digital cables (SPDIF / Toslink)

Paaf · Post by **Paaf** » 2012-03-18 18:15

Any suggestions for how to best connect digital sources to a Majik DSM? First of all, do I go SPDIF or Toslink? Second, any specific cables that make a huge difference, or good value ones?

Thank you

Paaf · Post by **Paaf** » 2012-03-20 16:53

I saw mentioned somewhere about Linn Digital cables but the seller of my MDSM says there is no such thing. Odd. Maybe they used to have in the past.

Anyway, unless someone gives some recommendation I may get some Clas Ohlsson Coax/SPDIF for 89kr, as I am not yet convinced that digital cables make a huge difference.

There are alternatives, such as Proson (79:- ugly), XTZ (290kr sexy), Supra (430kr looks OK), Van Der Hul (498kr or 1598kr both classy) etc. But.. sound?

Post by **lejonklou** » 2012-03-20 17:47

In general, I have found S/PDIF connections superior to Toslink ones. But I don't know if those results are valid with MDSM.

In the past, there was a rather inexpensive black Linn Digital Interconnect cable, intended for S/PDIF cabling. I believe it was introduced with Karik-Numerik and it looked just like the black Analogue Interconnect, but with a different interior. I tested a lot of cables in the 90's and found this one to be the best, preferably soldered. In later years, I've tried a few crimped cable+connector combinations, but none of them have sounded better than the old Linn Digital Interconnect.

Sadly I don't know where to find this cable. But S/PDIF cabling definitely make a difference, occasionally a marked one. And when shopping around, I suggest going from the bottom and up in terms of price. I've never noticed ANY correlation between price and performance when it comes to audio cables.

Paaf · Post by **Paaf** » 2012-03-21 14:06

Thank you!

Paaf · Post by **Paaf** » 2012-03-24 13:21

A Clas Ohlsson digital coax cable totally CRUSHES using a Linn Black analogue cable!

Obviously not a fair comparison, but fun to write. :)

Paaf · Post by **Paaf** » 2012-03-26 02:06

Using the Tune Method on five different digital 75 ohm coax audio cables I have come to the conclusion that XTZ Pearl White is the best one. However, I reserve the right to change my mind later. :)

My favorite before listening was the Supra, it was well built, came in vevlet box and was the most expensive, and was Swedish - but it actually made me really really bored with the music. I could not even understand how that was possible, the music was good. Others were HQ Aucustics and Proson. Not bad, and Clas Ohlsson was also good. But I won't try to rank the non-winners.
Oh, and the winner was the 2nd most expensive.

Comments?

Paaf · Post by **Paaf** » 2012-03-26 08:32

Using the Tune Method on five different digital 75 ohm coax audio cables I have come to the conclusion that XTZ Pearl White is the best one. However, I reserve the right to change my mind later. :)

My favorite before listening was the Supra, it was well built, came in vevlet box and was the most expensive, and was Swedish - but it actually made me really really bored with the music. I could not even understand how that was possible, the music was good. Others were HQ Aucustics and Proson. Not bad, and Clas Ohlsson was also good. But I won't try to rank the non-winners.
Comments?

Paaf · Post by **Paaf** » 2012-04-05 13:41

The audio from my TV used to sound fantastic by analogue output, but now it seems to have degraded rapidly... of course that's just me having listened a lot to better sources recently. Anyway I can now barely stand it and want to "go digital" to the DSM.

Do also Toslink cables vary a lot in sound quality?

Post by **lejonklou** » 2012-04-05 13:57

I know that feeling! I remember when I first connected my TV to the main system and thought it sounded terrific. In particular, I could hear what people were saying with much greater ease.

Years later, with significantly upgraded digital and vinyl sources, the TV sound has become gradually more annoying. Especially when the volume is loud, I find the harshness of many programs (not to mention commercials) chewing on my nerves. With the LP12, I can play really loud without a trace of becoming tired or even noticing how much I've turned it up.

Paaf wrote:Do also Toslink cables vary a lot in sound quality?

It was a while since I compared Toslink cables, but when I last did, there were some differences. Definitely smaller than coaxial S/PDIF cables, though.

scottydogwoof · Post by **scottydogwoof** » 2012-04-12 17:57

I'v used a few but only cheap ones but i am aware that cheap ones are normally plastic optics and from experience can loose sync and cause little bugs in the system like when streaming a track and instead of litening to the music you get data noise instead. If you look into it you should be able to find a manufaturer that make tos links with Glass Optics. Suposedly these are much much better, but SpDif is far better.

Paaf · Post by **Paaf** » 2012-04-13 09:32

I got one at Clas Ohlsson which cost me approx £9. It works but the sound isn't as good as other sources. I do think that is due to the source and not the cable, though. Digital TV sound probably uses compression.

sunbeamgls · Post by **sunbeamgls** » 2012-06-20 18:54

I found coax to be better than optical with a number of sources and DACs.

My coax of choice is the Chord ProDAC Digital Gold which is often discounted to around 45GBP.

digital cables (SPDIF / Toslink)

digital cables (SPDIF / Toslink)

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