Need recommendation for a good optical cable.
Jun 25, 2001 at 9:54 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 14
acidtripwow

acidtripwow

Headphoneus Supremus
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Anybody know of any good optical cables? I want to replace the one that I run to my Sony MDR-DS5100 system which is a Radio Shack cable. I'm looking to stay under $200.
 
Jun 27, 2001 at 2:20 AM Post #4 of 14
The VDH is the best (or one of the best) optical cable out there ($150). But pairing with the DS5100 using its wireless phone, it sounds bloomy & muddy (But this is not the case when using a plugged phone). I suggest the Oehlbach, costs less than $50 & IMHO it is a good match with the DS5100.
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Jul 4, 2001 at 3:04 PM Post #6 of 14
Check audioreview.com for a slew of TOSLINK cables. There some rave reviews for the harmonic technology silver platinum opticable which was said to creat a BIGGER SOUND IMAGE and DEEPER BASE on receivers that didn't with other cables. It looks as if sony made a boo-boo with supplying their own cheap cable in the first place!
 
Jul 5, 2001 at 2:40 AM Post #8 of 14
Um, I don't really see how much effect the optical cable could possibly have. it doesn't need shielding and conductance like normal cables, where would the degredation be? in how well it blinks?
 
Jul 5, 2001 at 3:01 AM Post #9 of 14
That was my first thought, Sirwar... wait a sec, it still is my thought
smily_headphones1.gif


Didn't we have that discussion where we determined coax cables didn't matter? Well whats up with optical? Maybe the glass is better or something...
 
Jul 5, 2001 at 3:19 AM Post #10 of 14
Yeah, tiny differences in glass purity and composition can definitely screw up the signal being transmitted. Would you hear the difference? Maybe, maybe not...
 
Jul 5, 2001 at 3:26 AM Post #11 of 14
Sirwar and chych:

You are right, the only place a an optical cable would be better than a coax would be in a magnetically noisy environment. The only way I see that an optical cable could sound better than another would be the quality of the fiber or the connectors and my guess is the connectors. As far as signal degredation the cable is so short that it won't matter, unless it is bent too far.

Personally I would pick a digital coax over an optical any day because there is one less signal conversion you have to worry about. For example, if you use optical cable for your CD player here is the path of the signal:

Digital (elec.) -> Digital (optical) Trans ||| Digital (optical) Rec -> Digital (elec.) -> analog

||| Represents the cable


Acidtripwow:

I say order one where you have a demo period if you can't tell a difference from your Radio Shack special you don't need to uprgrade. However, I have heard good things about Van den Hul cables but I have no experience. Plan on ordering some soon though.
 
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