Review: Impact Acoustics SonicWave Toslink
steveinaz
Posts: 19,538
Review: Impact Acoustics SonicWave quartz glass Toslink. .5mtr
Associated equipment: See my signature line
Technical Specs:
SonicWave glass fiber optical cables are constructed from 280 individual strands of 0.053mm glass for maximum flexibility, the bend radius is 70mm. High-purity optical grade glass will not haze or discolor. Sophisticated mirror-polishing techniques are employed to make the clearest end possible, and resulting in less error and maximum signal transfer. 24K gold plated collet provides rigidity and maintains cable fiber placement. 8mm, soft-flexible PVC jacket protects the delicate fiber core. Toslink cables eliminate EMI and RFI interference common to standard Audio/Video cables. Retail $54.99 for .5mtr cable, I paid $49.
Features:
• 280 strands of High-Purity Glass Optical Fiber
• 70mm bend radius
• 24K gold plated collet
• 8mm soft-flexible PVC jacket
• Eliminates EMI and RFI interference
• Bandwidth >12Mhz
Observations/Listening:
The "SonicWave" name is the highest line from Impact Acoutics which also includes the Meteora and Velocity lines. The cable is impressively thick, especially for a Toslink, and although it's glass, is very pliable. Construction and termination are very good, and the collet is spring loaded to ensure a press fit against transmitter led and receiver lens. It locks positively into the socket.
Comparing against my Signal Cable .5mtr AES/EBU cable I noted the following; High frequency energy seems shifted and distributed better with the midrange, resulting in a very smooth seamless transition, and a little less edge on hot recordings. Midrange is nudged forward just enough to have better tonal balance with the treble. The Signal Cable tended to have a set-back midrange, and a little more forward treble. This quality makes the SonicWave sound very neutral, especially at higher volume levels, where the AES/EBU could tend to get a little aggressive. The tonal character of instruments (brass on cymbals, wood on guitars) seems a little more evident and realistic. Vocals sound extrememly real with no chestiness or nasal quality; they have an "in-the-room" sound.
Bass seems to be the slightest bit punchier and a ever so slight touch cleaner (or less emphasis?). Background noise floor is dead quiet.
Running the toslink gave a tonal character very much like running a source directly into the amplifier. At first you get the feeling you've lost a little pace, drive. You come to realize that it is the neutrality of the midrange/treble that creates this illusion, if you will. Sort of like an amplifier upgrade where on first listen bass seems weak, but is in fact just being reproduced more accurately, with less distortion and boom. I think this is where people get the impression that toslink at first sounds a bit dry and 2-dimensional; this, and the use of cheap plastic fiber cables with a limited bandwidth of about 6Mhz. Under the microscope of high volume levels is where you really appreciate the tonal balance---the music gets larger, but never loud.
If you haven't tried a Toslink connection, forget the urban legend and the internet parroting and take a listen for yourself. I've been a/b'ing toslink against coax and AES/EBU for close to a year now and I can say with absloute confidence that 99% of what you hear about (good quality) toslink is myth.
Associated equipment: See my signature line
Technical Specs:
SonicWave glass fiber optical cables are constructed from 280 individual strands of 0.053mm glass for maximum flexibility, the bend radius is 70mm. High-purity optical grade glass will not haze or discolor. Sophisticated mirror-polishing techniques are employed to make the clearest end possible, and resulting in less error and maximum signal transfer. 24K gold plated collet provides rigidity and maintains cable fiber placement. 8mm, soft-flexible PVC jacket protects the delicate fiber core. Toslink cables eliminate EMI and RFI interference common to standard Audio/Video cables. Retail $54.99 for .5mtr cable, I paid $49.
Features:
• 280 strands of High-Purity Glass Optical Fiber
• 70mm bend radius
• 24K gold plated collet
• 8mm soft-flexible PVC jacket
• Eliminates EMI and RFI interference
• Bandwidth >12Mhz
Observations/Listening:
The "SonicWave" name is the highest line from Impact Acoutics which also includes the Meteora and Velocity lines. The cable is impressively thick, especially for a Toslink, and although it's glass, is very pliable. Construction and termination are very good, and the collet is spring loaded to ensure a press fit against transmitter led and receiver lens. It locks positively into the socket.
Comparing against my Signal Cable .5mtr AES/EBU cable I noted the following; High frequency energy seems shifted and distributed better with the midrange, resulting in a very smooth seamless transition, and a little less edge on hot recordings. Midrange is nudged forward just enough to have better tonal balance with the treble. The Signal Cable tended to have a set-back midrange, and a little more forward treble. This quality makes the SonicWave sound very neutral, especially at higher volume levels, where the AES/EBU could tend to get a little aggressive. The tonal character of instruments (brass on cymbals, wood on guitars) seems a little more evident and realistic. Vocals sound extrememly real with no chestiness or nasal quality; they have an "in-the-room" sound.
Bass seems to be the slightest bit punchier and a ever so slight touch cleaner (or less emphasis?). Background noise floor is dead quiet.
Running the toslink gave a tonal character very much like running a source directly into the amplifier. At first you get the feeling you've lost a little pace, drive. You come to realize that it is the neutrality of the midrange/treble that creates this illusion, if you will. Sort of like an amplifier upgrade where on first listen bass seems weak, but is in fact just being reproduced more accurately, with less distortion and boom. I think this is where people get the impression that toslink at first sounds a bit dry and 2-dimensional; this, and the use of cheap plastic fiber cables with a limited bandwidth of about 6Mhz. Under the microscope of high volume levels is where you really appreciate the tonal balance---the music gets larger, but never loud.
If you haven't tried a Toslink connection, forget the urban legend and the internet parroting and take a listen for yourself. I've been a/b'ing toslink against coax and AES/EBU for close to a year now and I can say with absloute confidence that 99% of what you hear about (good quality) toslink is myth.
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
Post edited by steveinaz on
Comments
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Great review. Most of my surround system has Impact Acoustics cabling. Good stuff at reasonable prices with occasional sales.Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
