. I own a pair of these myself and although I don't use the DAC option in them for my ProTools rigs, I do use them for a CD player and it's quite noticeable. IN the case of the 828mkII, I've never done a side by side--but I'd guess that the DAC inside the Central Station is better.

jmoore · Post by **jmoore** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 6:18 pm

BradLyons wrote:The other thing of digital is, something has to be the D/A converter....... in the case of the 828mkII, it's a good converter. BUT surprisingly, that DAC in the Central Station is VERY VERY GOOD. I own a pair of these myself and although I don't use the DAC option in them for my ProTools rigs, I do use them for a CD player and it's quite noticeable. IN the case of the 828mkII, I've never done a side by side--but I'd guess that the DAC inside the Central Station is better.

So...if I understand things correctly, if I take the SPDIF OUT of my 828 and run it to the SPDIF IN on my Central Station, then I will be using the DAC on the Central Station and not the 828. Correct? Likewise, if I take an analog stereo pair out of my 828 and run it to an analog stereo pair on my CS, then I will still be using the DAC on my 828. Correct?

Thanks for the input (no pun intended). I'll definitely check out the Apogee cables.

-jordan