New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

COAX vs Optical

post #1 of 13
12/17/07 at 4:21am
Thread Starter 
What are the benefits to either format?

I've noticed that most high end audiophiles seem to prefer coax whatever reason. I've used both but have usually stuck to optical because I have a low travel distance from my source to receiver (less than 3 feet) and I just think it seems like it would be more efficient to me for whatever reason since the data is all confined to an optical digital format rather than an analog one.
Reply
post #2 of 13
12/17/07 at 5:22am
Ok...

Coax does not mean analog, coax is a type of cable. It can carry a analog signal, or a digital one.

That said, if you look around there are plenty of threads about this subject. Imo, just go with what your ears think is best.
Reply
post #3 of 13
12/17/07 at 5:22am
Glass optical can break. Coaxial cannot.

That's why I use coaxial.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Strangelove View Post
Ok...

Coax does not mean analog, coax is a type of cable. It can carry a analog signal, or a digital one.

That said, if you look around there are plenty of threads about this subject. Imo, just go with what your ears think is best.
Why would they at all sound different? They are transporting the same data.
Reply
post #4 of 13
12/17/07 at 5:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by OverlordXenu View Post
Glass optical can break. Coaxial cannot.

That's why I use coaxial.
There is plastic optical, plus he is using it for a short run so I don't know if breakage is a issue here.

Quote:
Originally Posted by OverlordXenu View Post
Why would they at all sound different? They are transporting the same data.
I have no idea, but I have read a lot on Headfi that people prefer optical or coax because it has a different sound.
Reply
post #5 of 13
12/17/07 at 6:35am
Thread Starter 
Yeah. I've always heard purist types say they prefer coax (hopefully that isn't offensive)
Reply
post #6 of 13
12/17/07 at 6:58am
Purist?

All I know is that I used to use strictly an optical cable, both glass and plastic, and I still do. However, when I gave coax cable a try, I noticed a pleasing difference, so now I use coax if I can. My equipment is in close proximity to each other so the effective signal delivery distance has never been an issue for me.

It's not about ideology. It's simply what I perceived. YMMV.

Edit: The coax cable I use is DH Labs Custom Built D-75 Digital Cable made by Moon Audio.
Reply
post #7 of 13
12/17/07 at 7:15am
Coax can grab some noise, optical can't. I've heard that some ground currents may be transported through coax as well.

Some dacs and transports can't take optical to the same freqs than coax (eg. Juli@ is limited to 96kHz optical and 192kHz coax.)
Reply
post #8 of 13
12/17/07 at 8:27am
Haven't tried it myself, using integrated CDPs but I remember Ken Kessler in Hifi News claiming in lots of interviews coax sounded better then optical. Pure based on listening and he offered no technical explanation.
Reply
post #9 of 13
12/17/07 at 11:07am
do a search on google - this has been covered a lot

here's one I like
6moons.com - audio reviews: A Toslink vs. RCA digital cable comparison

I personally prefer coax to toslink but this may be due more to the components involved in the signal chain than it is anything else.

a good solution is to get a toslink cable and coax cable made up by http://www.bluejeanscable.com/ and hear which you prefer.
Reply
post #10 of 13
12/17/07 at 6:02pm
Coax cables can break...just not as easily. As long as you don't use it as a jump rope you shouldn't have any problems with TOSLink.

I usually prefer coax since it's a "stronger" connection. Most devices have lame optical I/O and the connection ends up being loose and can break if you're not careful. Even the real crap manufacturers seem to get RCA connections right.

Theoretically there aren't any differences between the two acoustically speaking as well. This is assuming all your equipment is top notch.
Reply
post #11 of 13
12/17/07 at 6:48pm
Coax is more musical than optical.
Smoother in high register.
Optical is too hard sounding in high register, but has better sounstage, closer music presentation.
Reply
post #12 of 13
12/18/07 at 2:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Serge44 View Post
Coax is more musical than optical.
Smoother in high register.
Optical is too hard sounding in high register, but has better sounstage, closer music presentation.
So, what, the optical cables don't transmit all the bits, or something? What am I missing here?
Reply
post #13 of 13
12/18/07 at 9:13am
I swear we had a thread like this one not too long ago.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home