I did a bit of farting about last night with the Sony CD Players.Trying to decide things.
I have a couple Sony XB-930QS UK Special editions & a X222ES..
The 'XB-930QS' has both Optical & Coax digital outputs, but it has no variable output on analogue which would mean i really need a line level pre-amp to go with the power amp.
The 'X222ES' has only an optical digital output only but has both set & variable analogue outputs.
Which ever machine i use (Will only have room for one) which will be use with outboard DAC. The 'X222ES' is the candidate with the variable Analogue output as i don't want to use a pre-amp, even though i adore the smoothness of the tray & fix lazer mech with the 'XB-930QS' i prefer using the 'X-222ES' as it's just a more enjoyable machine to use!
These will more than likley go when i can afford a top of the range Sony but not for a long time yet.
The thing is as the title says are Optical digital lines really that bad.I do sence a very very slight difference between Coax/Optical on the 'XB-930' but it is fractional!
Any good recommendations for optical as i only use a QED 'Performance' optical lead, never really bothered with optical before till i bought the 'X222ES' machine!! I've always took very expensive optical leads as a bit of a con tbh..Maybe this QEDlead is as good as it gets with opticals?