Download for more info - HiFix

Chord digital interconnectsHome cinema and multi-channel systems will require some formof digital connection. To get the best performance from yoursystem it is important to choose the right digital interconnect.If you are using a separate Digital to Analogue Converter withyour hi-fi, choosing the right digital connection will be vital to theoverall performance.Digital and analogue interconnects appear to be very similar.However, digital coaxial outputs require a cable with animpedance of 75 Ohms to perform at their best. The two mostcommonly found digital outputs on CD and DVD players arecoaxial and optical. A coaxial signal is transmitted electrically,whilst an optical signal is transmitted via light pulses along a fibreoptic cable, fitted with a Toslink connector. As a general rule, ifyou have the option, the digital coaxial connector produces abetter sound than the optical.The other connection option that is occasionally found on someequipment is called AES EBU. In this case the connection ismade with 3 pin XLR connectors and the impedance is set at110 Ohms.The same rules that are used to choose an analogue interconnectapply to digital interconnects. Despite the fact that digitalconnectors are only transferring digital data, the constructionand design of the digital cable affects the tonal, rhythmic anddynamic performance qualities every bit as much as analogueinterconnects do.30