Some Interesting Observations - Converters - Digital Cable..

[mixboy bob]

Only because I'd hate to see a great and helpful thread die...

I think Clearmountain was talking about his BSS 901 when he was talking about cheating - and he's right!

Better keep all these quotes straight - you might dig yourself into a hole! Oh yeah, you already have.

Never mind...

peace and harmony to all!!

mixboy

[MBishopSFX]

Double-blind testing at our place with seven trained listeners chose Apogee Wide-Eye AES cable over Mogami AES every time. We use Wide-Eye at every critical AES connection.

Lightpipe will never work 100% correctly, being a Toslink interface that is flawed from the start.

Incidentally, I have serial No. 3 of the Apogee UV-1000.

[GYang]

Originally Posted by crypticglobe

in this case... after VERY careful listening, I did find that the AES connection seemed to provide a slightly wider/deeper result than the ADAT connection. It was VERY, VERY close, but the difference was there for sure.

What was the length of ADAT cables?
Which brand?

In my long experience and chnages of studio setups, I shifted several times from ADAT to AES and back, so I found that on shorter distances (up to 2 m) and applying more expensive glass (not standard plastic) optical cables (if I remember correctly Apogee Wyde Eye Glass cables) I got same sonic results as AES.
Also, Canare digital cables (110 ohms) and connectors are high-end level (but inexpensive) products and I still didn't find reasonably better sounding solution even at 50 times higher price per ft.

In relation to your negative attitude toward Apogee, it's your right, but again, praised by you UA converter was in my studio (purchased before Apogee), after direct comparisons in many professional applications during 3 months, without regrets replaced by Rosetta 200.
Finally, Big Ben is one of the most indispensable parts of my studio setup for over 2 years, still one of products that are in function mostly during whole day (compared to many outboards) and if turned off clearly situation with sound is f....d up . To be fair, it mainly depends on setup.

GYang

[cdog]

I have found with high quality glass optical cable and AES the differences were negligible when running under 2 meters.

I could not consistently pick one over the other.

The price difference between 32 channels of Mogami AES and 4 high quality glass lightpipe cables is enough to make anyone think twice.

I would do another test at another studio before spending $,$$$ on all that cable.

I'm sure your listening results were valid.... you just want to be able to replicate it a few times in different locations before making any purchasing decisions.

[jdunn]

Originally Posted by j 2

nn: Is it 3080 or 3173 ?

- -

I'm honestly not sure. I have a home studio, which is not extensively hard wired at the moment. I'll check their site and see if I can tell which is better.

And I'm Mr. Dunn damnit!

[neilwight]

jordan,

im a mastering guy using sequoia ( i also have nuendo for the odd time i get to play with my own stuff, lots of midi) but the reasons are that i need the following:

create DDP images and save to exabyte or CD.
burn acceptable PMCD with burn at once with reliable repeatable results
insert UPC/EAN and ISRC codes.
have control over CD text etc.
Create PQ lists
full control over index settings, pause times, track markers etc.

this isnt exhaustive but im not sure how that impacts the sound tests carried out by the original poster or the implied tone that some how nuendos post "flavour" was inadequite for serious audio as proven by the fact that MEs use sequoia.

i cant speak for anyone else but i do know the reason that MEs use a very small range of DAW is precisely due to the tools required for the part of the job that most forget is there. ie the control of and making of the master itself. these requirements immediately score a large portion of applications from the list

[mixerguy]

Jordan Harrison

you need to chill, and learn.

[lucey]

Originally Posted by MBishopSFX

Double-blind testing at our place with seven trained listeners chose Apogee Wide-Eye AES cable over Mogami AES every time. We use Wide-Eye at every critical AES connection.

I'd be interested in your gang of seven doing that same test with Acoustic Zen MC2 vs. Wide Eye.

[crypticglobe]

Originally Posted by GYang

What was the length of ADAT cables?
Which brand?

In my long experience and chnages of studio setups, I shifted several times from ADAT to AES and back, so I found that on shorter distances (up to 2 m) and applying more expensive glass (not standard plastic) optical cables (if I remember correctly Apogee Wyde Eye Glass cables) I got same sonic results as AES.
Also, Canare digital cables (110 ohms) and connectors are high-end level (but inexpensive) products and I still didn't find reasonably better sounding solution even at 50 times higher price per ft.

In relation to your negative attitude toward Apogee, it's your right, but again, praised by you UA converter was in my studio (purchased before Apogee), after direct comparisons in many professional applications during 3 months, without regrets replaced by Rosetta 200.
Finally, Big Ben is one of the most indispensable parts of my studio setup for over 2 years, still one of products that are in function mostly during whole day (compared to many outboards) and if turned off clearly situation with sound is f....d up . To be fair, it mainly depends on setup.

GYang

Hmmmm... was using Apogee Wide Eye glass. I can hear a difference between those and regular optical cables... but not much. Was under 2m.

Apogees Wide AES won't help me much because I am using an 8 core snake for those runs... and they are about 65 feet.... and it STILL sounded better than the under 2m light pipe runs. I build my own and I don't believe that Apogee offers an 8 core AES snake... at least not in raw cable. I have to build my own here because the RME cards on one end use the Tascam pinout and the Lynx Converters on the other end use the Yamaha pinout.

As to your insinuation that I have a negative atttitude toward Apogee.... I don't. I think you maybe got my post and anothers post run together in your mind. I think Apogee has long made a spectacular product, and to their credit it continues to get better as time goes by. The Big Ben is an awesome piece. When it comes down to it... and I can spend my money an anything... I have chosen Lynx Aurora's and My UA2192 because I preferred the "sound". That doesn't mean Apogee is bad... I would happily do a record or two or 10 on their products. It's just not my first choice... but as I said... GREAT stuff. I brought up Chuck Ainley once before in this thread because I think his records sound AMAZING.... and... he's an Apogee guy.

I have done a couple double blind tests with the help of an engineer buddy since I posted this... and I was able to pick the Mogami 8 core AES snake over the CAT-5 AES snake every single time. It was a major difference.

We double, triple checked clocking analog connections, etc. It's real.

[jdunn]

Originally Posted by lucey

I'd be interested in your gang of seven doing that same test with Acoustic Zen MC2 vs. Wide Eye.

Check out the Nordost cables too guys. I'm using Moonglow, though I'm itching to try their more expensive Silver Shadow.

I've also heard that Cardas Neutral Reference is very good. I've been meaning to try that one too.

[lucey]

Originally Posted by crypticglobe

I have done a couple double blind tests with the help of an engineer buddy since I posted this... and I was able to pick the Mogami 8 core AES snake over the CAT-5 AES snake every single time. It was a major difference.

We double, triple checked clocking analog connections, etc. It's real.

Jitter is my guess. Other than than, it works or it dont.

Originally Posted by jdunn

I've also heard that Cardas Neutral Reference is very good. I've been meaning to try that one too.

That's an analog cable ... it's very stark.

I prefer Acoustic Zen Silver cable for both digital and analog.