Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Cables, Power, Tweaks, Speakers, Accessories (DBT-Free Forum) › Best for my CD > DAC - Optical or Coaxial digital?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Best for my CD > DAC - Optical or Coaxial digital?

post #1 of 29
10/17/08 at 9:39pm
Thread Starter 
Probably a simple question, but I'll ask it anyway!

When I get back home next month, I'll be wanting to connect my Sony CDP (XB930 QS) to my new Cambridge DacMagic ('08 edition) to see if it makes any difference in SQ.

I can use either Digital Coaxial (RCA), or Optical (TOSlink) connectors, as the CDP has both.

*BUT* - would either of them have any appreciable advantage over the other, seeing as how ICs aren't particularly expensive for either?

Cheers
Reply
post #2 of 29
10/17/08 at 10:02pm
Not another oO.

My advice would be try both and return the one you dont like.

As for the arguments,
optical has no dialectric in the cable ridding it of dialectric dispersion/absorption yada-yada, has plenty of bandwith for 16/44.1, has no commong ground, and is immune to e.f.i. because its light. The problems with optical are the extra bit-->light pulse conversion, length issues, no right angles, fragile, and the implementation of the reciever/transmitter.

Coaxial is good because it is that natural state of bits
(electrical pulses), can be run long long distances, and has more bandwith (though that isnt a huge issue with 16/44.1), not fragile, can do right angles fine. The problems are it uses a common ground which can cause reflections and smearing and yada yada, dielectrics so you get dielectric dispersion/absorption, the skin effects, and it is susceptable to efi if its not shielded properly.

Both have their positives and negative, It all depends on what you like in your system. My own opinion is that I prefer toslink, but if you are running >5feet you need to think it through (right angles also will kill toslink) and >10 feet you need to go coax.

So just test em =D

Dave
Reply
post #3 of 29
10/17/08 at 10:13pm
Well put, Dave. It's pretty much six of one, half dozen of another - there's VERY little difference (indeed, if any), all things being equal, but specific situations would require one over the other.

Personally, I like coax. I don't like converting more than I have to.
Reply
post #4 of 29
10/18/08 at 4:14am
Here we go again!
The never ending optical vs. coax digital discussion... ** Shakes head **

I prefer optical. Because it electrically shield the DAC from the transport, which makes sense to me as my DAC and amplifier are off-grid.
Reply
post #5 of 29
10/18/08 at 4:30am
amm, COAX?
Reply
post #6 of 29
10/18/08 at 4:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadLover View Post
amm, COAX?
Coaxial cables are quite popular for digital audio transfer, you know.
Using either BNC or RCA connectors.

Reply
post #7 of 29
10/18/08 at 5:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by krmathis View Post
Coaxial cables are quite popular for digital audio transfer, you know.
Using either BNC or RCA connectors.
Yes I know what it is

I mean, I am using COAX

But, right now I am trying optical.
amm, sound the SAME ?!

I think optical is better when using sound out of a PC, much less dialectric problems (none) compare to COAX

Not?
I think it is better for a PC, what do you think?
Reply
post #8 of 29
10/18/08 at 5:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadLover View Post
Yes I know what it is
You asked a question, hence it was obvious to me that you did not know what it is...
Oh well, at least you do now
Reply
post #9 of 29
10/18/08 at 5:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by krmathis View Post
You asked a question, hence it was obvious to me that you did not know what it is...
Oh well, at least you do now
Yep sorry

I mean that he should use COAX

Any way, optical is better running audio from a PC, right? or what?
What do you think??
Reply
post #10 of 29
10/18/08 at 5:38am
^ I don't think anyone are in general "better".
As most other audio related it all comes down to personal preferences, and the features of the gear you use.

Some prefer coaxial, some prefers optical, and even some prefer USB.
Reply
post #11 of 29
10/18/08 at 5:42am
LOL
I have tried both, and sound same for me
So, right now using COAX, maybe less converting on the way will do better to the audio
Reply
post #12 of 29
10/18/08 at 3:10pm
You can't say for sure on any given setup what will sound better. Most users prefer coax, but it really depends. The entire link (transmission circuitry / cable / receiving circuitry) is really a system. Most equipment is not done properly in terms of interfacing a 75 ohm transmission line (search for spdif and Jocko on diyaudio if you want to know more). And because of the embedded clock, running at ~2.8Mhz for 16/44.1 digital audio, it is really an analog RF signal, not a simple digital (only 1's and 0's matter) signal. BTW, coax should be a minimum of 1.5m long to minimize reflections. If you can make your own cables, try a long (>2m) vs. a short cable and see if you hear any difference. If you don't hear any differences, count your blessings

Quote:
Originally Posted by krmathis View Post
<snip>
That is a 50 ohm BNC in the picture...
Reply
post #13 of 29
10/18/08 at 5:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pars View Post
That is a 50 ohm BNC in the picture...
And?
Example picture to show 'HeadLover' what a coaxial digital cable could look like. Since he did not seem to know what it is. Picked this one since it has both connector types, BNC and RCA.

The 50 ohm number don't tell me anything...
Reply
post #14 of 29
10/18/08 at 5:53pm
SPDIF spec is 75 ohms... if you are buying cable for digital audio (SPDIF) and you go with BNC because it is (or can be) a real 75 ohm connector vs. an RCA which can't, you don't want to go buy one with a 50 ohm connector on it
Reply
post #15 of 29
10/19/08 at 3:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pars View Post
SPDIF spec is 75 ohms... if you are buying cable for digital audio (SPDIF) and you go with BNC because it is (or can be) a real 75 ohm connector vs. an RCA which can't, you don't want to go buy one with a 50 ohm connector on it
Ok, thanks. I learned something new.

But as said it was just an example picture showing a coax cable with BNC and RCA plugs, so that 'HeadLover' could see what it looks like. The intention were not that he should walk out buying this exact cable...
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Cables, Power, Tweaks, Speakers, Accessories (DBT-Free Forum) › Best for my CD > DAC - Optical or Coaxial digital?