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Optical Digital Interface - Good or Bad?

I want to interface with my computer via the Logitech Duet so I can experience "PC Audio." However, I will keep my CD/DVD player hooked up to my DAC and I don't want to compromise that interface (via the digital coax). I'm not really familiar with any of the music servers on the market, but I assume I will need a physical interface between receiver and DAC (coax or optical). Since I want to keep the disc player connected via coax, I guess I would have to connect the Duet and DAC via the optical. Does the optical digital link degrade the signal compared with the coaxial digital link? What other options are there??
2chnlben
6 responses Add your response
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Ar_t is correct, Toslink causes the most jitter of any of the digital interconnects, primarily because of the conversions from electrical to optical. However, this is not the only jitter issue. The Duet jitter is still there. This can only be removed with a reclocker. The reclocker can also change the interface from Toslink to AES in the reclocking process. Then the Toslink from the Duet does not matter. Then you can use the AES input on your DAC, assuming that it has one.

Steve N.
ar_t
165 posts
 
TOSLINK is an inferior technology, period. Yes, galvanic isolation, but it has absolutely no other redeeming values.

Coax outputs can be good or bad. Slim Devices (as an example) stick ferrite beads in series with the coax output. This helps them to pass radiated emissions standards, but mucks up the sound.

So, any comparison between the 2 may not exactly be all that it is cracked up to be.

If all that you want is music, then TOSLINK will work. If you want something better, coax is the only real solution. But, not all coax outputs are identical, or even very good.
Post removed 
palmerston
24 posts
 
You may find this comparison of Toslink vs RCA useful.
http://6moons.com/audioreviews/toslink/toslink.html
My experience agrees with their opinions.
mgattmch
570 posts
 
I recently asked the same question on Audiogon. Here is the link:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1210878331&openmine&zzMgattmch&4&5#Mgattmch
rlwainwright
1,904 posts
 
Don't worry about it, for all intents and purposes they are equal...

-RW-
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