Digital
USB, ethernet, optical, coaxial and AES/EBU cables for streaming and digital audio. The connections between computers, servers, streamers and DACs.
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Digital cable, and why it is not only data
A digital cable either delivers the data or it does not, but that is only half the story. Timing errors and electrical noise travel along the cable alongside the signal and arrive at the DAC, where both affect what comes out of the analogue stage. This is why digital cables can sound different from one another despite carrying identical data.
Choose by connection first. USB is the most common link from a computer or streamer to a DAC. Ethernet carries network audio and is the fastest growing area in digital hi-fi. Optical isolates two components electrically, which helps where noise is a problem, but has bandwidth limits at high sample rates. Coaxial S/PDIF generally handles higher rates and keeps a direct electrical connection. AES/EBU on XLR is the professional standard and appears on higher end transports and DACs.
Impedance is not optional on coaxial and AES/EBU, at 75 ohm and 110 ohm respectively, so a standard interconnect is not a substitute even though the plugs fit. Tell us the source, the DAC and the sample rates involved and we will tell you which connection to use.
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★ AwardQED
QED Performance Toslink Digital Optical Audio Cable GraphiteSKU: QED Performance Optical
(51 reviews)From£49.17Ex. VATQED's multi-award winning Toslink optical digital audio cable relies on PMMA acrylic glass fibre to carry high frequency signals with ease, designed to minimise light absorption and allow more rays to travel along the cable by reducing the angle of incidence for internal reflection. This cable delivers a nicely balanced sound with full bass and punchy, precise high ends.
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£10.00Ex. VATBuilt with Solid Long-Grain Copper and 100% shielded gold-plated connectors, AudioQuest's CAT7 Pearl allows 10G ethernet over up to 100 metres. Unlike the CAT6, each signal pair in the CAT7 is insulated from the others, allowing it to achieve a higher grading. This cable delivers excellent performance for streaming audio or video, and as always provides a more reliable connection than wi-fi.
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From£107.50Ex. VAT
QED's Reference Optical Quartz Cable is built with 210 separate Glasscore™ (boro-silicate glass) fibres that produce straighter signal paths, delivering ultra-low jitter signal transfer. The result is a clear, open sound.
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£11.67Ex. VATThe SUPRA CAT8 is a sturdy cable providing extreme performance with a bandwidth of 2000MHz. Flame-retardant and double-shielded, it does an excellent job in avoiding lag in audio or video. It is also still backwards-compatible with standard Cat 6A. The custom lengths come with Future Shop custom terminations, made of nickel-plated zinc by Telegärtner.
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From£432.50Ex. VATOver the past several years there’s been a revolution in the way people store, distribute, and access digital media (in real time), including photos, movies, and, of course, music. -
From£91.62Ex. VATOver the past several years there’s been a revolution in the way people store, distribute, and access digital media (in real time), including photos, movies, and, of course, music. -
★ AwardQED
QED Performance Digital Coaxial Audio Cable - Custom LengthSKU: QED Performance Digi Coax Custom
(28 reviews)£29.12Ex. VATQED's multi award winning coaxial optical digital audio cable. -
From£24.17Ex. VATPerformance USB is designed specifically for the transmission of high definition digital audio between USB audio components. -
★ AwardFrom£31.67Ex. VATSupra's award-winning USB 2.0 Typa A to Type B cable features two twisted pairs- one for data, one for power- and 24K gold-plated terminations to deliver strong signal transfer and clear sound.
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★ AwardFrom£37.50Ex. VATThe Formula 2 is a beautifully engineered and built USB 2.0 cable for enthusiasts with growing music collections on their computer hard drives looking for high-performance sound.
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From£45.42Ex. VATThe new generation of Atlas' acclaimed Element, with a solid core copper conductor, designed to provide maximum performance from computer audio sources. Typically used to connect a Mac, PC or streamer to the DAC or digital input in your hifi system. -
£4.17Ex. VATBuilt with Solid Long-Grain Copper and 100% shielded gold-plated connectors, AudioQuest's CAT6 Pearl allows 10G ethernet over up to 55 metres. This cable delivers excellent performance for streaming audio or video, and as always provides a more reliable connection than wi-fi.
