Digital cable query

[Haselsh1]

:)
I am soon to start experimenting with various DACs and the digital output of my CD player. Do I use an optical spdif/Toslink or a copper cable via the digital phono output. Opinions please...???
;)

[Themis]

Best to use a 75ohm digital coaxial cable. If it doesn't bother you having one of 2m long, still better. ;)

[Kris]

Some people say that the Toslink are better as they isolate electrical noise from the two components. This may especially be true when using digital outputs from a PC.

Personally, I'd use whatever sounds best to you. But beware of bogus claims such as gold plated Toslink plugs sound better. There's as much snake oil in digital IC market as in the analogue IC market.

Kris.

[Themis]

gold plated Toslink plugs sound better:eek: Are you serious ? Some people dare to *that* point ?:scratch:

[dave2010]

I've recently tried both, and to my mind there's not a lot of difference in it. There are claims that the optical cables may not work as well as they should, but I really see no reason why not unless you want to run 20-30 metres. Maybe some plastic optical cables are not so good, but really - come off it - the signals are digital - and over short distances there really should be no significant difference. Some of the optical cables are cunningly construced with brass/gold coloured ends, but if you unscrew the metal you realise that it doesn't actually do anything - though it might provide a little extra mechanical protection. Sometimes pushing the optical cables in is a bit tricky, and you may have to be a bit firm. It has already been mentioned that optical systems should be immune from interference, and shouldn't cause any either.

There are some quite clunky, but potentially useful optical switches (mechanical) - such as for example this - http://TinyURL.com/y8elxfz - which is sometimes available for under 5 quid from some suppliers.

Beware snake oil!

[Stratmangler]

To be pendantic dave2010 digital interconnects carry analogue representations of digital data.

However, I do agree with you about there being much snake oil being around.

Personally, I use one of these http://www.homehifi.co.uk/PP/DIGITAL_COAX_CABLE_.html between my Squeezebox and Caiman DAC, and one of these http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35921 (I use the 5m one) between my Sky+ box and Caiman.

Chris:)

[Haselsh1]

Thank you very much for your ideas. I have bought both optical and copper varieties to do a bit of a comparison. All I need now are a few s/h DACs to complete the picture. Bring on ebay.

[Kris]

:eek: Are you serious ? Some people dare to *that* point ?:scratch:

Yep, seriously. Here's a typical one:


This is a brand new Toslink Cable. The cable has high quality 24K Gold plated connectors for the best possible connection and ultimate sound quality.

Crazy huh?

[Themis]

This is a brand new Toslink Cable. The cable has high quality 24K Gold plated connectors for the best possible connection and ultimate sound quality.
:lolsign:

Another thing that comes to mind about optical cables :
The have very poor connectors (the Toshiba engineers who invented them must have been on drugs), and they can't cope well with stiff (glass) cables.
Nothing to do with the cables themselves, really, but I use them only when there are no other alternatives.

[Kris]

Another thing that comes to mind about optical cables :
The have very poor connectors (the Toshiba engineers who invented them must have been on drugs), and they can't cope well with stiff (glass) cables.


I disagree. They were never designed as a professional interface, or to be used with stiff or heavy cables. The design is perfectly ok for it's original intended purpose.

Kris.

[dave2010]

To be pendantic digital interconnects carry analogue representations of digital data.
Maybe. I'm swinging gently :-)

We could go down to atomic or quantum level if you prefer, but it's probably easier to stick with the notion that the data is digital. Actually I don't know what modulation method is used on the coax cable, but I assume that on the optical cable it's effectively optical ASK.

[Themis]

The optical transmitter takes the coax (electrical) signal, transforms it into optical, then sends it, then, upon reception the optical receiver transforms the optical signal into an electrical one (like the one received by the coax receiver).
So, you have two additional transformations. But today's emitters/receivers are rather good. ;)

[serendipitydawg]

Are short (less than 12") TOSLINK cables available anywhere?