The Cardas Clear Digital is a digital coaxial cable that fully reflects the Cardas philosophy: faithful signal transmission, careful handcrafted construction, and the use of high-quality materials. Designed to meet the expectations of both audiophiles and professionals, it delivers precise reproduction of the digital signal, revealing the slightest sonic nuances in your recordings.
The Clear Digital 1m stands out for its cutting-edge technical design. At the heart of its performance is Matched Propagation technology, a Cardas innovation that ensures uniform signal propagation through the conductor. This approach minimizes phase distortion and jitter, two formidable enemies of digital precision.
The conductor structure follows the proportions of the golden ratio, a mathematical constant found in many natural phenomena. This particular geometry optimizes signal propagation and reduces unwanted resonances. The main conductor, made of 99.9999% pure copper, is arranged in a Litz wire structure with a transparent SPN coating, offering maximum contact surface while minimizing skin effect at high frequencies.
The ultra-fine Kevlar core plays a crucial role in the cable’s mechanical stability, absorbing vibrations that could affect signal transmission. This attention to mechanical details reflects Cardas’s holistic approach to cable design.
The quality of the materials used in the Clear Digital 1m reflects Cardas’s commitment to excellence. The copper used reaches an exceptional purity level of 99.9999%, virtually eliminating any impurity likely to affect signal transmission.
Insulation plays an equally crucial role in the performance of a digital cable. The Clear Digital uses a sophisticated multi-layer insulation structure. Anti-static low-density polyethylene (LDPE) air tubes create a low-loss dielectric, while polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tape provides additional protection against electromagnetic interference.
The double insulation jacket combines an ultra-thin inner layer of extruded PTFE with a particularly flexible outer jacket made of thermoplastic rubber (TPR). This construction not only ensures optimal signal protection, but also gives the cable welcome flexibility during installation, even in complex configurations.
The sonic performance of the Cardas Clear Digital 1m is characterized by its neutrality and its ability to reveal the finest details of the recording. Unlike some cables that color the sound or emphasize certain frequencies, the Clear Digital gets out of the way to let the music fully express itself.
Listeners report a noticeable improvement in soundstage depth and better instrument definition. The increased temporal precision results in more natural reproduction of transients and better rhythmic articulation. Voices gain presence and naturalness, while instruments recover their authentic timbre.
In high-end systems, the improvement provided by the Clear Digital can be substantial, more than justifying the investment for demanding audiophiles. As several specialized reviewers point out, the cable’s impact is particularly noticeable on high-quality recordings, where every detail matters.
The Cardas Clear Digital 1m finds its place in high-end audio systems, connecting the various digital components of your system with excellence. It excels particularly in connections between:
With its impedance rigorously calibrated to 75 Ω, the Clear Digital scrupulously complies with the S/PDIF standard, guaranteeing optimal compatibility with all devices conforming to this standard.
Contrary to popular belief, a quality digital cable can have a significant impact on sound. The Clear Digital reduces jitter (timing fluctuations) and transmission errors, resulting in a more precise stereo image, better timbre definition, and more natural reproduction of transients. These improvements are particularly noticeable in high-end systems where every link in the chain is optimized.
The 75 Ω impedance is the established standard for S/PDIF connections. Precisely calibrated impedance minimizes signal reflections that can cause transmission errors. Any deviation from this value can lead to signal reflections, increasing jitter and degrading sound quality. The Cardas Clear Digital rigorously maintains this impedance along its entire length thanks to its precise geometric design.
Matched Propagation technology ensures that all signals, regardless of frequency, propagate at the same speed through the conductor. In a conventional cable, different frequencies travel at slightly different speeds, causing phase distortion. By eliminating this disparity, the Clear Digital preserves the temporal integrity of the digital signal, reducing jitter and improving the precision of downstream digital-to-analog conversion.
Marc
High-quality digital cable with sturdy connectors. Good resolution, good spatialization, and very satisfactory gain.
Comment from January 04, 2022 — Experience from December 16, 2021
