SPDIF Crystal Cable for D400

[ray1234]

To bring an old topic back to live, I have been using an Audioquest WEL Signature XLR cable (with RCA to XLR convertor on one end) as the link between the two D200, and it sounds wonderful. I have also tried Audioquest Coffee SPDIF with RCA to XLR on the other end, and it isn't as good.

My result is as follows :

Audioquest WEL XLR > Audioquest Coffee SPDIF > original Crystal SPDIF

The main difference is the size of the soundstage, it just gets much much bigger with better cables.

My other trick is to use a DDC, I used Gustard U18, a very cheap DDC but with very good results in D400. Again the soundstage is a lot larger with DDC compared to direct digital in the D400.

The original Crystal SPDIF cable is not that bad though, it's vocals are very attractive sounding. I am using the Crystal SPDIF as the link from DDC to D400, its performance in vocals are better than both Audioquest Coffee and Audioquest WEL Signature!

You might want to try ground lifting the XLR input on the Companion with a cheap adapter (and also on the Master if you use the XLR input). If it works for you, you might like the change.

https://devialetchat.com/Thread-XLR-AES-...xperiments

That is exactly what I am going to try next ..... I can't buy that XLR adapter though, so I think I will just buy an XLR to XLR adaptor and cut the pin 1.