Matrix X-SPDIF 2

Accessories and Tweaks
786

That is the cable I have now between my PWT and my jr. It isn’t bad, no sir.

Edit: I just had a DOH moment. The PWT is never going to send anything greater than 16/44.1 to the DSjr so there really isn’t any reason not to try optical between the two. I have a high quality optical cable plugged in at the moment. Using the remote I can switch between the optical input and the IIS input and I cannot detect any difference in sound. (No clicks or pops or any sign when switching between the two inputs, noice!) So maybe, when the Matrix 2 arrives I will just use the IIS output from it to the DS jr. (using the WW Silver Starlight 7 HDMI cable)
My dealer did not like the idea of me getting a half meter AES/EBU cable so the price of the Platinum Starlight 8 would jump from $850 to $1500 for a one meter cable. That seems excessive. For giggles I may run over to Guitar Center and buy something under $100 to get a feel for AES/EBU. Doh.

787

I think you should be fine with WW hdmi,but it doesnt hurt to try other choices to satisfy ones curiosity.
But to the fact of digital,being it coaxial or aes/ebu,it should be 1.5m instead of 1m long cable. So that makes Platinum 8 cost 2000$ plus :sneezing_face:

788

Hi somppsa,
Why the preference for a 1.5m length over 1m? thank you
Chas

789

Basic knowledge about digital cables. Some dont care,but i would never use 1m digital cables. Some manufacturers make only 1.25m or 1.37m to sound its best.
For example Steve Nugent from Empirical Audio says to use 1.25-1.5m digital only. And he does measure jitter very accurately. Hope that helps a bit :slightly_smiling_face:

790

Yes, I am at the moment. I’ve given up on i2s and mocha for now as it brings in too much rfi into the dac. Using my aq cinnamon optical leaves me with a very detailed top end that is never harsh. Bass is not as good I guess, but will wait and see which is the lesser of the 2 evils. Noisy treble, or less bass.

Do different optical cables sound different with the dac snr I wonder?

791

This is certainly true for things like hdmi video where the chipsets are designed for 1m+ lengths and short hdmi cables can have problems with those chipsets. However, for i2s my experience is 0.5m cables sound better than longer 1m cables, particularly with treble detail

792

Here’s a PS Audio i2s for sale in 1/2M size since these have been mentioned a lot.

793

Already sold … too bad, I have been looking for one for a while, but not very hard (i.e., I never check US Audio Mart).

794

That’s the 2nd one I’ve seen there in the past month.

1 Like
795

My Matrix arrived. I have it plugged in and am listening now. All this talk about cables and in the end it comes with a cable. Sheesh. :wink:

[hours later] Holy Moly! I wish every time I spent $350 I got this kind of a return. Good grief! Does this thing “break in”? I can’t wait until my six volt batteries arrive. Purple head explosion indeed.

796

There are a lot of fake Chinese cable, be careful when purchasing from unknown sources or used

797

Thanks but I’m 66 yrs old. I’ve been around the block a few times ;^ )

1 Like
798

Tonight I compared the Matrix connect to my DSJ via the Mocha HDMI, an inexpensive toslink from Crutchfield (like under $30), and an old, cheap coax cable.

The coax was inferior. But I could not tell the difference between the Mocha and the inexpensive toslink. I’m able to play DSD 64 over the toslink. Maybe the toslink is slightly softer around the edges. I’m now considering returning the Mocha… I switched back and forth over and over across a variety of music, sounds almost the same with one not being inherently superior.

1 Like
799

I also found cheap toslink to be very good - similar to covney and BJC HDMI. I found the WW SS HDMI to be significantly better then all those. I bought the WW.

800

Totally agree, same here.

Two days in my system with a previously used WW silver and i think this is the first time i’m really ‘listening’ to my Magnepans. Just have to turn off my sub!

Is incredible how a single cable can transform your system…

801

Jose. I may have missed it. What maggies and what other hdmi cable did you have in prior to the WW SS. Wireworld makes great cables. Oops just scrolled up saw blue jeans. :slight_smile: what maggies? Mags seem to let all changes thru.

802

So what’s the story bootzilla? I’m betting on the wireworld.

803

This slightly softer with toslink that you mention is what I find as well. But depending on system that could be welcome or not. I think it has a slightly negative effect on mine as I’d say my system leans warm.

804

I agree about the toslink thing. I said earlier that I thought it has less bass, but now I think that’s not it. I agree about the “softer round the edges” comment above too. Has It got slightly less top end?

805

It’s funny because I found the Mocha to be clearly better than covney, but the cheap toslink as good as the $500 retail Mocha.

Bass seemed equal with the toslink, and the top end a little more pleasing as I like the softer, more round quality. I guess only issue is sample rate limitations with toslink, which I believe is limited to 192 or dsd 64.