Flaky SPDIF can degrade SQ

Posted by AbeCollins (A) on April 27, 2025 at 18:25:46

In Reply to: That begs the question posted by E-Stat on April 27, 2025 at 16:19:44:

The transmit output level of 0.1 Vpp from his Cambridge stock SPDIF port was 1/2 the minimum of 0.2 Vpp called for per the SPDIF spec going to the SPDIF receiver in his outboard DAC. It would more typically be greater than 0.5 - 0.6 Vpp.

I'm not convinced that his "High Performance" SPDIF mod would do anything for a transport with a properly functioning SPDIF output. He basically replaced his broken SPDIF output for one that works.

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I played with marginal SPDIF signal levels decades ago and it can progressively degrade the audio quality to the point of very minor distortion, major distortion, then intermittent static in the music and dropouts.

I was experimenting with very long SPDIF cables making them longer each time while audibly noticing the sound quality degrade. I used various lengths of RG6X coax which is quad shielded 75 Ohm and more commonly used in low loss Cable TV (and satellite) applications but works fine for SPDIF. I was running a 5-Disc Adcom CD Player / Changer as a transport to a distant outboard DAC in another part of my house.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - High-performance coax SPDIF modification for a Cambridge CXC V2 CD transport - Leo loves music 17:22:44 04/26/25 (21)

the result - Leo loves music 18:55:04 04/30/25 (1)

The TASCAM CD-200 - Leo loves music 14:18:00 05/03/25 (0)

RE: High-performance coax SPDIF modification for a Cambridge CXC V2 CD transport - Lord Whimsey 13:26:31 04/27/25 (0)

What does 'high performance' mean in this context? (Nt) - 13th Duke of Wymbourne 12:10:07 04/27/25 (16)

high performance = higher-quality signal transfer = better SQ - Leo loves music 13:38:17 04/27/25 (11)

RE: high performance = higher-quality signal transfer = better SQ - 13th Duke of Wymbourne 18:33:50 04/27/25 (7)

RE: high performance = higher-quality signal transfer = better SQ - Leo loves music 18:51:18 04/27/25 (6)

RE: high performance = higher-quality signal transfer = better SQ - AbeCollins 19:33:49 04/27/25 (5)

RE: high performance = higher-quality signal transfer = better SQ - Leo loves music 19:45:52 04/27/25 (4)

Your stock SPDIF output was essentially broken.... - AbeCollins 20:19:06 04/27/25 (3)

RE: Your stock SPDIF output was essentially broken.... - Leo loves music 20:26:32 04/27/25 (2)

Some audiophile gear can do that too..... - AbeCollins 20:48:18 04/27/25 (1)

RE: Some audiophile gear can do that too..... - Leo loves music 02:19:40 04/28/25 (0)

That begs the question - E-Stat 16:19:44 04/27/25 (2)

Flaky SPDIF can degrade SQ - AbeCollins 18:25:46 04/27/25 (1)

Sure - E-Stat 06:11:07 04/28/25 (0)

Could mean within the SPDIF spec ?? - AbeCollins 13:19:00 04/27/25 (0)

I wonder - E-Stat 12:23:39 04/27/25 (2)

RE: I wonder - Leo loves music 13:24:52 04/27/25 (1)

Ok - E-Stat 13:26:28 04/27/25 (0)

RE: High-performance coax SPDIF modification for a Cambridge CXC V2 CD transport - AbeCollins 20:57:19 04/26/25 (0)

Follow Ups

Flaky SPDIF can degrade SQ - AbeCollins 18:25:46 04/27/25 (1)

Sure - E-Stat 06:11:07 04/28/25 (0)

Flaky SPDIF can degrade SQ

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