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help jitter, toslink, and DVD question

I'm currently using a mid-priced ($450) Toshiba DVD player as a transport into a Monster Toslink cable to a B&K Ref 30 pre/pro for both music and movies. I've been concernced that I may be "missing out" because my transport may be full of jitter or other problems, and some on this site think Toslink cables are crap.

Instead of replacing the DVD, I'm considering purchasing a used Monarchy DIP jitter reducer and a higher quality digital coax cable(to run from the Monarchy to my B&K for decoding). I'm thinking this may be a low cost upgrade that will smooth things out (even though I don't know what jitter is doing in my current system...).

Does this sound reasonable? And, should I ditch the Monster Toslink going from the DVD player into the Monarchy and just buy two new digital coax cables(so I will be using digital coax all the way around)? Any suggestions for low-cost, high-quality cables (and where to get them) would be much appreciated!

128x128felthove
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Your proposed approach sounds like a good one-- I used it myself for several years. If your DVD player has coax out, by all means use it instead of Toslink, if not the DIP will convert Toslink to coax. I can recommend Cardas High Speed Data digital cables at about $80. new. I haven't used the DIP, but did effectively use SF Ultra Jitter Bug(s) and Theta TLC for the same reason. The DIP, being newer, is supposed to be improved over older technology. Good Luck. Craig
mnmatt
3 posts
 
I have the cheap Pioneer "Elite" DVD player (434) I am running into a Monarchy 96/24 DIP and then into my B&k Ref 30. When I ran it in using TOSlink first and then bought a couple of Coaxial cables to try the sound. I prefer the coaxial much more over the TOSlink. Also I could not believe the dramatic difference the Monarchy made in the sound!! It was night and day.

I spent about $600 for the pair of coaxials, but after some experimentation with other coaxials I think the Onix cables you can pick up from Av123.com should suit you just great and only set you back about $200 for a pair of the Thunder digital cables.
supakit
18 posts
 
Try Camelot Dragon 5.1 jitter reducer. It is actually the first unit to reduce jitter in 2-channel from Music CD and 5.1-Channel from DVD Movies while other jitter reducers can only do 2-channel (as stated on Camelot website).

I'm using it with Pioneer DVD Player to smooth out the sound of DVD Movies. For 2-channel music I use "Digital Flywheel" features from my EAD TM Signature.
felthove's avatar
felthove OP
30 posts
 
Supakit -- I'm a little confused here. Monarchy claims that "the DIP's circuit is compatible with all S/PDIF audio signals from 16 to 24 bits at frequencies up to 96 kHz, including Dolby Digital and DTS. In fact, the new and improved lock function will lock onto anything between 32-96 kHz", yet Camelot claims to be the only 5.1 channel jitter reducer. What's the deal? I was under the impression that D.Digital and DTS are S/PDIF signals.
blues_man
133 posts
 
The advantage of the optical connection is that you don't get electrical noise through the cable. I have a Toshiba DVD and have compared the outputs, the coax gives you much better sound. The transport though is not very good whwn compared to a good CD transport. I compared it to a Theta Jade, CAL, and Spectral. Raanking them 0-10 measuring how accurately they were able to reproduce high frequency sine waves from a test disk:

Spectral 10
Theta 8.5
CAL 7
DVD COAX 5
DVD TOS 3
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