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Toslink cable that isn't prone to jitter, possible?

Hi All,

I posted this in cable forum as well. So I have an ancient Pioneer PD-F908 cd carousel. I just recently added the Schiit Bifrost 2 as my DAC, WOW! What a difference! However I tend to get some jitter now and then which from what I understand is normal when using Toslink (Coax is not an option with this cd player). I have read that the DH Labs Glass Master Toslink or the Lifatec Premium Silflex would be the way to go. I am currently using the Voodoo Lightwave Fiber Optic. This is my first DAC and also the first time I've gone Toslink. Again what the Bifrost has done is incredible, I am just hoping to eliminate the occasional jitter and heard these 2 cables may do it...Switching the cd player is not an option. I need a carousel and love this unit!

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
kingbr
11 responses Add your response
chayro
2,932 posts
 
I'm not 100% sure of this, but I don't think you can hear jitter per-se.  You may hear a diminution in sound quality due to excessive jitter, but I have a feeling you are hearing something else and calling it jitter.  Can you describe the sound?
kingbr OP
269 posts
 
Thanks for responding @chayro, it almost sounds like it's skipping almost like a couple of split second delays. It's not the cd either (yes some of my older discs are a bit worn and do skip) but this has happened on brand new cd's. Hard to describe really, but it's definitely noticeable. It doesn't happen often either but when it does happen during a particular track playing it tends to do it a couple of times throughout the track...
chayro
2,932 posts
 
I don’t think that’s jitter. Sounds like a dirty or worn laser lens or a faulty cable or connection. Easiest way to tell - disconnect the dac and see if this happens when you use the CD player alone. If it’s the laser, it will do the same thing. If not, it’s downstream somewhere. Could be a loose connection, so reconnect your interconnects and power cables on the dac if it doesn’t happen on the CD player alone. The toslink connection could also be dirty, so plug and unplug a few times.  
kingbr OP
269 posts
 
Thanks again chayro, great info! What's weird is I actually "rebooted" the DAC as it seemed to be happening all of a sudden. I turned it off and pulled out the power cord. Waited like a minute then fired it up and didn't hear it again, so that seemed to work. This was 2 days ago, then yesterday it started again but ever so slightly and not near as bad when it first started...I'll unplug and reconnect the Toslink and the XLR IC's from the DAC and see what that does. If I hear again I'll try completely disconnecting the DAC like you said and see if it's the cd player...Really thanks again for taking the time to help:)!
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,396 posts
 
+1 @chayro .
Not jitter. Jitter would cause harshness to your music or a "glare" type of effect where it lacks a smooth presentation.


kingbr OP
269 posts
 
So I just spoke with John at The Cable Co. He said the exact same thing, "you cannot hear jitter", but if you're getting interruptions in your music it is most likely the Toslink cable". I'm going to send the Voodoo Toslink back to them and I just ordered the Lifatec Premium Silflex - which would seem to be an upgrade regardless...
erik_squires
15,807 posts
 
If you hear it come and go it's more likely to be a power supply issue.  Especially PC/Mac.
kingbr OP
269 posts
 
Thanks for replying, I am not using PC/Mac. I have toslink from cd player to Bifrost, then XLR's from Bifrost to my pre/pro...
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,396 posts
 
If the CDP plays ok using only analogue outputs, then the digital output is not up to the task. It's an old unit.

fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,502 posts
 
I've never heard any SQ issues from any toslink cable I've ever used, any price.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,396 posts
 
+1 @fuzztone
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