Digital audio cables

Question

I've been looking for digital audio cables and have noticed a wide price range, anywhere from $12.95 to $60.00.  Why the wide variance?  Is there that much difference in their capabilities, and if so, what are the differences?

Answer 1

In modern digital audio signals, as I stated earlier, either the signal reaches it's destination, or it does not. With error correction, even small dropouts do not cause signal loss. Since digital signals are not prone to the problems that plague analog signals (inductance, crosstalk, jitter, etc), then expensive cables are not needed. All that is needed is a cable of sufficient length and correct impedance. On consumer grade equipment, the difference between a $3 dollar cable and a $150 dollar cable are completely inaudible to the human ear. Since most audio signals come from a compressed source (mp2, wma, wav, etc), the audible differences are due to the quality o the DACs used, and not the cable that connects the source. Even on the few pieces of equipment that will play the uncompressed audio of a blu-ray disc, cables are much less critical than the equipment used to decode them. There is simply no reason for anyone to spend $50, $60 or more dollars for any digital cable. Extra "shielding" is not needed. Any of the other claims made by cable makers justifying their exorbitant prices are simply marketing hoopla, smoke and mirrors, and in some cases complete and utter nonsense. Any cable of appropriate length and impedance is sufficient.
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