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£79.17Ex. VATThe new C100 Ethernet cable directly replaces Melco’s debut Ethernet cable, the C1AE, with a number of noise reduction upgrades and improved networked audio sound quality.
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AudioQuest
AudioQuest HD6-Forest Digital Coaxial Audio Cable - Custom LengthSKU: AQ HD6 Forest Digi Aud
(8 reviews)£17.08Ex. VATAudioQuest Digital Coax cables are designed to minimize distortion across an extremely wide bandwidth. -
From£45.79Ex. VATAudioQuest Forest Digital Optical cable is constructed with low-dispersion fibers and precision polished fiber ends all contained within a black/green stripe in-wall rated PVC jacket.
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From£62.46Ex. VATAudioQuest USB Type-C cables featuring conductor materials and construction techniques that have allowed AQ’s other USB cables to achieve “Best-In-Class” recognition worldwide.
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From£99.17Ex. VATMost effective at the end (rather than the beginning) of the ‘digital USB audio chain’ the iPurifier 2 cleans up the USB transmission. There is an iPurifier 2 perfectly suited to every DAC. -
AudioQuest
AudioQuest Carbon USB 3.0 Type A to Type Micro B Data CableSKU: AQ Carbon USB 3.0 A-Micro B
(7 reviews)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. -
From£66.62Ex. VATAudioQuest Cinnamon Digital Optical cable is constructed with low-dispersion Higher-Purity Fibers and precision polished fiber ends all contained within a black/red woven weave jacket.
Please note: this cable comes with a 3.5mm mini Toslink adaptor attached to one end. Please remove this to use a standard Toslink connection at both ends.
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SALEFrom£67.50 £75.00Inc. VAT ✓ Save £7.50This high performance silver-plated conductor USB cable has been designed for use with all USB equipped audio equipment. -
£5.00Ex. VATMetz's first priority is to fulfil the high demands to a modern network regarding fast and safe transmission. For this purpose, they offer data cables in copper and fiber optic technology with different performance classes and fiber types for networks that are fit for the future. -
From£62.46Ex. VATAudioQuest USB Type-C cables featuring conductor materials and construction techniques that have allowed AQ’s other USB cables to achieve “Best-In-Class” recognition worldwide.
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Tellurium Q
Tellurium Q Black II Waveform HF Digital RCA CableSKU: TQ Black II Digital RCA
(7 reviews)From£367.50Ex. VATThe 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 RCA cable, and features high-quality plug terminations for an optimal connection which maximises signal transfer.
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★ AwardFrom£31.67Ex. VATThe latest Supra USB cable is fitted with a USB Type C connector at one end and a choice of connectors at the other (such as Type C as well as the older Type A or Type B connectors). As such, it is designed to act as a digital audio cable, between a computer/streamer and a D-to-A convertor (a "DAC"), carrying audio signals from the former. In this way, you can play your music stored on your computer or mobile phone/tablet or media player, via your hi-fi system (if the aforementioned DAC is connected to an audio input of your stereo system).
