AES/EBU cable for RME HDSPE AIO

[nk7]

Hey folks

 

 

Recently got a RME HDSPE AIO PCI-E card to play with. Trying to output digital AES/EBU to an external DAC. My question is related to AES/EBU digital cables. Does it really matter - the digital cable?

 

 

I mean just a decent cable will do? Or should I start to look at MIT reference or Valhalla or Cardas or other boutique cable? Reason I ask is that the card has a rather average looking breakout cable to output digital AES and if a high-end cable is used between this and the external DAC, I don't see how the high end cable can extract more details because of this limiting breakout cable. That is assuming the more expensive digital AES/EBU cable is in fact much better overall than the breakout cable section that came with the PCI-E card if you know what I mean...

 

 

Or does digital only care about signal going from A to B (B being the DAC) in a timely manner. Should I upgrade the breakout cable?

 

 

Figured this sub forum would get more attention than the others. But let me know if this is the wrong place to start this thread.

 

 

 

 

Cheers

Nk7

[Audio_ELF]

Your best bet is to look around for someone to build you a dedicated cable with the D-plug on one end to a XLR at the other.

 

Eloise

[esldude]

Eloise's suggestion is probably a good one.

 

To just connect to what you have in the breakout cable Apogee Wyde Eye and Canare are two inexpensive well made AES/EBU cables. As to whether you would benefit from the more expensive cables, I would say probably not, but plenty would disagree.

 

You could get one of those less expensive cables just to get things working and then borrow some others to compare at a later date.

[nk7]

Your best bet is to look around for someone to build you a dedicated cable with the D-plug on one end to a XLR at the other.

 

Eloise

 

So D-SUB straight into XLR input on the DAC. A single cable. Seems an interesting idea!

 

Eloise's suggestion is probably a good one.

 

To just connect to what you have in the breakout cable Apogee Wyde Eye and Canare are two inexpensive well made AES/EBU cables. As to whether you would benefit from the more expensive cables, I would say probably not, but plenty would disagree.

 

You could get one of those less expensive cables just to get things working and then borrow some others to compare at a later date.

 

I have seen the Canare make one specifically for this card. Not the Apogee but I will look it up. I have seen Mogami for another RME card as well..

[Miska]

You should pay attention that you use a proper 110 ohm cable specifically designed for AES/EBU use.

 

Cables meant for analog audio use are not proper for AES/EBU.

 

This is the type of cable I use:

http://sdrv.ms/17gISHW

[nk7]

So D-SUB straight into XLR input on the DAC. A single cable. Seems an interesting idea!

 

 

 

I have seen the Canare make one specifically for this card. Not the Apogee but I will look it up. I have seen Mogami for another RME card as well..

 

I meant to say Canare make breakout cables for this card, well the PCI version at least. Relatively inexpensive.

 

So for short <5m run is Capacitance a big issue when choosing manufacturers?

[Audio_ELF]

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f8-general-forum/lynx-aes-16-breakout-cable-choices-2160/ might have some good advice though it talks about Lynx cards rather than RME the theory should be the same so try contacting some people mentioned.

[nk7]

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f8-general-forum/lynx-aes-16-breakout-cable-choices-2160/ might have some good advice though it talks about Lynx cards rather than RME the theory should be the same so try contacting some people mentioned.

 

 

Thanks for that ELF - the thread seemed to come to same conclusion as I did: contact REDCO. Hopefully they get my email tonight due to time difference. And their shipping is reasonable for overseas cost. I did a couple of 10ft custom using their custom cable configurator and shipping was cheaper than the price of a single cable length (either digital or analogue).

 

Not sure about the Cardas Neutral Reference though as that is starting to enter into the boutique world. I'd rather spend on components first...

[nk7]

Apparently, redco can do a 9pin D-SUB to a XLR digital cable for me. Just need to wait for prices etc...but so far so good. Thanks for the suggestions folks.

[nk7]

Does anyone have the wiring info for the digital output on the RME HDSPe AIO?

[nk7]

Never mind - I found the pin layouts in the manual.