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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From£29.12Ex. VATAudioQuest Pearl Digital Optical cable is constructed with low-dispersion fibers and precision polished fiber ends all contained within a black/gray stripe in-wall rated PVC jacket. -
SALE
QED
QED Performance Graphite USB Type A to Type B Cable - Black November DealSKU: QED Performance USB A-B
(23 reviews)From£21.62 £24.17Ex. VAT ✓ Save £2.54Performance USB is designed specifically for the transmission of high definition digital audio between USB audio components. -
From£62.46Ex. VAT
The Forest USB Type C to USB Type B data cable by AudioQuest benefits from Hard-Cell foam insulation, gold-plated terminations and solid conductors with a high-purity silver surface, which approaches the performance of a solid silver cable but at a price more common for copper. This cable delivers balanced sound at a very reasonable price.
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SALEFrom£61.87 £68.75Ex. VAT ✓ Save £6.88The C-stream is a very high quality Cat 7 specification cable; the contacts are gold-plated and the plug body is over-moulded, which provides excellent reliability and secure strain relief without deforming the cable and affecting performance. -
From£37.46Ex. VATAudioQuest's Forest Digital Coax cables are designed to minimize distortion across an extremely wide bandwidth. For many applications, the speed of digital communication is important. -
From£157.50Ex. VATFor many applications, the speed of digital communication is important. Most visibly, "speed" is about transferring large files as quickly as possible, or carrying enough data for an HD video. -
SALEFrom£56.25 £62.50Ex. VAT ✓ Save £6.25The Chord C-digital is designed to work with CD players, streaming devices, DVD players and any other component with a digital coaxial output. -
From£33.29Ex. 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. -
SALEQED
QED Performance Graphite Ethernet Cable - Black November DealSKU: QED Performance Ethernet
(16 reviews)From£21.62 £24.17Ex. VAT ✓ Save £2.54Performance Ethernet is designed specifically for the transmission of high definition digital audio. -
English Electric
English Electric 8 Switch Audio Grade 8 Port Gigabit Streaming SwitchSKU: EES0001.001.1
(16 reviews)£470.83Ex. VATThe 8switch by English Electric (a Chord Company brand), is an 8 port GbE Ethernet switch modified and upgraded to our specific requirements for high-performance music streaming networks. -
SALEQED
QED Reference Digital XLR 40 AES/EBU Audio Cable - Black November DealSKU: QED XLR 40 AES/EBU
(15 reviews)From£81.62 £90.83Ex. VAT ✓ Save £9.21Reference XLR 40 builds on the multi-award winning audio 40 range of products, now available in digital AES/EBU form. -
AudioQuest
AudioQuest Pearl USB Type A to USB Type Micro B Data CableSKU: AQ Pearl USB A-Micro B
(14 reviews)From£37.46Ex. VATFor many applications, the speed of digital communication is important. Most visibly, "speed" is about transferring large files as quickly as possible, or carrying enough data for an HD video.
