Glass vs. Plastic Fiber Toslink Cables

kevhed72
kevhed72 Posts: 5,059
in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I have done a bit of research on this hotly contested debate within the realm of cable wars....OK, mybe not. Some folks believe glass fibers are a better choice for toslink, while other say they can't hear a difference. Yet others believe any issues with plastic toslink is strictly due to variation / imperfections in the ends / terminations of the fibers...so the thought is cheaper cables may have this issue. I need a digital coax and toslink for a new DAC...and was looking at Signal Cables toslink and silver digital coax. Based on the price, I would guess the Signal toslink is plastic fiber....thoughts / experiences folks on any brands?
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,300
    Highly recommended, well made glass optical cables

    http://www.lifatec.com/toslink2.html
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,194
    Glass if you must use Toslink. Toslink should be avoided. 75 ohm coax is the better choice of the two.
    "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!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • deucekazoo
    deucekazoo Posts: 146
    I use glass toslink cable. Its probably been over 10 years ago when I bought them. Do a search for glass toslink on EBay and you will find the ones I use. Its usually the first item that pops up and the price is real reasonable. I think the 6' goes for $30. They sound great and never had any issues with them.
    Polk S10, S8, S4
    Polk RT8
    Polk Monitor 7s
    Working on getting SDAs
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,647
    Glass
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 10,716
    edited August 2016
    Glass should be better but it should have a nice ceramic connector as well.
    Corning invented a glass fiber you could bend into a pretzel with no signal
    loss. I've wondered if it ever made it to toslink...
    Anyone ever clean Player end?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter