One major difference between these two different types of connections.
Digital data from transport is sent via coax as an RF signal, captured as an RF signal and then converted to audio via the internals of the DAC. As such, you have one conversion taking place.
With optical, digital data is converted to an optical signal. This optical signal travels via the "toslink" to the DAC. The DAC receives it as optical, converts it back to RF and then into audio frequencies.
As such, you have one more conversion / extra step when using optical. How good or bad this is will depend on the devices being used, their designs and the quality of conversion that they are capable of achieving. Optical connections can reduce jitter, but at the same time, they can introduce other forms of signal degradation. Sean
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Digital data from transport is sent via coax as an RF signal, captured as an RF signal and then converted to audio via the internals of the DAC. As such, you have one conversion taking place.
With optical, digital data is converted to an optical signal. This optical signal travels via the "toslink" to the DAC. The DAC receives it as optical, converts it back to RF and then into audio frequencies.
As such, you have one more conversion / extra step when using optical. How good or bad this is will depend on the devices being used, their designs and the quality of conversion that they are capable of achieving. Optical connections can reduce jitter, but at the same time, they can introduce other forms of signal degradation. Sean
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