Posted by Jim Gilliland on 11/09/06 03:37

Randy Yates wrote:

> S/PDIF is a single-wire interface that embeds the clock with the data.
> Because of this, problems with the interface that aren't serious
> enough to cause bit errors can still affect the sound by affecting the
> quality of the recovered clock. A PLL is used to recover the clock,
> and depending on the type of loop filter used in the PLL, input noise
> from cable degradations could introduce jitter into the digital clock
> and thus the reconstructed analog signal.
>
> How audible is it? That is a whole dissertation unto its own.

Agreed. That's why I focused on his remarks about volume and bass. Modern
equipment does a pretty good job of recovering the clock, though. It wasn't
always true.

I can't help but wonder if this guy isn't just a troll - it's hard to imagine
anyone believing this kind of garbage. Then again, there's an awful lot of
snake oil on the market. Someone must be buying it - perhaps we've just
discovered who that is. <g>

I'd suggest a good double blind test, but I doubt that he'd accept the results.
He seems pretty fixed on his delusion.

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