Is using digital AES/EBU cable in place of an analog XLR cable between preamp and amp ok?

[chaddawkins]

I'm a beginner and I would like confirmation, or information against, using a solid, silver plated copper AES/EBU cable in place of a XLR cable between my passive preamp and amplifier; I am considering the Better Cables Blue Truth ULTRA XLR cable for this due to it's extremely low 12pF/ft capacitance.
I am hoping my DAC [<10 Ω output impedance] and AMP [20 kΩ input impedance] selection, in conjunction with this cable can help the passive preamp's known bass issue.
Thank you

 

[voodooless]

Don’t waste your money on such cables. No need to spend $250 on few ft/m of XLR.

 

[sergeauckland]

A cable is a cable is a cable at the sort of lengths normal at home. Consequently, you can use a 'digital' cable just as well as any other cable.

S.

 

[DonDish]

AES/EBU cable is digital format cable. Just get some XLR signal cable from a studio/pro outlet. Shouldnt cost more than 20-30 bucks.

 

[darth]

AES cables can be used for analog. And you can get cheap (ish) ones off Amazon, like under $25 for 10ft. That being said, regular analog cables will still be cheaper and work similarly.

 

[sam_adams]

For many years Mogami has recommended their W3173, long run AES/EBU cable, for analog use because of its tightly controlled geometry. Reasonably priced even in today's economy.

 

[Mr. Swordfish]

I'm a beginner and I would like confirmation, or information against, using a solid, silver plated copper AES/EBU cable in place of a XLR cable between my passive preamp and amplifier; I am considering the Better Cables Blue Truth ULTRA XLR cable for this due to it's extremely low 12pF/ft capacitance.
I am hoping my DAC [<10 Ω output impedance] and AMP [20 kΩ input impedance] selection, in conjunction with this cable can help the passive preamp's known bass issue.
Thank you

Which cable looks the best?

Since you're not going to hear a difference between cables in this application, looks or price are the only two criteria. If fancy looking cables float your boat, buy the ones that you think look the most impressive.

 

[Mr. Swordfish]

Which cable looks the best?

Since you're not going to hear a difference between cables in this application, looks or price are the only two criteria. If fancy looking cables float your boat, buy the ones that you think look the most impressive.

BTW, if looks are not important: there are cheaper options out there, but you'll be way past the point of diminishing returns with a pair of these.

 

[DonDish]

At least get some with Neutrik connnectors I use these miself

Cordial CFM 2.5 FM

Professional Microphone Cable XLR female - XLR male, Neutrik (REAN) connector, Length: 2.5 m, Black

www.thomannmusic.no

 

[chaddawkins]

AES cables can be used for analog.

Consequently, you can use a 'digital' cable just as well as any other cable.

In a nutshell, this is what I'm really looking for. I gave quite a bit of info to show my true intent. Thanks guys

 

[voodooless]

In a nutshell, this is what I'm really looking for

But the real question is: why would you? And why those cables specifically?

 

[chaddawkins]

But the real question is: why would you? And why those cables specifically?

Passive preamps lose bass due to impedance mismatching and cable capacitance, these cables have very low capacitance.

 

[chaddawkins]

My next concern is if there's any effect AES/EBU cables' 110 Ω have over the ~75 Ω of standard XLR cables.

 

[Mr. Swordfish]

Passive preamps lose bass due to impedance mismatching and cable capacitance, these cables have very low capacitance.

You've got at least a 200:1 ratio of input impedance to output impedance. Theory predicts and practice confirms that the frequency response will be flat in the audio range. (Usual rule of thumb is 10 to 1, but in practice 7 to 1 suffices.)

 

[voodooless]

Passive preamps lose bass due to impedance mismatching and cable capacitance, these cables have very low capacitance.

High capacitance can cause high frequency rolloff, not bass rollof. High frequency rolloff can happen with seriously high capacitance cables. Most cables aren’t that.

 

[voodooless]

My next concern is if there's any effect AES/EBU cables' 110 Ω have over the ~75 Ω of standard XLR cables.

Impedance is only relevant at the frequencies the cable is meant to be used for (multi MHz). At audio frequencies it is irrelevant.

 

[Mr. Swordfish]

My next concern is if there's any effect AES/EBU cables' 110 Ω have over the ~75 Ω of standard XLR cables.

Those impedance figures are for transmission lines, where the length is at or near the wavelength of the frequency. You need a really looooooooooong cable to approach the wavelength of audio frequencies. Analog audio interconnect are not transmission lines. Characteristic impedance of the wires are irrelevant.

 

[chaddawkins]

Good stuff, thanks guys

 

[Mr. Swordfish]

High capacitance can cause high frequency rolloff, not bass. This can happen with seriously high capacitance cables. Most cables aren’t that.

It can happen with ordinary cable if the wire is long enough. When I was a radio engineer I used to run analog signal down miles long cable - capacitance was definitely an issue and we would use EQ to compensate for the loss of high frequencies.

This is why POTS (plain old telephone service) used unshielded twisted-pair copper that was always the same gauge. Capacitance per unit length was consistent, and the lack of a shield reduced that figure.

For the ~1meter cables in a typical home audio system it's simply not an issue, despite what you might read in the woo-woo sales jargon from the companies selling $10 cables for thousands of dollars.

 

[voodooless]

So what passive attenuator are we talking about here? Let’s do the math and see what values are realistically acceptable. How long does the cable need to be? Do you need 2 pairs? One pair before the passive pre, one pair after?

miles long cable

Not a realistic home audio scenario, is it?