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Digital Drive: REVIEW: DH Labs Silver Sonic D-75/D-110 Digital Cable by Todd Krieger

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REVIEW: DH Labs Silver Sonic D-75/D-110 Digital Cable

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Model: Silver Sonic D-75/D-110 Digital
Category: Cable
Suggested Retail Price: $75/1m S/PDIF; $90/1m AES/EBU
Description: D-75 Coax- Available in RCA, BNC, or Bulk DIY; D-110 AES/EBU Balanced. Precision Impedance. Silver Plated Copper Conductors. OFC Copper Terminations. 100% Shielding.
Manufacturer URL: DH Labs
Model Picture: View

Review by Todd Krieger ( R ) on February 05, 2002 at 23:40:28
IP Address: 208.176.170.135
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for the Silver Sonic D-75/D-110 Digital


After discovering the sonic virtues of pure copper connectors in the line level, I had an interest in the DH Labs Silver Sonic DH-75 and DH-110 digital cables, in S/PDIF and AES/EBU formats respectively- two digital cables that use *pure* copper in their connectors. (The connectors are proprietary DH Labs. DIY with the available *bulk* cable with *different* connectors may yield disappointing results.) Throw in the claims about tight conductor/dielectric tolerances to establish a precise characteristic impedance, 100 percent shielding, and the reasonable price, and it became an instant candidate, in my opinion, for dethroning the Luminous Audio Allegro AES/EBU in the main system and the Belden 89108 in the "B" system.

I first got the AES/EBU D-110 version, and in the main system, there was a sonic transformation in the frequency extremes, stage size, and accuracy of timbre, with a **striking** improvement in regard to *lack* of digial artifacts. The frequency extremes are impacted in the form of a *powerful* and delineated bottom-end response, and a sense of "air" and natural attacks and decays of cymbals and percussion- This is something I thought would never sound close to right with digital, but this was quite a step closer to bridging the gap to analog reproduction. Tha "air" and cleanness of the top end also manifested a "truth of timbre" that reached down into the midband. This is most-noticeable with acoustic music, be it symphonic or jazz, and especially with piano and vocals- One can almost sense the booze on Satchmo's breath. Or the rosin on massed strings. Combined with the bottom end, another striking difference is the ease one can pick out the warm *fundamental* tones of background instruments. (That bass trombone in Donald Fagan's "IGY".) The effect wasn't as dramatic with electronic and rock music, but the ease of sensing the presence of the drum kit is once again, a strength not normally cited with Redbook CD playback. (Listen to the glockenspiel from Neal Peart in Rush's "Spirit of Radio.")

The linearity at the bottom end also translated in a huge stage with a sense of "look around" palpability, which once again is something I would normally not associate with digital audio. The ambience is also present, right down to the acoustic shell of an orchestral venue. This is the type of relaxed resolution I only recall hearing with the venerable Wadia 7/9 playback system.

I then ordered the RCA version, the D-75 for the "B" system Audio Refinement - ART DI/O rig. And when I slapped in that cable, the improvement was very similar to that of the D-110! Once again, a top end almost devoid of digital artifacts. I have not tried the D-75 in the main system rig, but the top has a natural "sparkle" that almost sounds "too extended" to be Redbook reproduction. (The SET amp with no preamp could be responsible as well.) I think the D-75 if anything may be an improvement over the D-110 in the bandwidth department, but I'll have to confirm this in the main system rig.

My only complaint I have with either cable is the D-75 has no "direction" marks on it. I installed the cable with the lettering reading from transport to DAC.

Weaknesses? I'm sure there might be something even better out there, but compared to most cables, I mainly pick up flaws in which I compare this cable to. If anything, maybe a **very** slight "fog" in the background, but since the sound is so clean, the low level resolution is still the easiet to pick up, in spite of the "fog." (And I mean **veeeerrry** slight.) It could also be a product of the clean signal in itself, but I could not determine that. (I'm only aware of this phenomenon because I also notice a similar "fog" with the Apogee Wyde Eye cable. But it seems to be totally absent with the Nordost Silver Shadow. It is also absent in the Belden 89108.) If one has a system voiced exclusively for digital audio, complete with its footfalls, the absence of such footfalls with the DH Labs digital cables may make such systems sound overly warm. Although the sound is as closest to analog as any Redbook CD rig I've encountered, that "analog" is more like a good moving-magnet cartidge. The Redbook medium is just too bandwidth-limited to get that sweet, sparkly "moving-coil" sound. This may be "maxed out" Redbook, nonetheless.

This $100 digital cable, in the form of the D-75 S/PDIF or D-110 AES/EBU, in my opinion, is near state-of-the-art, if not so outright. (Mind you I once had the likes of Transparent Reference, NBS Monitor 0, and FIM in that same main system transport/DAC duo.) The DH Labs Silver Sonic digital cables have brought both of my two-box digital rigs to what I thought was impossible- An almost *total* analog quality to Redbook CD reproduction. And the DH Labs have breathed life into Redbook CD playback that has, at least temporarily, quenched my fundamental complaints about this particular medium.


Product Weakness: The cable should be purchased either pre-made or with DH Labs' proprietary connectors, which are pure OFC copper. (This goes for the XLR connectors for the D-110 as well. No Switchcraft or Neutrik here.) I am almost certain this could be a major reason for superior performance. I suspect possibly a **very** slight "fog" in the background, but that's it. Systems that are voiced for only digital may sound too warm- there is no equalizing effect with this cable. Still not up to the sonics of a top-flight analog rig with MC cartridge, due to Redbook CD's limited bandwidth.
Product Strengths: The closest thing to a perfect data transfer from transport to DAC. The sonics have an "analog" quality that I have not thought possible with Redbook CD. Bandwidth, impedance, and RF bleedthrough performance are all exemplary. Strikingly similar qualities between the RCA SPDIF D-75 and XLR AES/EBU D-110 versions.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Symfonia Opus 10, JE Labs 300B SET
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Supratek Syrah (none in "B" system)
Sources (CDP/Turntable): G&D UTP1 and Audio Refinement CD Complete xports, DI/O and Prism DA-1 DACs
Speakers: JM Reynaud Twin II, Von Schweiker VR-4.5 Mod 5
Cables/Interconnects: Belden 88281 Analog IC's, Silverline speaker cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Everything- Mostly acoustic in this particular evaluation
Room Size (LxWxH): Multiple x Multiple x Multiple
Time Period/Length of Audition: 2 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Tripp Lite, Bybee, Hydra, Vans Evers, BrickWall conditioners; Tek Line, Absolute, and ESP Essence power cords
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: DH Labs Silver Sonic D-75/D-110 Digital Cable - Todd Krieger 23:40:28 02/5/02 ( 3)