[santacore]

I've had a Norost silver shadow for the last few years between my Olive Musica and my Lavry DA10. Overall it's a great sounding cable. In my opinion it's strength are speed, high freq. detail, and air. The down side is that in some systems it sounds cold and a bit bright. I'm looking to try something new and would love to hear peoples opinions. I'm currently running some quicksilver tubes amps (until my ARS-Sonum arrives) and some Merlin TSM's. The rest of my cables are the newest version Grovers. Any thoughts on something else to try in the same price range?

[Marbles]

VH Pulsar with Copper (gold) WBT NextGen terminals should be on your short list to audition.

[satfrat]

I really like my VH Audio Cryo Pulsar digital cable with Nextgen Gold Rca's that goes from my HTPC soundcard to my processor. I also use a Cryoed Slipstream Bybee Rca adapter on this cable that made an already crystal clear digital cable more dynamic. This combination has me not looking for an upgrade period. ymmv,,,,,  


Robin

ps, ya beat me to it Marbles, 

[sunshinedawg]

I too have the VH pulsar and think it is very good.

[santacore]

Wow, it's unanimous. The price sure is right so I'll have to give this cable a try. What's the preferred length? I'm good with 1M but some people say 1.5 sounds better.

[BrianM]

What's the preferred length? I'm good with 1M but some people say 1.5 sounds better.

You have GOT to be kidding me.

[IronLion]

What's the preferred length? I'm good with 1M but some people say 1.5 sounds better.

You have GOT to be kidding me.

Written by Steve at Empirical Audio...no kidding there. 

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue14/spdif.htm

[santacore]

Thanks IronLion, I knew it was based on some fact but I couldn't remember where I had read it. I'm guessing the difference is minor but like all things audio it's worth considering. I'm sure everyone on this board is guilty of trying tweaks in order to get that last percentage of resolution.

[satfrat]

Thanks IronLion, I knew it was based on some fact but I couldn't remember where I had read it. I'm guessing the difference is minor but like all things audio it's worth considering. I'm sure everyone on this board is guilty of trying tweaks in order to get that last percentage of resolution.

Hey now, I resemble that remark.  

[*Scotty*]

santacore, you might try using a glass fiber optic cable between your server and your DAC. An inexpensive cable can be obtained from MCM
Electronics for about $26.99. See link  http://www.mcminone.com/search.asp?keyword=24-6485&btnSubmit.x=0&btnSubmit.y=0&btnSubmit=GO
By using an optical interface you leave behind noise from the servers ground plane. At $27 it would be a cheap experiment.
Scotty

[BrianM]

Thanks IronLion, I knew it was based on some fact but I couldn't remember where I had read it. I'm guessing the difference is minor but like all things audio it's worth considering. I'm sure everyone on this board is guilty of trying tweaks in order to get that last percentage of resolution.

So you think jitter will be an issue with your Lavry DA, in spite of the fact that it buffers the bitstream with a crystal clock.

[santacore]

As far as I know I don't have any jitter issues. The Lavry has been a great piece and I have no concern about it. I simply want to try a new digital cable because I thought the Nordost could be a tad bright, that's it. I only mentioned the length issue because I read somewhere that it can affect the sound.

[BrianM]

I don't know if I've ever heard of brightness being an issue with anything besides an analog cable, but if you hear it you hear it.  Anyway the length thing was supposed to address jitter, according to Empirical Audio.  Maybe that relates to brightness, but I'm not sure how.

[santacore]

BrianM,

That's an interesting thought. Now maybe the brightness is not specifically related to the digital cable, rather it brings out the brightness in other parts of the chain. I'd like to get other peopels thoughts on that. What I do know is that there are definite sonic differences between digital cables.

[pardales]

I have always had very good luck with the Stereovox XV2 -- retails for around $150.

[RichardS]

I have both the XV2 and the Pulsar (different systems but both from an Olive source) and they're both very good and good values. Not sure however how much of an upgrade they'd be for you, though the Pulsar is somewhat warmer sounding.

Digital cables can be system dependent. I had a recent experience at a local meet-up where the XV2 sounded quite lean in comparison to an Analysis+ and (expensive) JPS. I took the A+ home to compare to the XV2 on my system and didn't hear nearly as much difference (though there was some -- and I use another digital cable afterwards IMS -- a Stealth Sextet -- best I've used but very expensive).

If you're looking for warmth without giving up air and detail, I've had very good results with the FIM Gold, a Concierto Violin and a Sonoran Plateau Lambda. They can be found used at pretty reasonable prices. Down a notch (and cheaper) but still good were the Straightwire Infolink and the Electra IC (used as digital). I've also been pretty impressed with a Ridge St Poiema in a second system, but it's less warm than some of the others.

[marvda1]

try this cable, no kidding it will not break the bank.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSAA:US:11&Item=330175232340

[art]

Digital cables are system dependent. Short lengths (<1m) are the worst. They can sound bright, dull, and everything in between, and there is absolutely no way to predict how they will sound on a system. There is lots of technical mumbo-jumbo that explains that, but it all comes down to you have to listen to one on your system to know how it will sound. You can not go by suggestions of others.

DACs that employ fancy reclocking circuits may be less sensitive to cable differences than a typical unit. Or perhaps I should say "ought to be less sensitive". That is part of what all that fancy circuitry is supposed to fix. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.

Pat