Home cinema and multi-channel systems will require some form of digital connection. To get the best performance from your system it is important to choose the right digital interconnect. If you are using a separate Digital to Analogue Converter with your hi-fi, then again choosing the right digital connection will be vital to the overall performance.

Digital and analogue interconnects appear to be very similar. However, digital coaxial outputs require a cable with an impedance of 75 Ohms to perform at their best. The two most commonly found digital outputs on CD and DVD players are coaxial and optical. A coaxial signal is transmitted electrically, whilst an optical signal is transmitted via light pulses along a fibre optic cable, fitted with a Toslink connector. As a general rule, if you have the option, the digital coaxial connector produces a better sound than the optical.

The other connection option that is occasionally found on some equipment is called AES EBU. In this case the connection is made with 3 pin XLR connectors and the impedance is set at 110 Ohms. (We can provide these cables upon request)

The same rules that are used to choose an analogue interconnect apply to digital interconnects. Despite the fact that digital connectors are only transferring digital data, the construction and design of the digital cable affects the tonal, rhythmic and dynamic performance qualities every bit as much as analogue interconnects do.

For a little more info on each of our digital interconnects please click here