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Flaky SPDIF can degrade SQ

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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 level decades ago and it can progressively degrade the audio quality to the point of minor distortion, major distortion, then intermittent static in the music and dropouts.

I was experimenting with very long SPDIF cables making them longer while audibly noticing the sound quality degrade. I used various lengths of RG6X coax which is 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 listening room.





Edits: 04/27/25   04/27/25

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