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glass fibre optic ST cable Question

i'm finding very little info on the fibre optic cables use between DACs and Transports, eg Wadia and Theta

I'm from an IT background where these things (cable specs) are commonplace. its all vague voodoo here in audio.

isn't there a common cable spec for digital audio fibre?!?

ie is it Multi-mode or single-mode ?! !!

I've seen both mentioned (theta = single v wadia = multi)

I've seen the wadia cable mentioned vaguely a couple of places, and found the StraightWire STX cable a coupel of places (multimode w kevlar braid!!).

Am I naive here to think that any well made polished glass IT grade ST connect cable would work?

thanks

I have seen mention the AES actually gives a better quality signal, which is fine, but I thought i'd listen for myself.
lester_ears

Showing 1 response by mrderrick

mrderrick
292 posts
 
I'll mention a few things here. I do not believe that single mode and multi mode fiber can be interchanged. Single mode is laser driven and multi mode is LED driven. Single mode is much smaller in diameter. Most of the "audio" fiber is terminated with "ST" connectors. Though I have seen some variations. I have compared AQ opti link pro 1 and 2 to a home brew multi mode fiber cable, a commercial fiber cable the Kimber Orchid and D60. The cheap home brew that my local network equipment supplier made for me was equal to them all and only cost $20. Find out what type of fiber your transport and dac require. They need to be the same. Since you have an IT back ground try to source a cable through a com wire supplier. Give the "cheap" commercial fiber patch cables a try before spending a couple 100 on a name brand. Fiber transmission was perfected long before it was used in the audio world. How much care is taken in the termination of the cable is what really matters.
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