[Samurai7595]

I'm currently using the Bryston AES/EBU 110-ohm digital cable (1m) to connect my Bryston BDP-2 to my DAC.

Q1. I've read various claims that when it comes to digital cables, a minimum of 1.5 meter length should be used "because of the propagation speed of the digital signal in wire, the reflective nature of digital transmissions, and the non critical holes in the digital format in which reflections will not jitter the proceeding information".  Is this true?

Q2. What make/model AES/EBU 110-ohm cable are you using with your Bryston digital player?

[Rod_S]

I don't have the BDP-2 yet but when I get it in June(ish) I have been toying with getting a Siltech Golden Ridge II. I'll initally be using a Kimber Toslink cable though just to see/hear how that works seeing as I have the spare cable as it was being used for my CD player.

[loving_it]

I had this AES/EBU 110-ohm cable built for me after comparing it to other cables it was a easy decision , I use it for my Totaldac setup .

I had Paul from Many Moons Audio build it for me , its 2meters

 "Here is the description from Many Moons".....
 
The Cable contains the best materials I can get. The cable is made for me, to my standards, using the materials I wanted used. It is made with strict 110 ohm measured impedance, as well as particular attention to damping throughout the entire design. It uses very high purity solid copper twisted pair, that are quite a bit larger than typically offered in AES/EBU cables, double shielded, with foil under silver braid. Terminated with Furutech's best CF XLR Connectors, which are also designed with damping properties as priority. The outer jacket of the cable was sized so that the CF Connectors fit absolutely perfectly, just so I could use these connectors with no extra modifications to get a proper strain relief. The difference the connectors alone make is really stunning! Dielectrics and damping control materials are also specifically selected and are not used in any AES/EBU cable I am aware of. I also pay particular attention to the terminating, which I find is also very important.

[Speedskater]

Q1. I've read various claims that when it comes to digital cables, a minimum of 1.5 meter length should be used "because of the propagation speed of the digital signal in wire, the reflective nature of digital transmissions, and the non critical holes in the digital format in which reflections will not jitter the proceeding information".  Is this true?

No!
It's just another audiophile urban legend.

[loving_it]

I'm currently using the Bryston AES/EBU 110-ohm digital cable (1m) to connect my Bryston BDP-2 to my DAC.

Q1. I've read various claims that when it comes to digital cables, a minimum of 1.5 meter length should be used "because of the propagation speed of the digital signal in wire, the reflective nature of digital transmissions, and the non critical holes in the digital format in which reflections will not jitter the proceeding information".  Is this true?

Q2. What make/model AES/EBU 110-ohm cable are you using with your Bryston digital player?

I never buy any digital cable under 1.5m

[Samurai7595]

No!
It's just another audiophile urban legend.

Maybe not.

This article talks about S/PDIF (75-ohm) but I'm not sure if it's also relevant for AES/EBU (110-ohm):
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue14/spdif.htm

[Speedskater]

Maybe not.
This article talks about S/PDIF (75-ohm) but I'm not sure if it's also relevant for AES/EBU (110-ohm):
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue14/spdif.htm

One of positive-feedback's main functions is to spread audiophile urban legends.  They have little interest or understanding of science and engineering.

[Norton]

I'm currently using the Bryston AES/EBU 110-ohm digital cable (1m) to connect my Bryston BDP-2 to my DAC.

Q1. I've read various claims that when it comes to digital cables, a minimum of 1.5 meter length should be used "because of the propagation speed of the digital signal in wire, the reflective nature of digital transmissions, and the non critical holes in the digital format in which reflections will not jitter the proceeding information".  Is this true?

Q2. What make/model AES/EBU 110-ohm cable are you using with your Bryston digital player?

I use LAT digital AES i/c with my BDP-2 , only 1m but very happy even though I probably "jitter the proceeding information" (does that even mean anything?)

[Grit]

Empirical Audio has been around for a while. From what I've read both at Empirical Audio and on the Audio Circle Empirical Audio board (http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=40.0), Steve appears to has a rather good understanding of the science and engineering in digital audio.

The cable length may or may not increase jitter. I have no idea. I'd be more concerned as to whether the cable and terminations are 75 ohm (BNC/RCA) or 110 ohm (AES/EBU).

Since Bryston doesn't (to my knowledge) recommend digital cables at or over 1.5m in length, I'm tempted to believe that if cable length can increase jitter, the design of the Bryston BDA-2 and/or BDP-2 resolve this issue and make cable length irrelevant.

[BrystonFan]

If you stack the BDP1/2 on a BDA/2/3 can you not use a "short" length under 1.5M ?

[Tympani]

I use 2 different cables, a HiDiamond AES/EBU Digital Reference, and a WyWires Gold AES. Both are 1 meter. Both very enjoyable, each with slightly different "flavors". HiDiamond is hefty, full bodied and detailed and quiet. WyWyres slightly more airy, slightly wider stage, but a tad more forward. HiDiamond is my favorite (for now).

My components are separated by 8 inches. I have no way of knowing whether 1.5 meter lengths would sound better. It's that "in theory" and "in-practice" thing. Happy with what I've got! Just wish I could get the best of each rolled into 1 cable

[rollo]

I never buy any digital cable under 1.5m

   Agree 100%. George Cardas proved it to us at a NY audio show back in the day. According to Cardas reflections are an issue. If I remember correctly the desired length was 17 ft. I know some feel he wants to sell you more cable. The tech. explanation at the time was over my head so cannot comment on the measurements Cardas conducted.
   When I used a DAC for me a 3 mtr was much better than a one meter. Maybe we could get Cardas to comment. That would stir it up a bit 


charles

[rollo]

I'm currently using the Bryston AES/EBU 110-ohm digital cable (1m) to connect my Bryston BDP-2 to my DAC.

Q1. I've read various claims that when it comes to digital cables, a minimum of 1.5 meter length should be used "because of the propagation speed of the digital signal in wire, the reflective nature of digital transmissions, and the non critical holes in the digital format in which reflections will not jitter the proceeding information".  Is this true?

Q2. What make/model AES/EBU 110-ohm cable are you using with your Bryston digital player?

   Try single ended in lieu of balanced. You just may be surprised as to the result. BNC if you have available would be my first choice over RCA or balanced. Try it at least a learning experience.


charles

[Socal77]

I have a cable loom of all Nordost power, digital, and signal cables, mostly Valhalla. I connect a Bryston BDP-1 to a PSAudio PerfectWave DAC with a Valhalla 2M 75 ohm cable.  Nordost s one of the companies that recommends at least 1.5M for digital cables. They also are a believer in the importance of the proper impedance, either 75 ohm for S/PDIF or 110 ohm for AES/EBU.  Although the Valhalla I have has WBT RCAs that are supposed to be 75 ohm, some will make the case that only a BNC connection can truly be 75 ohm.  Bryston had the insight to use BNC or AES/EBU on the BDP-1. Unfortunately, PS Audio has inputs of RCA connected S/PDIF (or AES/EBU or TOS link, or I-squared-S). No BNC connector. I have had extensive discussions with Nordost about the connectors on my cable (I will see them today at Audiogon in Chicago). Nordost now only terminates 75 ohm cables with BNC and provides an adaptor to connect with RCA if needed. Believe it or not, they claim going I would be better off to reterminating my RCA Valhalla to BNC on both ends, using the BNC to connect to the BDP-1 and a BNC-to-RCA adaptor to the PS Audio Direct Stream.  On the other hand, PS Audio claims there unit is very forgiving regarding incoming jitter.  I may order a Bryston AES/EBU to connect the BDP-! to the DirectStream and see if I can hear a difference.

As a side note, Shunyata and Nordost recommend minimum lengths for power cables as well. If I recall it is 1.8M for Shunyata and  2M for Nordost. Lest we think this is ONLY a ploy to sell more cable, a good friend of mine witnessed a demonstration were a Nordost Odin 2M cable was used as the cable from the wall. After an extensive listening time, the 2M Odin was replaced with an 8M Odin (for which you could swap for a European sports sedan).  According to my friend, the improvement  was unquestionable.

[bjski]

I'm using Wireworld Platium AES. .6 meter, with my BDA-2 & BDP-2. The cable seems to work fine. I'm happy.....I'm using Bryston Coaxil  1 meter going to my Onkyo Pre-amp from my BDP-1 using the Onkyo Dac's. I'm waiting for the BDA-3 to move into the 2 channel system and the BDA-2 going into the home theater.