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Optical Out

post #1 of 11
7/10/09 at 12:50pm
Thread Starter 
Does all optical out sound the same? aka 1$ cd player with optical out vs $10000 cd player with optical out


thanks
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post #2 of 11
7/10/09 at 1:15pm
That's a question for the Sound Science forum.
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post #3 of 11
7/10/09 at 1:22pm
Thread Starter 
oops sorry how can i move it?
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post #4 of 11
7/10/09 at 1:26pm
I would not be surprised if you could hear a difference.
Cause it should come down to the implementation (jitter and such), the quality of the jack (tight fit against the plug), and I am sure more.
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post #5 of 11
7/10/09 at 1:28pm
Thread Starter 
oh thanks
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post #6 of 11
7/10/09 at 1:47pm
Keep in mind that the receiving end is potentially responsible for the jitter. Or potentially capable of recovering from it.
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post #7 of 11
7/10/09 at 1:51pm
Thread Starter 
What do you mean recovering from it?
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post #8 of 11
7/10/09 at 2:07pm
modern methods are very good at separating clock from data.

jitter is a 'scare word' that vendors, these days, use to sell higher priced gear.

I doubt the modern dacs care much about jitter anymore. a lot has happened in the last 15 yrs or so.

as for the fitment of the jack, that means nothing to jitter. unless you are actively tugging on the toslink jack, the jack contributes zero ill affects to jitter. how could it??
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post #9 of 11
7/10/09 at 2:08pm
Thread Starter 
so........... the verdict is not much difference?
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post #10 of 11
7/10/09 at 2:20pm
a digital source with a lot of trouble keeping up a steady stream, plugged into a DAC with a precise and aggressive receiver, will sound just fine. Likely as good as a source with a perfect digital output.

A digital source with a very good output section plugged into a DAC with a poor quality receiver will sound mediocre.

I've got a DAC board on my work bench with a PLL network on the receiver that is all wrong. It has trouble locking on and drops a lot of bits. It induces jitter into otherwise good streams. I have to replace iirc 3 surface mount components, and then it will work a lot better.
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post #11 of 11
7/11/09 at 1:24am
Thread Starter 
thanks
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