: Coaxial Digital Connection Vs Digital Fiber Optical Connection?

PolkClyde
PolkClyde Posts: 662
edited February 2011 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Which has the better sound quality,which one should I throw away.thanks
PolkAudioClyde
Post edited by PolkClyde on
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited February 2011
    I found Coaxial to sound best YMMV

    Highly recommend the Kimber Kable D-60
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • jinjuku
    jinjuku Posts: 1,523
    edited February 2011
    PolkClyde wrote: »
    Which has the better sound quality,which one should I throw away.thanks

    I doubt you could tell the difference. Try each one. I like TOSLink due to zero potential of ground differential. Some will say the signal will have to go through emitter up/down conversion. I have never heard an instance where it is an audible problem.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,202
    edited February 2011
    Toslink has an extra conversion and you have to decide on glass or plastic for the optics. Glass is prefered but it can cost more.

    If you go coax be sure it's a true 75 ohm cable.

    I use both and prefer a nice 75 ohm coax. I currently use Signal Cable.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited February 2011
    Ditto on Signal.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2011
    It depends on the quality of your interfaces. With good interfaces and a good digital cable, I have found Toslink to be the most neutral; coaxial sweetens the deal a little bit if you don't care for a sterile presentation. If you go toslink, buy a quartz glass cable--not plastic fiber.

    Toslink is real good for connecting to a cable box or sat box as they tend to be noisy--and can introduce hum.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited February 2011
    I prefer digital coax unless I specifically need the electrical isolation provided by Toslink and mentioned about. The best performance for the dollar coax I've found is DH Labs D-75. It's a great design using Teflon and silver over copper conductors, and is true 75 ohm from cable to connectors.
    Jake
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2011
    The DH Labs D-75, Belden 1694A, and Signal Cable coax are all real good budget digital cables, IMO.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited February 2011
    The digital cable will pass slightly higher resolution audio than the optical, if you're listening to multichannel/HD.
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited February 2011
    TNRabbit wrote: »
    The digital cable will pass slightly higher resolution audio than the optical, if you're listening to multichannel/HD.

    HD audio only passes over HDMI or analog. Optical and coax will both pass the same resolution/formats.
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  • samnor
    samnor Posts: 155
    edited February 2011
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    HD audio only passes over HDMI or analog. Optical and coax will both pass the same resolution/formats.

    can you clarify "hd audio"? coax and optical do 5.1...are you referring to 7.1?
    Fronts: Wharfedale diamond 9.6
    Sub: Wharfedale sw250
    Rears: Wharfedale diamond 9.1
    Center: Paradigm cc-350
    Pre-amp: Oppo dv981hd
    Amp for fronts: Parasound hca-1500a
    Amp for rears: Adcom gfa-5400
    Amp for center: Marantz MA500 monoblock
    Polk multimedia speakers for PC setup
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited February 2011
    I also prefer the the coax over toslink. In fact, I did not even install a toslink jack in the DAC I am building. As others have stated, true 75 ohm cable is important, but a true 75 ohm jack is just as important. I prefer using the Eichmann PhonoPod RCA Socket. Excellent construction, and true 75 ohm.

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • jinjuku
    jinjuku Posts: 1,523
    edited February 2011
    samnor wrote: »
    can you clarify "hd audio"? coax and optical do 5.1...are you referring to 7.1?

    DTS and Dolby digital are the 5.1 lossy formats being referred to.

    As an example:

    DTS Digital Surround, also known as the "Core", is the high-quality standard for providing 5.1 channels of discrete digital audio in consumer products. With the ability to operate at 44.1 or 48kHz, and at a bit rate of upto 1.5Mbps

    One goal of the DTS-HD Master Audio format was to allow a bit-to-bit representation of the original movie's studio master soundtrack. To accomplish this, DTS-HD MA supports variable bit rates up to 24.5 Mbit/s on a Blu-ray Disc and up to 18.0 Mbit/s for HD DVD. The format supports a maximum of 192 kHz sampling frequency and 24-bit depth samples in 2 channels stereo mode, and 96 kHz/24bit resolution in multichannel mode with up to 8 channels.


    S/PDIF and TOSLink don't have the bandwidth for the HD audio formats.
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  • thuffman03
    thuffman03 Posts: 1,325
    edited February 2011
    I go with coax only because it generally cost less than an optical cable. Though I have used both I cannot hear any real difference. Guess my ears might not be as good as others.
    Sunfire TGP, Sunfire Cinema Grand, Sunfire 300~2 (2), Sunfire True Sub (2),Carver ALS Platinum, Carver AL III, TFM-55, C-19, C-9, TX-8, SDA-490t, SDA-390t
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  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited February 2011
    TNRabbit wrote: »
    The digital cable will pass slightly higher resolution audio than the optical, if you're listening to multichannel/HD.

    I'd like you to elaborate on this one.... I think you're mistaken.

    They pass identical signals.
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited February 2011
    I use COAX and never heard any noise caused by the electrical connection.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • acmf74
    acmf74 Posts: 936
    edited February 2011
    I personally use Blue Jeans Belden 1694A for my Cable box and BR player. I also don't hear any interference from usisng these cables.
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