Toslink Dim Question

[Ammonite Audio]

My HiFace Evo USB converter has both Toslink and Super Toslink outputs. The Lyngdorf amp and the Bushmaster have plain Toslink optical inputs. I do need to get a shorter optical cable to link the two (I have a 3m QED that is actually quite good) and am looking at one from http://www.lifatec.com/toslink2.html since they seem to be well recommended. They have an option to fit Super Toslink connectors - can a cable have Super Toslink at one end and ordinary Toslink at the other, and still work?

[Stratmangler]

It only has one Toslink connection.
There's no such thing as Super Toslink.

The other optical connection is AT&T optical, which is a really high bandwidth optical connection designed for use in communications.
As is the way with most things, you need a device which has also AT&T compatible - there's no adapter as such.

[UV101]

The marking on the DAC refers to the type of connector used which is "ST". This does not stand for super toslink!!!! :lol:

ST is a type of connector was usually used for data connections where distances over 100m (cat5 limit). Its quite old now and was used for up to 1gb although i suspect it will go faster.

I suspect in use for audio, its no more than different mechanical connection. At the source end, the data sent to the transmit device will be identical to the SPDIF in fact I suspect it and the TOS transmit device will be in parallel.

I do not know what wavelength the TOS cable works at but I suspect its different to the ST. I believe the diameter of the fiber is different depending on the wavelength its tuned for. TOS is not designed to work over long haul so it likely to work on low quality fiber.

Upshot is that the connector may be better quality and the fit between the patch cable and source my be better but the actual data sent will be identical. If you wanted to try it, you could replace the TOS tranmitter in the source with an ST type connector........:)

[Ammonite Audio]

The marking on the DAC refers to the type of connector used which is "ST". This does not stand for super toslink!!!! :lol:

ST is a type of connector was usually used for data connections where distances over 100m (cat5 limit). Its quite old now and was used for up to 1gb although i suspect it will go faster.

I suspect in use for audio, its no more than different mechanical connection. At the source end, the data sent to the transmit device will be identical to the SPDIF in fact I suspect it and the TOS transmit device will be in parallel.

I do not know what wavelength the TOS cable works at but I suspect its different to the ST. I believe the diameter of the fiber is different depending on the wavelength its tuned for. TOS is not designed to work over long haul so it likely to work on low quality fiber.

Upshot is that the connector may be better quality and the fit between the patch cable and source my be better but the actual data sent will be identical. If you wanted to try it, you could replace the TOS tranmitter in the source with an ST type connector........:)

I did state in the opening post that it was perhaps a dim question and that the HiFace Evo USB converter has TOSLINK as well as "ST" (it also has RCA and I2S digital outputs on the back facia):

http://www.m2tech.biz/images/prodotti/evo1.jpg

Audio over TOSLINK in my system has consistently fallen short of that delivered over RCA digital and particularly via a MIT Shotgun digital cable. I can rig up simultaneous optical and RCA digital interfaces through my Lyngdorf amp, and switching back and forth there is no apparent difference; however with longer listening sessions, I find my musical interest waning with optical. Switching back to the Shotgun is like having a decent cup of tea (eg "ahhhh, that's better!"). I am wondering if a really good optical cable can bring optical up to scratch - I have tried the QED (soft and floppy and reasonably listenable) with a supposedly quality glass cable from a well respected UK supplier, which sounded so dire that I obtained a refund. So, I'm a bit cautious, but these Lifatec people do seem to be selling quality stuff at a sensible price. I've e-mailed them to ask the technical question about TOSLINK/ST.

[UV101]

Asking HiFace sounds like a sensible way forward :)

If it were me, I've have it in bits and replace the ST with a std spdif (BNC not phono) connector and mini isolating transformer :)

******Apologies for laughing too, just made a crappy day at work a bit smilier so thank you :)

[Ammonite Audio]

Asking HiFace sounds like a sensible way forward :)

If it were me, I've have it in bits and replace the ST with a std spdif (BNC not phono) connector and mini isolating transformer :)

******Apologies for laughing too, just made a crappy day at work a bit smilier so thank you :)

Perhaps I should have linked a picture of the other end of the HiFace Evo:

http://www.m2tech.biz/images/prodotti/evo2.jpg

And here is a picture of its innards that Paul Hynes took after replacing its internal regulators, showing its mini isolating transformers:

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww7/paulhynes/HiFaceEvo003.jpg

That aside, I do have the answer to my dim question from Lifatec:


Not stupid at all! A very common question because, we are all asking why did the Audio Industry accept this TOSLINK format from TOSHIBA???

The ST (AT&T) connector has been around for years and is an excellent connection system for optical interfaces.

The problems you are having may not be with your Optical cables, but with the fact that the TOSLINK and ST signal formats are different.

TOSLINK OPTICAL SIGNAL IS 660 nanometer wavelength
ST OPTICAL SIGNAL IS 820 or 880 nanometer wavelength

We do sell TOSLINK / ST SILFLEX GLASS OPTICAL AUDIO CABLES, but we warn these customers about the fact that it may not work.

Some ST Optical - Electrical components work at both 660 and 880, but we do not have a accurate list of the audio equipment that uses these devices.

We are working on a cheap test patchcord that our customers can use to verify component compatibility, but it is still in the development stages. Maybe your equipment manuals or tech support can provide more information if they may be compatible.

Sorry about the long answer, but it's discouraging for all of us.

So, I'll be ordering a normal TOSLINK-TOSLINK optical cable from them:)