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£11,241.67Ex. VATNordost's Odin 2 range is the 'Supreme Reference' for top-of-the-range audiophile equipment. Each component of the Odin 2 range is meticulously crafted to ensure the most performance out of your system. The Odin 2 110 Ohm cable is perfectly matched to ensure optimal signal transfer between your equipment. The retention of detail from the Odin 2 110 Ohm raises your system to new heights.
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From£389.17Ex. VAT
The Black cables by Tellurium Q were a multi-award-winning range, but Tellurium decided that to overhaul the whole series. The result is the Black II range, an upgrade on those already exceptional cables, but delivered at the same price as the previous generation! This product is the new version of the Black Digital XLR cable, otherwise known as AES/EBU. AES/EBU connections are usually found on very high-end equipment, and if you have a choice between AES/EBU and Digital RCA, we would always recommend AES/EBU as it comfortably outperforms the RCA equivalent with a resistance of 110-Ohm compared to 75-Ohm.
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From£2,858.33Ex. VATNordost’s Valhalla 2 Ethernet Cable allows music lovers to fully incorporate digital music storage and streaming into their reference audio systems, while maintaining, and even improving upon, their musical performance.
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From£11.19Ex. VATBlustreams' Micro Form USB-C cables offer data, power and video pass-through for equipment. USB3.1 Gen 1 design allows transfer speeds supported up to 5Gbps and video resolutions from USB-C source devices allow for up to 4K 60Hz 4:4:4 resolutions to be distributed. -
From£8.95Ex. VATBlustream's Micro Form USB Type A to Type B cables offer a discreet plug design for tight spaces and compact installations. USB transfer rates of up to 480Mbps are supported with backwards compatibility with USB1.1 devices. -
From£195.83Ex. VATFeaturing a solid core OCC copper conductor, the Hyper sc USB cable has been engineered to provide an extremely high level of performance from file-based (PC or streaming) audio sources. The Hyper has been created with a particular emphasis on minimising the effects of low-level RFI and EMI on digital audio signals, which can degrade perceived dynamic range and add a characteristic ‘digital glare’ to the sound of the system, which typically results in listener fatigue. -
From£204.17Ex. VATThe latest member of Atlas' multi-award winning Hyper family, the Hyper AES-EBU is an optimum quality 110 Ohm cable for this increasingly popular interface. To keep cost down, Atlas use their low contact resistance soldered XLR plug; to maximise performance, they employ highly conductive silver-plated OFC conductors with a microporous dielectric and doubled shielding configuration. -
From£1,206.50Inc. VATAtlas' ultimate wide-bandwidth S/PDIF cable, featuring a high-purity solid silver conductor, and a graded multi-layer ‘combination’ dielectric painstakingly constructed to fully exploit the physical stability of foamed Polyethylene and the super efficiency of microporous PTFE. This construction, incorporating three layers of shielding, ensures the cable strictly adheres to a true 75 Ohm impedance to minimise jitter.
Please note: other, custom LUXE finish colours are available from Atlas upon request. Please contact us for further information.
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From£1,005.42Ex. VATAtlas' ultimate wide-bandwidth S/PDIF cable, featuring a high-purity solid silver conductor, and a graded multi-layer ‘combination’ dielectric painstakingly constructed to fully exploit the physical stability of foamed Polyethylene and the super efficiency of microporous PTFE. This construction, incorporating three layers of shielding, ensures the cable strictly adheres to a true 75 Ohm impedance to minimise jitter.
Please note: other, custom LUXE finish colours are available from Atlas upon request. Please contact us for further information.
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£1,250.00Ex. VATThe Alpha range from Shunyata Research approaches the pinnacle of their digital cables, introducing for the first time their proprietary Cmode filters - designed to combat the effects of RFI without introducing the sonic compression effects associated wiht conventional filters. This cable also features proprietary ArNi ® VTX, OFE and OCC conductors. -
£1,458.33Ex. VATThe Alpha range from Shunyata Research approaches the pinnacle of their digital cables, introducing for the first time their proprietary Cmode filters - designed to combat the effects of RFI without introducing the sonic compression effects associated wiht conventional filters. This cable also features proprietary ArNi ® VTX, OFE and OCC conductors. -
£1,875.00Ex. VATThe Sigma range from Shunyata Research approaches the pinnacle of their digital cables, introducing dual Cmode filters - designed to combat the effects of RFI without introducing the sonic compression effects associated wiht conventional filters. This cable also features proprietary ArNi ® VTX, OFE and OCC conductors, and like all Shunyata Research cables it undergoes 4 days of their KPIP processing.
