RCA - XLR Digital Interconnect

[Fretless]

Thanks again, Doc,

[Fretless]

Here's a note for those owners of a Musical Fidelity M1DAC or AES/EBU equipped device. The M1DAC is a superb piece of apparatus, certainly for its' price and I have yet to hear any convertor that sounds noticeably better. But the input options are somewhat limited: 1x RCA coax, 1x Toslink optical, 1x USB and 1x XLR AES/EBU.
I have a CD player into the coax and a netbook on the USB. So when I wanted to run my Sonos Connect through the dac I had to use Toslink (not my favourite). Finding a set of RCA/XLR cables that used to belong to an equaliser, I thought I would see if they gave me a better connection than the optical; so, XLR plug into the M1DAC and RCA end into the Sonos. Much better. A clearer and more dynamic sound than optical.
On the internet I found differing comments about impedance used in XLR cabling but the dac seemed perfectly happy with the input, however I did have severe doubts about the quality of the cable involved and I pestered the Doc into making a new one for me. So now I have installed a lovingly crafted 50cm NVA SSC RCA/XLR cable and been able to give the new connection a listen.
First thought was, there is less music! It was as if I was listening to a different mix of the same album, stripped down. But after a bit I realised that it is the accuracy of the SSC that gives a far sharper focus, sounds that were spread out in the image were tighter, better placed and defined.
The bass test. Laurie Anderson's 'Gravity's Angel' with its subsonic earthquake effects. Prior to my A40 amp upgrade, my MMG speakers were not capable of getting down that low but, to my surprise, the new digital connections improves this even further and the effect is clearly audible . The bottom line is that the SSC is just far more musical and giving more insight.

Anyway. If you want to get more out of the M1DAC - you can use the XLR input, and SSC as a digital interconnect is simply superb. I'll do a comparison with my Supra Trico RCA cable soon and see how that measures up.

[Welder]

If I have to have a connector then I favour XLR. BNC is good as well.

I doubt there is much if anything in the way of audible difference but XLR does ime provide a more secure connection then RCA and allows for separate +, - and ground.
Also, it’s relatively easy to get cables with XLR connectors; BNC are not so common.

The differences between balanced, not balanced, semi balanced, can ime make a very small audible difference but this does seem to depend on the configurations of the kit they connect.

What I really dislike, apart from IEC is USB connectors and I’m just waiting for the courage to alter my Benchmark’s USB ports to 5 pin XLR to match my music server; not because I believe it will sound any better, but because I’ve had so many problems with USB plugs and sockets disconnecting or breaking.

[Fretless]

Hmm. An NVA USB cable - now there's a thought.

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

That is not a thought, it is a nightmare, so don't ask.

[Fretless]

Only kidding!

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

I really don't care what the digital experts say about digital systems, but digital interconnects and connecting types make as much difference as analogue ones. Interface is important which creates a synergy aspect.

This is a reality but beware of the bullshitters and rip-off merchants like MCRU who will hype this up and over inflate the importance to make their slurp. Mains cabling IMO is the least important but it is still important to get it right, in my case you have to trust my ears (as you do with all part inside NVA products) to make good choices, as they are fixed.

Just remember ANY hardwired connection HAS to be better than the best plug and socket you can buy. BUT hardwiring is a PITA if you are changing things on a regular or even semi regular basis, so as with all things compromise is often required.

[Fretless]

A question for the digital freaks, has anyone tried both SSC and SSP (mk2) as a Digital Interconnect - and is there any difference between them?

I just put an SSC in between my CD and DAC and heard a large difference when compared to the Supra cable I currently have there. The SSC was vivid to the point of brashness - but much more lifelike than the pleasantly restrained portayal of the Supra.
What I hope is that an SSP would give a slightly more polite performance than the SSC although retaining the forward liveliness.

Comments anyone?

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

It is the same level of difference between cables for both Digital and Analogue applications.

[Fretless]

Thankyou Doc, I thought as much.
I know your order book is pretty full as the moment - special edition headphone amps, etc., but I might just order an SSP soon to try it out