Cable question

Yes.  Why would you convert from digital and optical on both ends and think that’d sound better than no conversion?  Plus, optical is limited to 24/96.  Is that enough for you?

I have used toslink with  very good results on a Bluesound streamer.   Enough?

No. 

I say no, so long as both cables are working correctly and not dropping bits.   Digital is all 1s and 0s so there is no .98 vs .99 performance.   Generally those who tout improved digital performance are trying to sell something and hope you'll convince yourself you can hear a difference. That said, there are people I respect who disagree with me so I continue to keep an open mind on this issue.

Optical does require some data management on both ends so you can lose some bits there and I have had optical systems that I thought didn't sound as good.  Maybe it's the conversion.

I use USB.

Jerry

The answer to the question is like most things with audio - it depends on the gear that's sending and receiving the data.

Whenever I have the option, I try both. I don't think I've ever never not preferred coaxial to optical in a comparison. My Bluesound Node 2i was far superior via coaxial into my Marantz SA-10.

Optical cables are cheap but there are more expensive coaxial cable options. My favorite coax is actually a Blue Jeans Cable coax that is reasonably priced. I have coaxial cables that are magnitudes greater in price and I prefer the Blue Jeans for $30 or whatever it was. I don't understand why but different coax cables altered the sound I heard.

I'm using optical just because that's what i had laying around. I was also thinking of the BJC coax. I will try that. Thanks.

Yes. Optical is compromised. But the question is can you hear it? That is equipment dependent… is your equipment sensitive enough to make it obvious?

Only one way to find out. Get an appropriate digital cable.

I have been pursing high end audio for fifty years. I have always known I would continue pursuing better and better systems. So for me, I would always stay away from known potential issues that could compromise the sound… like different length speaker cables. Evaluating sound quality is very time consuming. So I would spend my time on the big stuff… evaluating components, cables, interconnects, power cords and just take for granted stuff like cable elevators, no different length cables, etc.

That has been my strategy and it has worked as each generation system has gotten much better and I now own a world class sounding system customized to my taste.

@rnrmf1971 nailed it.  It all depends on how the sending unit's outputs are implemented, and on how the receiving unit's inputs are implemented.  You might hear a big different, a slight difference, or no difference at all.  The cable doesn't exist in a vacuum (so to speak).

Sorry to post off topic on this thread but I’m trying to contact ghdprentice..

@ghdprentice I sent you some questions through Audiogon messaging. I’d appreciate it very much if you could help me out.

There can be, but I've never experimented.  For one, coaxial always runs the risk of a ground loop in the digital signal which can cause excess jitter.  However some feel the receivers perform better.  I think iFi even published a paper on how coax reception could be improved by increasing the peak to peak voltages to perform closer to the intention of the devices.

I ordered a coax. I will experiment.

RWIW, it sounds great with the toslink, so we'll see.

@secretguy - you can spend a lot of money on cables, especially digital cables.

When you say you have ordered a COAX cable - does it have RCA plugs?

• If yes then we can assume the RCA's are built for digital use
  • i.e. their impedance matches the impedance of the cable
  • If they are not matched you will get poor perofrmance
• Some components have BNC digital connectors, which many people prefer over RCA

Then there are digital cables that "look like" coax with RCA plugs, but are in fact NOT actually "Coax" (i.e. like TV antenna cable) , but  a newer geometry that actually allows exceptional signal transfer,

• such as digital cables from KLE Innovations

Even within the optical cables

• some cables use  transparent man made fibers 
• or the better cables use glass fibre(s) 
• but are they better than "Coax" - some believe they are not
• The best optical cables I have tried that are reasonably priced comes from DH Labs
  • https://silversonic.com/products/digital-cables/toslink-optical/
• and they now have their premier glass cable 
  • https://silversonic.com/products/digital-cables/glass-master-toslink/
• Both of these will perfrom better than many COAX cables
• FYI DH LABS also builds pretty good USB cables

So as you can see - it's not quite as simple as selecting Optical or Coax.

If you are NOT prepared to delve into the inner workings of cables, i would recommend the optical cables from DH Labs.

There are many great cables out there, but you have to now what to look for 

Regards - Steve

@tomcy6 

👍 got your message.

I prefer coax, but agree it can be gear dependent...fortunately you can try and compare for free...

So I changed to coax. I can't swear I hear a difference. But I also can't swear I don't. But it seems to be preferred so, for a pretty small investment, I'm good with it.

My system just sounds really great.

Next is messing with room correction.