One factor I have observed with the optical cables I have used is that the bandwidth of the cable plays a significant role in the sound reproduced.
I have three basic grades..
1. Consumer grade - unknown bandwidth, but definately the least accomplished performer
2. A medium bandwidth cable rated at 50Mbps
3. A high bandwidth cable rated at 150 Mbps
The difference between these three are clearly audible in the micro details that become more pronounced as each grade is installed.
The specific micro details are those that contribute to the acoustics of the recording venue - not so much the actual musical sound or tone.
The difference when #3 introduced was very noticeable - so much so I immediately purchased a second cable for my A/V system which made a huge improvement to the spacious aspect of the system.
To this reader at least, there is a difference, which I attribute to bandwidth, but this can be attributed in turn to the slew rate and other technical attributes of cables cited in the many prior posts.
The faster a cable can respond to going from a 0 to a 1 (i.e. higher bandwidth) allows more "data" to get though to the DAC, which in turn produces a better analogue waveform with fewer interpolated distortions.
Maybe build quality is also a factor, all I know is - it sounds better :-)
I have three basic grades..
1. Consumer grade - unknown bandwidth, but definately the least accomplished performer
2. A medium bandwidth cable rated at 50Mbps
3. A high bandwidth cable rated at 150 Mbps
The difference between these three are clearly audible in the micro details that become more pronounced as each grade is installed.
The specific micro details are those that contribute to the acoustics of the recording venue - not so much the actual musical sound or tone.
The difference when #3 introduced was very noticeable - so much so I immediately purchased a second cable for my A/V system which made a huge improvement to the spacious aspect of the system.
To this reader at least, there is a difference, which I attribute to bandwidth, but this can be attributed in turn to the slew rate and other technical attributes of cables cited in the many prior posts.
The faster a cable can respond to going from a 0 to a 1 (i.e. higher bandwidth) allows more "data" to get though to the DAC, which in turn produces a better analogue waveform with fewer interpolated distortions.
Maybe build quality is also a factor, all I know is - it sounds better :-)