Thread: Traveling Digital Cable Demo

Hi Guys,

In an effort to expose more Audioshark users to our audio cable products, I'd like to start up a free "traveling digital cable demo" for a handful of AS members to trial four different Avanti Audio Allegro Digital cables:

one 1.5M 75ohm SPDIF terminated RCA to RCA
one 1.5M 75ohm SPDIF terminated RCA to BNC
one 1.5M 75ohm SPDIF terminated BNC to BNC
one 1.5M 110ohm AES/EBU terminated with XLR's

Just to clarify, Mike (site owner Mike) has given me permission to host this demo.

For more information on the cables themselves:
http://www.avantiaudio.com/Allegro_Digital_Cables.html


Here's how this will work:

1. In order to participate, your equipment must be able to accept either a single SPDIF (RCA or BNC each end) or single AES/EBU (XLR's each end) digital cable connection. Please don’t sign up if your equipment won’t support this configuration.

2. Post here and send me a PM with your shipping address, phone number and email address to get on the list along with your preference for length of each cable. E.g., SPDIF 1.5M & AES/EBU 2.0M, etc. Queue will be in order of PM received, not the posting order in this thread. For my own protection, I will need to limit the participant selection to members with more than 50 posts to their name and no less than a 3 month old membership. Moderators and regular members alike can participate, including overseas members.

3. I will create a "Shipping Order" list, and post it here so you can gauge when to estimate the cables' arrival.

ORDER SO FAR:
1. (Jerry) JDLAudio
2. (Mike) Mike
3. (Darrin) Dpod4
4. (George) octadyndude
5. (Julien) Julot
6. (Bill) Loop4fun

4. You can keep and listen with the four Digital cables for three weeks. After that time, you'll need to ship the cables back to me even if you have not managed to audition them. Please plan ahead! E.g., don't sign up for the demo if you know you're planning a month long vacation during the demo period. Upon receipt of the cables I'll check them to make sure they are good to go and ship them to the next recipient on the list.

5. For return shipping I recommend USPS Priority mail insured with tracking number as the cheapest + fastest delivery for a package this size. UPS or FedEx ground may also be used. The cables should be boxed in the materials you received them in, and insured for $640. Upon shipping the cables back to me please PM the tracking number info for my use.

6. If at any time the Digital cables are damaged (either in shipping or by mishandling/use), contact me immediately. I'll supply my contact info to all participants.


So.....who's up?

Originally Posted by Denver

If you do anything with your analog cables, I'd be interested!

Not doing any analog cables as demos at this time, but depending on how the Digital cable demo goes I might.

Thanks.

Very nice. These demos give people a chance to experience something they otherwise wouldn't. I recently participated in a MIT demo on another forum, and the speaker cables made a big difference in my HT. So, I ordered the new Shunyata Venom speaker cables for the HT/surround system.

One suggestion, for the MIT demo the moderator provided each participant with the address of the next person in the demo. That speeds things up versus going back to you, and then out again.

Originally Posted by MikeCh

Not doing any analog cables as demos at this time, but depending on how the Digital cable demo goes I might.

Thanks.

Got your info via PM Jerry. Thanks!

Originally Posted by BlueFox

One suggestion, for the MIT demo the moderator provided each participant with the address of the next person in the demo. That speeds things up versus going back to you, and then out again.

Hi Bud,

Having run a few of these demos over the years where I've done just as you stated above (have users ship to each other), I wanted to change this one up a little for a couple of reasons:

1. Presentation of the product. By having folks ship the cables back to me, I'll be able to check them out for cosmetics and function before repackaging and shipping on to the next user. First impressions mean a lot and I'd rather know the cables are being presented to everyone in the queue the same way the first person in the queue will receive them.

2. Shipping costs if we have overseas takers. I'll incur the costs of shipping overseas instead of the user that's ahead of the overseas user in the queue.


We will try and keep the cables moving along with a minimum of delays.

Originally Posted by Dpod4

Spdif RCA demo for me if you have room. I can compare to audience au24se and kimber d60

Hi Darrin,

You bet. Please PM me your info that's requested in the first post. Thanks!

Anyone else want to demo the Digital cables?

Might be an interesting exercise for those of you with existing digital cables to compare.

Bump.

It's looking like only Jerry and Darrin are interested at this time?

Jerry, will the 1.5M length be OK for you in both SPDIF and AES/EBU?

Originally Posted by JDLaudio

That length will be fine. On the SPDIF cable, it would be better to have BNC/RCA.......as I have more combinations that fit those connectors. I only have one scenario that will use RCA/RCA. I can use adapters if needed. But that is supposedly a no-no, depending on which company/manufacture you talk to ???

Thanks...........Jerry-

Hi Jerry,

Adding a third SPDIF 1.5M BNC to RCA cable will be no problem, glad to supply it. So, a total of three 1.5M cables will ship: SPDIF RCA to RCA, SPDIF RCA to BNC and AES/EBU XLR's.

I'm curious about your various configurations...are the BNC side of the connections typically inputs or outputs on your gear? I've always wondered why manufacturers have seemingly never landed on a standard for SPDIF using BNC vs. RCA connectors not to mention either BNC or RCA might be an input or an output and sometimes one connector type is used for both.

Originally Posted by JDLaudio

There is nothing that is typical about sources or dacs. My Bryston BDP-2 player has BNC output...... my Baetis server has BNC output.......Sim Moon Super Nova CD player has RCA, and the Lumin S-1 has BNC output. Dacs are (2) with RCA imputs , (2) with BNC imputs.........so it's 50/50.

Ok, thanks for clarifying Jerry.

Would it make sense for me to just go ahead and include a fourth BNC > BNC SPDIF cable in order to allow all possible combinations on your end?

Originally Posted by JDLaudio

That would make for a great package that would cover every one's needs. Great idea !! Thanks.......Jerry-

Will do. I'll get the cables built this weekend....

Hi Mike - I would love to try a one meter digital RCA to digital RCA cable and a one meter AES/EBU cable (XLR to XLR).

Mike

Originally Posted by Mike

Hi Mike - I would love to try a one meter digital RCA to digital RCA cable and a one meter AES/EBU cable (XLR to XLR).

Mike

Hi Mike,

With the other cables for Jerry and Darrin being 1.5M will these suffice for your needs as well instead of 1.0M?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by MikeCh

Hi Mike,

With the other cables for Jerry and Darrin being 1.5M will these suffice for your needs as well instead of 1.0M?

Thanks.

1.5M is fine too.

Originally Posted by JDLaudio

I can drop off all (3) cables to Mike if you wish, once I get done with my demo. I go to Mike's house quite often, so it would not be a problem. I am very careful with cables, so I'm sure they will be fine after my testing. Then Mike could return them back to the factory. Let me know if this would be acceptable ??

Hi Jerry,

There will be four cables total and yes, that sounds like a good plan to me.

Mike & Darrin, that sound ok to you guys?

Thanks

Originally Posted by MikeCh

Hi Jerry,

There will be four cables total and yes, that sounds like a good plan to me.

Mike & Darrin, that sound ok to you guys?

Thanks

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Guys,

I built the four digital cables today. They are now running in on my cable conditioner and will remain there for either 36 or 60 hours depending on when I can get them shipped to Jerry. E.g., started conditioning Saturday night at 7:00pm...will be 36-ish hours if I can get them shipped on Monday or will be 60-ish hours if they ship on Tuesday.

I will plan to re-condition them once I receive them back from Mike and before they ship to Darrin. Due to the schedule, Mike will receive them direct from Jerry without my fresh conditioning procedure, but by then they should be nicely broken in anyway. If anyone else signs up, the normal process will be for me to re-condition the cables before shipping to any new recipient.

If you have your own cable cooker, please try them out as-is (with my conditioning process) for a few days in your systems and if you feel like running them on your own cooker after that feel free. If you would, please report any differences you might find/hear between my and your cable cooking/conditioning processes.

One last thing: Are the shipping addresses that Jerry and Darrin have provided to me able to accept USPS Priority mail?

Sound like a plan?

Heads up....the Demo cables are shipping to Jerry today. They should arrive by the end of the week or so.

(Note: The first post has been updated with specifics)

Originally Posted by JDLaudio

I appreciate all your efforts to give us sharks a free demo. Thanks Mike.

Absolutely Jerry!

(George) octadyndude is going to join the demo too. Thanks George.

Originally Posted by MikeCh

Absolutely Jerry!

(George) octadyndude is going to join the demo too. Thanks George.

No Thank You Mike. It will be interesting

Originally Posted by JDLaudio

Cables arrived today, and looked like they had a safe trip. I must say the cables have the look of very high quality, for such reasonable costs. I will get these beauties fired up tonight and cooking. Thank Mike.

Glad they traveled safe Jerry, thanks for the update. Hope you enjoy them!

I'm totally game. In my experience the impact of digital cables is significant and good ones are hard to come by at any price. I'm happy with my Antipodes Kokiri SPDIF (CD player to DAC), besides the fact that it takes at least a few days to give the full results, but it's quite the expensive wire (600€ a piece, retail, what with the USD being what it is). I'm reasonably satisfied with the Audioquest Carbon AES that links my SOtM USB interface to the DAC, but I would appreciate something more natural sounding, not to mention more affordable.

Is there a listening protocol that you suggest? In the past I have found that A/B comparisons are a bad approach because the same cable would not sound the same from one try to the next (if you do the obvious and put in a cable for a few minutes, then another for a few minutes). So I have resorted to several days long trials with any cable unless there is something I find absolutely irritating or a deal-braker from the get-go.

Originally Posted by JDLaudio

Well I have completed a pretty thorough trial on the first Avanti cable (BNC/RCA). I let the cable burn in for two days before any testing was started. I put the Avanti cable up against cables ranging in price range of $10 to nearly 4k. The brands of cables included Audioquest Cinnamon, Nordost Heimdall, Crystal, Stealth Varidig, Stealth Sextet, Belkin, and a "no-name" that has always performed well.
First off, the cable exhibited a very even frequency response. Bass response was extended, not bloated, and detailed. It seemed equally matched to its rivals in the bass dept., except for the the Stealth Sextet. The Sextet cable plumbed lower, and definitely had more detail and speed.......but at a 4k price point. So far, so good. Then I played several of my favorite vocal tracks, and acoustic oriented arrangements. Again, the Avanti held its own with cables exceeding its price point, by hundreds of dollars. It's midrange did not seem to be overblown or ripe, even when being used with the Cary 211 FE tube monoblocks. The Crystal and Stealth Sextet cables had a tad better rightness to instrumental tones......but the Avanti was a surprise.
The higher frequencies were pretty much equal to my well travel ears, as they have suffered from the many years of mixing live music. I have to say I was mighty impressed with the Avanti cable, especially at a $160.00. Their build quality is excellent, and make solid contact without fuss. I think these cables are a "must" demo, that could displace many higher priced competitors.
I may have a family situation that could cut my time short in the next couple of weeks. If this occurs, I will forward the cables to Mike......so as not to hold up the auditioning.

Thanks for the update Jerry!

Interested what you find with the AES/EBU cable if you're able to rotate it into the mix too.

Please keep us posted with your schedule.

Originally Posted by Julot

I'm totally game. In my experience the impact of digital cables is significant and good ones are hard to come by at any price. I'm happy with my Antipodes Kokiri SPDIF (CD player to DAC), besides the fact that it takes at least a few days to give the full results, but it's quite the expensive wire (600€ a piece, retail, what with the USD being what it is). I'm reasonably satisfied with the Audioquest Carbon AES that links my SOtM USB interface to the DAC, but I would appreciate something more natural sounding, not to mention more affordable.

Is there a listening protocol that you suggest? In the past I have found that A/B comparisons are a bad approach because the same cable would not sound the same from one try to the next (if you do the obvious and put in a cable for a few minutes, then another for a few minutes). So I have resorted to several days long trials with any cable unless there is something I find absolutely irritating or a deal-braker from the get-go.

Hi Julien,

For sure! I'll add your name to the listing in the first post of this thread. Thanks for participating.

Comparing with your known reference cable in the manner that Jerry describes is a good method. I find it difficult to compare by only playing snippets of music then swapping cables, etc. Better to listen for a few days to any new cables then swap back in your "old familiar".

Hi Jerry,

Thanks for participating in the demo and also for your comments! Glad you were able to listen with the AES/EBU before the handoff.

Looking forward to Mike's comments after he gets a chance to listen with them too.

I'm sorry to hear of your Mom's condition, Jerry. Hope all goes well for her.

Take care.

I finally got around to testing out the Avanti Audio Digital cable (BNC to COAX) this week (photo: on bottom). I compared it to the TaraLABS 0.8 BNC. Definitely not a fair fight based on price alone, but I don't have lot of BNC cables laying around.

The Avanti cable faired well, but ultimately gave up a little definition and detail to the 0.8. Listening to Rumer, Reach Out, the Tara cable was able to bring out a little more detail in the cymbals and high hat and exhibited a little more sweetness, with a slightly bigger soundstage.

That being said, the one area where the Avanti excellent was smoothness - especially on top - and it exhibited an ability to smooth out some rougher recordings I tried. This is one my one bone of contention with the Tara cable. It could be a little smoother on top.

The Tara products really excel in the midrange, and let me tell you, the Avanti gave up nothing in this area.

The Avanti digital cable is very well balanced as well. Avanti definitely has that toe tapping musical goodness and at its price, definitely worth strong consideration. Would I buy this cable? Absolutely! Am I switching back to the Tara cable yet? Not so fast. Toes are tapping.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for sharing your comments Mike. The TaraLABS cable is certainly some stiff competition.

What did you have the SPDIF cable connected to gear-wise today?

Have you had a chance to play with the AES/EBU cable yet?

Originally Posted by mauidan

MickCh,

There are a number Devialet D400 owners on AS, can you make a 110 ohm cable like this:

Audiophile RCA-XLR Male Adapter Cables - Cabledyne

for us to try?

Hi Dan,

I have gotten away from custom building mis-matched types of cables (E.g., balanced to unbalanced, or in this case...SPDIF to AES/EBU digital) for various reasons.

So no, I won't be building / supplying an adapter cable like this for this demo.

Sorry.

Hi Mike,

Any updates on the usage of the Digital Cables?

Please get ready to ship them back to me this coming Monday so I can get them out to Darrin next.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by MikeCh

Hi Mike,

Any updates on the usage of the Digital Cables?

Please get ready to ship them back to me this coming Monday so I can get them out to Darrin next.

Thanks!

Do I have to?

They make the argument for spending more hard to justify. Really great sounding (musical) cables Mike.

I will send them back tomorrow. Thanks for letting me try them, it was a real treat.