Coax or Fibre Optic

[Leftfield]

Thanks Neil.

I'll try to get it right this time:)

In summary is it better to connect my bushmaster DAC to my pioneern50 streamer via optical toslink or via digital coax? Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced one?

And secondly, the two are currently connected via a cheap van damme optical cable. However, I don't hear any sound when I try to play 24/176 files and it is distorted when I try to play 24/192 files. Does anyone know if this a connection or software problem?
I'm using Bubble upnp.

Cheers

Simon

[Stratmangler]

The coax connection is SPDIF!
Are you referring to the Toslink optical as SPDIF?

[Leftfield]

Chris. Sorry yes I am. Cheers I'll try and amend now. It appears as though I cant edit the title. Drip:doh: it should read toslink or spdif !!

[Spectral Morn]

Chris. Sorry yes I am. Cheers I'll try and amend now. It appears as though I cant edit the title. Drip:doh: it should read toslink or spdif !!

There you go - sorted.


Regards Neil

[Leftfield]

I've amended my original post and title now. Thanks all.

[Stratmangler]

Try a coax connection.
Many optical connections are fine up to 96KHz but can have issues at higher transmission speeds - it's possibly a limitation of the light tranmitter in the N50.
It might even be a firmware issue with the unit, so an update might be in order.

Try a coax connection first :)

[Ali Tait]

What do you call reasonable budget?

[Leftfield]

Thanks both. Was considering the mark grant g1000 digital coax or QED performance. Both around £30. Would either of these be suitable?

[NRG]

The MG G1000 would be fine, double shielded, go for the 1.5m version http://theartofsound.net/forum/images/icons/icon14.png

[Stratmangler]

I'd just try any old interconnect to test the theory first.
My SPDIF cable cost me the grand old sum of £1.00, so anything else is expensive in my eyes :eyebrows:

Mark Grant's cables look to be good VFM all the same :)

[Ali Tait]

Can't go wrong with Mark Grant IMHO.

[Leftfield]

I'd just try any old interconnect to test the theory first.
My SPDIF cable cost me the grand old sum of £1.00, so anything else is expensive in my eyes :eyebrows:

Mark Grant's cables look to be good VFM all the same :)

Can I use any coax cable to check whether the issue with higher res files resolves itself?

[Stratmangler]

Can I use any coax cable to check whether the issue with higher res files resolves itself?

Yep!
Yer average interconnect is coaxial in construction :)

[drpetar]

I'm with Pioneer N-30 and Caiman MK2 (and previously with Bushmaster MK2). I'm using PlugPlayer (the iOS analog of BubbleUPNP). No problems with 24/192 flacs with both coaxial and optical cables. Mine are Beresford's.

Regarding 24/176 files in the BM2 manual is noted that "176.4kHz sampling rate is not supported".

[worrasf]

FWIW I have done a straight A/B dem between Toslink and Coax between my Cyrus CDXT se 2+ & BM 2. Toslink. Both cables were the ones sold by Stan although I have also used other makes of Coax - I could tell no difference whatsoever so my cable choice is disctated by what other inputs I need into the BM2 so I use Coax for CD, Toslink for TV/DVD, Toslink for Bluetooth NuForce from iPhone/iPad and USB from MacBook.

Steve

[Barry]

Can I use any coax cable to check whether the issue with higher res files resolves itself?

Yes, as long as the cable has a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohm. Don't use just any old analogue interconnect!

[Leftfield]

Thanks Barry and Worrasf. I have had a digital coax cable connected for a week or so now and have been able to do a/b comparison between the two. There is a difference in the sound between them. I'm not sure it's a better or worse; just different. Fwiw, my bushmaster mk2 is now fully run in (this took 10 days) and is connected via the digital coax and not toslink. Thanks all for your thoughts and advice.