Hi guys..

Ive recently invested in a CEC cd5 spinner. Well reviewed player I purchased from a friend. It has its own dac but I have it running through my Matrix Sabre dac.
So...my question is please.  The transport didnt come with any leads from the cd to the dac so NeilM has kindly magiced up one to get my going.Ju st a cheapie. The first album I played I know well and it was ok. The second (a Rickie Lee) cd I also know well wasnt overy nice at all. Too bright! I have it on the big black disks and its TOTALLY different. Ok its to be expected,I get that. Is anyone using a lead that goes from cd to dac that has been an improvement from what you previously used?
Maybe a bit of a strange question but it it only took a few minutes to create and the coffee machine is to temp now so Ill go and build a coffee and read the paper with a slab of cake and wait for the suggestions to roll in...lol
Thanks guys.

The proverbial 'can of worms' andrewp...

however,  what did your friend (prev. owner) use? did you hear it in their system? 
Get a friendly dealer to let you audition a range?
Throw CEC and/or Matrix an e-mail for info? (I had good replies when I sent e-mails direct to Innuos on questions about my server)

Enjoy your coffee/paper/cake too...

"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]

Hiya,

Yep ive got a bunch currently unused in a drawer as I dont as yet have an outboard DAC, though plans are afoot. My cables all date from back in the days of the first outboard DACs in the time of Theta, CAL, QED etc. Cables are a real mixture and you will probably find as I did that the best cable for you will be one thats specific to that DAC and transport. My suggestion would be to buy a few second hand ones and try them. My personal favourite was a silver one (cant remember the make), but a mate of mine preferred a vdh carbon one between his meridian units. Sorry thats not more helpful.

A cable that 'stuck' in my system is this Belkin (1m) 'Pure AV' digital coax cable. That was $49 about 10 years ago and sounded much better (less bright) than an "8 nines" $69 Tara Labs Prism 100d (which also bought at the time).
Someone also told me recently they use Amazon Basics brand with good results.

Thanks for the replies to date. I didnt hear it before purchase..Reviews of gear are VERY if not TOTALLY dependent on the supporting gear and room..obviously. I do believe in synergy though in fairness. It definitely has top supporting gear but maybe I was spoilt with the Esoteric PO3...
Auditioning leads isnt the easiest thing to do when usually they are in sealed plastic packages,from a retailer I mean.

It's an optical cable,just a cheap one from an electrical supplier that I used to get Andrew going.
I'm also interested in a getting decent optical cable if there are any out there that can be recommended here.
I think I used an optical cable because the coax is used by his streaming machine into the dac.

Have never used an optical toslink cable but I remember reading that they were popular for a time because they broke the electrical connection between the DAC and transport resulting in less hum ?

I think QED used to make one ?

also popular because most were cheap (plastic).

wadia preferred the higher quality at&t glass fibre optical cables.

Hi guys..
Neil came over for a listen today and we both agreed the tracks I had listened tonwere definitely harsh BUT recording quality definitely had a part to play.
Im still looking for a better option..
Thanks

So... Neil very kindly arrived with his Supra lead to travel between the cd and dac for me (us) to try. A more handsome and beefy chord so clearly it will be better than the $5 jobbie from the electrical wholesaler.. Well if I was telling porkies to the group I would be saying the Supra was more detailed,open,bass was tighter and highs were crisp and uncoloured...BUT...mmmm