AES/EBU to Spdif

[macnugget]

Hi

Could someone advise me whether using a digital cable with AES/EBU (dac end) at one end and Spdif (source end) on the other would be better than using a coaxial digital cable?

Thanks

Stephen

[lovejoy]

Unless you do it properly then there's absolutely no benefit to it, and it's questionable whether there's any point in doing it properly unless you have no choice.

AES/EBU digital connections are 110ohm, SPDIF is 75ohm. Over short runs you can get a working signal by just connecting one directly to the other, but the mismatch in impedance is going to create reflections in the signal, so best avoided if signal integrity is your goal.

To do it properly, you'd want a balancing transformer to match the changes in impedance.

I'd say if it's SPDIF at one end, then stick with SPDIF at the other end as well.

[macnugget]

http://www.awdiy.com/index.php?page=75-110-ohms-digital-cable

You mean something like this? Is this a worthwhile exercise to have one made?

[Reid Malenfant]

I did something very similar to that on a cable i have here. I wanted to use the AES/EBU balanced output of one of my transports & run a balanced cable to connect to a phono socket. What i did was wind a small impedance matching transformer using a ferrite bead & fitted it inside of the phono plug. Balanced to unbalanced, it's still in use right this very second ;)

Looks to be very similar except i used a balanced 110 ohm cable & had the transformer in the phono plug rather than the other way around. In all honesty it must be better to make use of that balanced cable rather than single ended, simply because it rejects interference better.

[macnugget]

I managed to source the transformer and it is about £22 and with the cable and connectors it will cost around £30.

Alternatively I can get a Mark Grant cable with BNC (dac) to RCA (cdp) for £33, I could do with a bit of advice here.

I know we are not talking about a lot of money, but I already have too much cables lying around doing nothing and I certainly don't want to do it the hard way again.

[Reid Malenfant]

If i am to be honest & given your choices i'd go for the Mark Grant BNC to Phono ;) Ok, i haven't ever owned one but i do use his HDMI cables & frankly they pee all over everything else i have used :eyebrows:

I think you'll find his audio interconnects well regarded on here also. Save yourself a load of hassle making your own lead & buy one that'll do an excellent job straight out of the box.

I might have made this thing myself but in all honesty for me it was zero hassle, for others it could be a nightmare...

[macnugget]

Thanks Mark. l think you are right and it is also my preference to go with the MG.