Intro
Contents
Sometimes a cable has an effect on music which prompts you to think: ‘I did not expect this’. The new Art Speak SPDIF cable has a surprise in store.
People convinced that a cable for transporting digital signals cannot make a difference are advised to stop reading now. This review will raise your blood pressure. You have been warned!
It is not binary
How can a SPDIF cable, the transport medium of the proverbial 1s and 0s, have an impact on sound? If you have been following Alpha Audio for a while, you will know that there are no 1s and 0s going across the cable, but electrical signals. The transition from one binary value to another is expressed by means of a voltage difference. The electricity in an SPDIF cable behaves not differently from other cables, the difference is in the processing of signals in connected equipment.
You know then, I hope, that the quality of that processing depends on the quality with which that signal is delivered, especially when it comes to errors and distortions (noise) that has impact on the time dimension of the voltage changes: the sample frequency of the original signal being reconstructed.
Expectations beforehand
Based on previous listening experience, the expectation is that a good SPDIF cable delivers a balanced sound image, free from harsh edges in transients, pinched sounds of wind instruments and metallic or bare sounding strings of grand pianos or violins.
A good SPDIF cable will also ensure that the background is as quiet as possible, allowing you to hear more detail and prolong the reverberation in recordings as you hear it. This is all relative to the ability of the whole chain behind the cable in making this heard or the insensitivity of the DAC to the quality of the signal coming in.
When comparing SPDIF cables, the audible differences between them are often small; it requires careful listening and comparison. So read this review with that in mind.
Good day,
I must admit that I am surprised by the price of this DIY S/PDIF cable, especially considering that it uses RCA connectors that are commonly available, for example from AliExpress. Naturally, I would also be interested in seeing your measurements, which I find missing here, although I understand that you may choose not to publish them.
I would also like to know what type of coaxial cable is used inside. I assume it is most likely a standard, commonly available 75-ohm industrial coaxial cable.
For context, I have ordered the Mutec PSC 75-ohm cable based on your review, which is why I am particularly interested in how this DIY coax compares to it. The Mutec PSC 75 is known for its controlled impedance, high-quality shielding, and overall signal integrity, so I would appreciate your perspective on how the internal coax used in this cable stands up in direct comparison.
Not listened to those cables side by side, so no perspective available to be given.
Good afternoon,
I understand and respect that. What I do not understand, however, is that you test high-quality cables such as MUTEC or brands like AudioQuest, supporting your evaluations with various measurements, and at the same time present a cable of evidently poor quality, with connectors sourced from AliExpress, where it is unclear what components are used internally or how the cable is technically constructed.Of course, this is your decision and your right. I also understand that you are not obliged to provide any explanation. Nevertheless, in my view, this approach does not appear very credible and does not cast a positive light on this type of review.
Have you heard it?
No, I won’t hear it either. I have the FOREST and MUTEC cables – the MUTEC sounds very similar to the USB Supra Lorad. The FOREST has more pronounced yet at the same time rounder highs, and I use it in connection with a CD player. I use the MUTEC with a streamer together with USB, and depending on the sampling frequency I choose SPDIF or USB. Every system is unique and the changes are subtle. It is not about “hearing every cable,” but I am pointing out your style of reviewing, where in one case you present measurements and in another you recommend a cable that is, in essence, completely ordinary, yet sold at an inflated price. I do not consider this to be a fair approach.hain feeds into a Denafrips Pontus 15th DAC.
I have to say that I like their reviewing style, also for these types of shorter articles and quick-takes, since they can´t be expected to measure and compare everything, as that would severely impact the number of articles they are able to put out. I rather hear their subjective experience on a single cable than nothing at all on that cable.
As i see it, they have earned my trust by publishing all the measurements, live recordings, technical deep dives and explanations. They go the extra mile that no other publication has ever gone, to try to explain why these things matter. They are also a bit skeptical, which i think is healthy.
In my book they have therefore earned my trust also when they simply use their ears. At least more so than anyone else, that hasn´t gone the extra mile.
https://www.alpha-audio.net/whos-alpha-audio/
If Alpha Audio declares an effort to identify correlations between measurements and listening, and emphasizes transparency, then a minimum set of technical data should be a given especially when it comes to cables. Without such data, it is not possible to assess whether a product is the result of a deliberate engineering design or merely a randomly well-performing sample.
In such a case, the comparison does not come across as an independent review, but rather as a selective presentation of results without the possibility of deeper verification. This stands in contradiction to what Alpha Audio itself declares as its core values
Since we don’t have enough paying customers, the level of what we can achieve with the resources in terms of time, people and money is what it is.
Criticism is free, but so is our content.
Thank you for your explanation, which I understand. Criticism is free, but sometimes it is like holding up a mirror. I have seen many reviews and I like them, but please also understand my perspective, as I make purchasing decisions based on reviews that strongly influence me. Such is the world of the consumer.
I wish you a Merry Christmas and a successful New Year without criticism.
Cheers Martijn, will check it out. 🙂
Cannot be bought from a store or webshop? Is it a prototype ?
No. Ordering is only through the mentioned e-mail address. It is a legit manufacturer. We’ve testen a lot of his creations over time and visited him. Just use the search function on ‘Art Speak’.