[zoom25]

I have explored the cable differences in the recent past here: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=140155.0

Currently using a 18 feet AES cable (Mogami 3173) and really like it over the previous digital cables and/or coaxial output connection I had on the Bryston.

[vonnie123]

Listening to the music is the best part.  A couple of years ago, I put a halt to my habit of constant upgrades.  Bought what I wanted, and just enjoyed the setup.  Only thing I've added (a year ago) is a J River Id music server/ renderer.   Swapping out components and cables is fun, but chasing perfection is tough.  The ROI moving up the ladder of sound is pretty narrow once you have a nice system.  I do agree that examining the power delivery can help.  A power regenerator (I have PS Audio P5) and good cables will help Stabilize power delivery.

[gustavog]

Listening to the music is the best part.  A couple of years ago, I put a halt to my habit of constant upgrades.  Bought what I wanted, and just enjoyed the setup.  Only thing I've added (a year ago) is a J River Id music server/ renderer.   Swapping out components and cables is fun, but chasing perfection is tough.  The ROI moving up the ladder of sound is pretty narrow once you have a nice system.  I do agree that examining the power delivery can help.  A power regenerator (I have PS Audio P5) and good cables will help Stabilize power delivery.

I stopped questioning my cables and now am enjoying the music, as you say. The cables are good to start with: Audience AU-24e for the speakers and Kimber Kable AES-BU (don't remember which one) but, the music is what matters. I appreciate people that do enjoy music, no matter how crappily is played. I rather have it faithfully reproduced but I am an agnostic. Until the next upgrade, hahaha

[Grit]

I'm done chasing the proverbial audio perfection too. I'm now interested in adding a BIT-20, the IAD card to my BDP-2, and perhaps upgrading my BDA-2 to a BDA-3. I just figured if the USB sounded as good as the AES/EBU on a BDA-3, I might use JUST the USB.

After that, I might consider sending my 4B-SST2 and 6B-SST2 in for the cubed upgrades.

The other thing I've given some consideration to spending money on is Roon and/or JRiver (or some such audio software) that will increase the user-friendly aspect. If Roon ends up working and Roon eventually integrates other popular streaming services (Pandora, Spotify, etc), I could get rid of my Sonos equipment (which I keep only for the convenience of the interface). That'd really be my FIRST priority. Ease of use makes a huge difference!

[Jhayman]

I use..

AES/EBU Audioquest Carbon
USB Audioquest Forest
I have not tried S/PDIF yet, looking at Brystons cable..
Using a standard e-Sata cable from external Harddrive to BDP-2
Also running a 500G internal drive..love it..

[Jhayman]

Also did I read on here somewhere that you should disconnect the AES/EBU cable to truly listen to USB connection?

[tie_breaker]

Listening to the music is the best part.  A couple of years ago, I put a halt to my habit of constant upgrades.  Bought what I wanted, and just enjoyed the setup.  Only thing I've added (a year ago) is a J River Id music server/ renderer.   Swapping out components and cables is fun, but chasing perfection is tough.  The ROI moving up the ladder of sound is pretty narrow once you have a nice system.  I do agree that examining the power delivery can help.  A power regenerator (I have PS Audio P5) and good cables will help Stabilize power delivery.

Well said!!!! Chasing perfection is very costly...

[tie_breaker]

Anyone using audioquest digital cables that have the dielectric bias system with bdp or bda? Any feedback? Thx

[Speedskater]

The digital interconnect system is very robust so:
a] For AES/EBU nothing beats a good 110 Ohm Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) from a major bulk cable manufacture.
b] For SP/DIF nothing beats a good 75 Ohm coax from a major bulk cable manufacture.

[CanadianMaestro]

I use Cardas Clear AES for my BDP/BDA connection, bought cheap from CAM. End-game there.

[CanadianMaestro]

The USB cable that connects a pocket drive (e.g. 500GB G-Drive) to the back of a BDP: Does anybody use a higher-end USB cable there? Just curious. I use a cheap Furutech USB A-B cable. I've never heard any diff in SQ with the USB connection between my pocket drives and BDP.

[saveloy]

The USB cable that connects a pocket drive (e.g. 500GB G-Drive) to the back of a BDP: Does anybody use a higher-end USB cable there? Just curious. I use a cheap Furutech USB A-B cable. I've never heard any diff in SQ with the USB connection between my pocket drives and BDP.

The cable on that connection won'y make any difference to sound quality.  Since, it only carries data & not an audio signal.

Kyri

[CanadianMaestro]

The cable on that connection won'y make any difference to sound quality.  Since, it only carries data & not an audio signal.

Kyri

Really? The AES and BNC cables connecting BDP to BDA "only carry data" and yet, can "sound" different. All other things constant. I think there's more to it than it seems....

[Marius]

Really? The AES and BNC cables connecting BDP to BDA "only carry data" and yet, can "sound" different. All other things constant. I think there's more to it than it seems....

Surely the cables' differences in 'sound' can only have to do with their ability of keeping out bad influences, causing distortion of those 0 and 1's. Jitter. James wrote at length on that here on AC.


If properly designed devices concur with scientific electronic and digital principles, (as the Brystons do) alleged sound differences will always be caused by confirmation bias, maybe even cognitive dissonance?

(and testing confirmed  the cheapest of stock usb cable i tried didn't sound any different from the Audioquest Topline cable.... what can i say, nothing fancy about that stock cable. Design principles seem not to complex here?) Must confess i use an AQ though Its a good looker.

Cheers,
Marius

[Grit]

The USB cable that connects a pocket drive (e.g. 500GB G-Drive) to the back of a BDP: Does anybody use a higher-end USB cable there? Just curious. I use a cheap Furutech USB A-B cable. I've never heard any diff in SQ with the USB connection between my pocket drives and BDP.

Some people hear differences; others don't. Let YOUR ears decide.

That being said, I've seen some reviews claiming a rather comparatively inexpensive USB cables sounds as good or better than some very expensive ones. Absolute Sound published one such review in February of this year http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/oyaide-neo-d-class-a-usb-20-cable/?utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=email-468. Best part is, the cable costs a whopping $70 on Amazon.com.

Given how much we all spend on audio equipment, a $70 cable (which you can return if it doesn't work out) seems like a proportionally reasonable experiment. Compare it to something simple (perhaps from monoprice.com or also from Amazon.com). If you don't hear a difference, return it. Either way though, I'd love to read about your experience if you try it.

[CanadianMaestro]

@Grit, I agree with the essence of your message. Pricing isn't always a guarantee of good SQ. For me, I spend the least on USB cabling, the most on analog interconnects. Power cabling for amps comes next. With Bryston poweramps, the law of diminished returns kicks in big time.

Enjoy the music, spend it on music.

[DarqueKnight]

With the BDP-2 in my two channel system, I use:

Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver AES/EBU cable between the BDP-2 and a dCS Debussy DAC. The output of the BDP-2 is synched to a dCS Puccini word clock via a USB connection. The USB cable is a Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver USB 2.0 cable.

With the BDP-2 in my office system, I use:

Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver USB 2.0 cable between the BDP-2 and a Cary Audio DAC-100.
Signal Cable coax between the BDP-2 and a Cary Audio DAC-100.

The only downside to the RAL cables is that the manufacturer is a one-man operation and it takes around 6 months to ship orders. They are worth the wait though.

Some reference threads:

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/comment/2201805#Comment_2201805

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/165959/digital-interconnect-cables-whats-your-experience/p1

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/165959/digital-interconnect-cables-whats-your-experience/p4

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/165959/digital-interconnect-cables-whats-your-experience/p2

Both of my BDP-2s have the Integrated Audio Device sound card upgrade. The DAC-100 will be replaced with a Bryston BDA-3 next week. I will revisit trying various USB and coax cables after the BDA-3 is broken in.