Emu XL-7 & MP-7 User's Group

Hey all, ran into a problem trying to use my XL-7's S/PDIF port this 
weekend.  I'm sure it's not Emu related, but was wondering if anyone had 
any ideas that might help me out.  Basically, I had recorded all of my 
MIDI for a new track into Cubase, and next I needed to transfer all of the 
tracks as audio into Cubase.  On my last track where I did this, I 
completely forgot about the SPDIF port on the back of the XL-7 (one of the 
reasons I got it too, doh!) so I did all the transferring via the analog 
outs.  This time I wanted to keep it all as clean as possible, so I 
attempted to use the digital out.  I hooked the XL-7 up to my Layla24 via 
a Monster Cable digital cable I had previously used to transfer samples to 
my Akai S3000Xl from a CD player.  After changing  all the right settings 
for my Layla to be working via SPDIf, I set about trying to record the 
audio into Cubase.

The problem, was that although I could hear my XL-7's audio, there was 
alot of digital noise randomly interlaced with it too.  It was that 
annoying crackling variety that would max out my inputs everytime it 
cracked, and basically made using the digital outs impossible as I 
couldn't get a clean signal for the life of me. I thought it might be a 
bad cable, so I swapped it with a regular RCA cable (non-digital, I know 
not ideal) I knew was good.  The same thing happened only the crackling 
was much worse.  So I'm guessing it might be a bad cable, and I ordered a 
new one this AM.  Anyone got any other ideas on what it might be?  I know 
someone used the XL-7 with an Echo Mia ok, anyone used it successfully 
this way with a Layla24?

rEalm