[Csi]

I have been recently scouring over the headfi forumns in search of information on glass toslink cables that have been made popular with products such as the dac-1. Many of the comparisons and pricings seem fairly old? I currently want to spend as little money as possible on a glass toslink cable. According to the suggestions of many individuals here, the more popular choices seem to be the MCM, ebay or sonicwave cables. Anyway should I just go for the cheapest glass toslink cable? In this case the ebay ones? Do any of you know where i can get a cheaper one of those gold headed toslink cables [say in the 30 dollar range?] Does it really matter which brand and am i just wasting my time trying to find something where the differences among the cables are fairly minimal? Also there was this cable that came with my Chaintech av710, is this an optical cable too? and why doesn't it "snap" into the optical out?



Sound Professionals Glass Toslink [$50 + shipping for 1 M]: http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cg...em/SP-TOC-99HQ

While it wasn't labeled specifically so, but this gold top seemed to one of the sonically better cables as according to some of the discussion on page 2 of this thread? []http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...glass+toslink]



MCM: I couldn't find any glass toslink cables under here? The closest match that I think people were referring to is this cable priced at $27 + shipping.
http://mcm.newark.com/NewarkWebComme...KU=24-6485&N=4
Even though it doesn't say anything about being a glass cable, its manufacturing number matched the ones referenced in this thread []http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...glass+toslink]


Ebay [25 + 9 shipping 3.3 feet]: Ebay's "glass" toslink cable seems to be the cheapest way to go? The only thing that is stopping from me just picking up a pair is that in that thread comparing this ebay's black head cable against the glass toslink's gold head cable..people seemed to think that the gold one was better? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW


Sonicwave [$50 + shipping 1 M] :This also seems to have some supporters and buyers at headfi. Haven't really read any comparisons between the sonicwave versus other glass toslink cables. http://www.cablestogo.com/product.as...2001&sku=40231

This website claims that it sells them for 18.95 but of course its sold out ;p but just keep your eyes on this one. http://tech.web109.ws/detail.cfm/tec..._M%20SONICWAVE


Lastily people also have bought the SuperNova 5 glass toslink cables but they seem to be above my desired price range.

 

[Nospam]

I seriously wonder how much of a difference, if any, you'll hear between the various glass cables. I would guess most people wouldn't even hear a difference between glass and plastic.

Post a thread in the For Sale forum. I know a bunch of people bought extra Glass Toslink cables when MCM was blowing them out at half price. Someone probably has one they'd be willing to sell.

 

[Snake]

That's a good suggestion.

Honestly I don't think I noticed much of a difference - the very, very smallest I would say. Probably as much psychological as real, but considering the price they (were) at I figured "Why not try?"

 

[Scrith]

I remember reading on AudioAsylum that someone had done an exhaustive comparison of toslink cables and found what they considered to be a clear winner:

Van den Hul Optocoupler

I ordered one, but haven't had a chance to use it yet (currently using coax with an Audiophile USB, which doesn't have a toslink output).