Belkin PureAV TOS-link

[WAD62]

Chaps,

Given the recent success I've shared with many others on AOL, with regard to Belkin cables from the pureAV series, I thought I might check out one of their optical/Tos-link cables.

There appear to be a couple of different options available at the moment, which look identical, from the supplied photos, but are advertised with different product codes...(I'm looking at the 1.2M option as it seems to be the shortest available).

Firstly;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-2m-Belkin-Silver-Series-PureAV-TOS-Link-Optical-Cable-/190499310570?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item2c5aa4cbea#ht_1769wt_989

Product code = AV50000bea04
Price = £12.99

Secondly;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Belkin-PureAV-Digital-Optical-Audio-Cable-1-2m-AV50000Q-/330575084932?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item4cf7cf7d84#ht_1903wt_1250

Product code = AV50000Q
Description = white (although the photo looks grey, and identical to the first)
Price = £20.56

There are a few other buying options & lengths out there but all seem to share the same picture

Any experience with these cables, are we into a grey vs white discussion, are the photos inaccurate, or have they just changed product codes?

There are more questions than answers...;)

[HighFidelityGuy]

I'm not sure if there's any difference between the two but they both have multi-stranded cores which is quite rare and a definite plus point. Most optical cables, even some stupidly expensive ones just have single plastic cores.

However it doesn't mention if the cores are plastic or glass fibre. Glass provides the best results but is more brittle and is not often used. Mark Grant sells multi-stranded glass fibre cables and they're what I use. :)

[AlexM]

Not too familiar with Toslink cables, but I would think that multiple strand glass fibre cable would be best, assuming correct core diameter for the 650nm wavelength light wavelength is used. Plastic fibre has higher scatter than quartz glass, but this probably isn't too important over short runs.

Regards,
Alex

[WAD62]

We've had a few threads recently about Belkin AVpure interconnects...

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8581


...was about the specific differences in quality between the grey and the white RCA variants, and their respective product codes.

I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on the 2 TOS-link variants in my first post, given the identical photos...

[Reid Malenfant]

Well they read the same so they probably are the same :confused: It's not as if you can get any fancy wiring or anything like a semi balanced cable compared to what amounts to a straight coaxial with an optical cable.

Frankly i think they'll be the same, except maybe different colour jackets at the end of the day ;)

[WAD62]

Well they read the same so they probably are the same :confused: It's not as if you can get any fancy wiring or anything like a semi balanced cable compared to what amounts to a straight coaxial with an optical cable.

Frankly i think they'll be the same, except maybe different colour jackets at the end of the day ;)

My suspicion too Mark, although from the photo even the 'jackets' are the same...;)

[Reid Malenfant]

Well i was assuming someone put up the wrong picture, but you know what they say about assumption :eyebrows:

[goraman]

I think you will be happier with this a real glass fiber optic cable.
Plastic yellows and becomes lossy.
http://cgi.ebay.com/6-6-ft-GLASS-TOSLINK-DIGITAL-OPTICAL-CABLE-Premium-/380335397999?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item588dc19c6f

you can get them in different lengths,I have used mine for some time now and love it,my old Monster plastic one has seen better days.
The only thing is be carfule not to bend it under a 2 inch radius as it is real glass fiber.

[goraman]

I'm not sure if there's any difference between the two but they both have multi-stranded cores which is quite rare and a definite plus point. Most optical cables, even some stupidly expensive ones just have single plastic cores.

However it doesn't mention if the cores are plastic or glass fibre. Glass provides the best results but is more brittle and is not often used. Mark Grant sells multi-stranded glass fibre cables and they're what I use. :)

Dose Mark Grant have a web site?
How about a link?
Hope this helps out.
http://markgrantcables.co.uk/

Right to the page. http://markgrantcables.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=40_17&zenid=2i3okrof02cfgtjgrj34nhc3h4

He has a very nice site,the only thing missing was headphone cables and upgrade iopd cables.