Cable Asylum

Interconnects, speaker wire, power cords. Ask the Cable Guys.

Return to Cable Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Lifatec Silflex Glass Toslink

73.239.106.81
Posted on September 23, 2016 at 19:26:09
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002



Image: Lifatec Silflex Glass Toslink Cable

My original AA report about the Lifatec Silflex glass Toslink cable:

http://db.audioasylum.com/mhtml/m.html?forum=cables&n=153637

---

Text taken from the lifatec.com link located below on this page.

"Premium Optical Interconnects for the Audio Enthusiast
Simply the best - Hand-made in the USA with premium components

Often imitated but never duplicated, Lifatec Optical Audio Cables have been popular with audiophiles and home-theater buffs for over 15 years. Designed by engineers with backgrounds in medical and industrial optics technology, these cables deliver superior performance and can be found in countless studios, TV & radio stations, homes, and vehicles.

The custom connector backshell, Toslink connector and MiniPlug connector were designed in-house and are locally machined. These components are exclusive to Lifatec USA and are not available from any other cable manufacturer. Their design is elegant yet rugged, ensuring years of sonic enjoyment. Exceptionally smooth and lightweight Optisilk™ jacketing virtually eliminates the possibility of cable contact with audio components inflicting any scratching or damage. The cables coil easily, are extremely flexible, and do not kink.

Since their debut in 2000, every Lifatec Audio Cable has been designed, engineered and hand-assembled with pride in New York."

---

Howdy AA,

After working with two ordinary Toslink cables -- One Sonicwave glass Toslink, the other Monoprice Premium plastic (POF) Toslink, I came to the realization that I should *not have* underestimated the potential of the digital optical interface between a new Xfinity X1 DVR CATV box and a dedicated outboard DAC for a supposedly non-critical listening digital CATV application.

The Sonicwave glass Toslink sounds just as brittle and comparatively incoherent as it did when previously used for a computer audio application, while the Monoprice Premium plastic (POF) Toslink sounds a bit slow or bloated, with lackluster treble energy and dynamics vs. the Sonicwave glass Toslink -- So it took less than 30 seconds to pull the trigger again for a more expensive Toslink cable after I swapped-out a Lifatec Silflex glass Toslink cable pulled from my computer audio workstation.

I find the glass Lifatec cable can sound just as transparent as a high-performance 75 Ohm S/PDIF digital coaxial interface, to my ear.

See link:

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
RE: Lifatec Silflex Glass Toslink, posted on September 23, 2016 at 20:19:32
TRUFI
Audiophile

Posts: 622
Location: So. California
Joined: March 16, 2002
 I have owned the TLTLG-OS with the machined brass ends for about 2 years. Just as good as a silver digital cable but with ground isolation. Are the newer ones plastic or metal (connector ends)? My cable locks into the jack solidly.

 

RE: Lifatec Silflex Glass Toslink, posted on September 23, 2016 at 22:55:55
Luminator
Audiophile

Posts: 7339
Location: Bay Area
Joined: December 11, 2000
 Yep, the Lifatec Silflex has proven that Tos-link (a) doesn't have to be bad, and (b) can rather easily be more accurate than much-ballyhoed coaxial and AES/EBU cables.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

 

I've used the older metal jacket Lifas and the newer..., posted on September 24, 2016 at 08:16:30
jonbee
Audiophile

Posts: 1993
Location: Seattle
Joined: June 26, 2001
 plastic jacket ones. The plastic ones still use metal connectors, and sound just as good. I've recently switched one of my digital connections from really good $500 coaxes to the new Lifatecs and I can't say I can tell the difference. Pretty amazing. YMMV, of course, but its a pretty cheap option to play with. I've been a big fan of the Lifas for many years.

 

Yes thanks!, posted on September 24, 2016 at 10:22:21
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 I bought the cable some years ago based on your rec. I was always anti TOSlink because of the extra process of turning the digital signal to light.

Once I tried the cable I found out how much the coaxial cables ground was transferring noise. There are even some good DACs that install an isolation transformer at the coax in because of this noise.

This cable gave me much more realistic HF. At first there was more HF too, almost too much for my taste and what I was used to hearing.

When I switched to a Squeezebox it didn't suffer from the coaxial cable ground issue like the transport. When my server died and I switched back to the transport I used the Silflex again with its superior result.


ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

Addendum: Monarchy Audio DIP, posted on September 24, 2016 at 18:23:19
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002



Image: Monarchy Audio DIP (Digital Interface Processor)

In my experience, it was also found that in order to bring the full benefit of the Lifatec Silflex glass Toslink cable to the next level for a digital optical Toslink application, a Monarchy Audio DIP (Digital Interface Processor) primarily implemented for jitter reduction (which tends to be the downside of a digital optical interface), virtually eliminates the somewhat vague performance level that can sometimes occur when a digital source component is connected directly to the Toslink input of a DAC. So in essence, the processed digital signal will eventually wind-up being a 75 Ohm S/PDIF digital coaxial, or AES/EBU digital cable interface rather than strictly a S/PDIF digital optical Toslink interface. I use three Monarchy Audio DIPs for three different applications, and in all cases the Toslink interface is clearly improved upon, without caveat.

One might consider this type of digital processing and format conversion to be cheating in some manner from an audio purist's point of view, but I don't see it that way. In this case, even though another component is inserted into the signal path with potential degradation of the digital signal, the opposite effect occurs to my ear, with nothing but a good thing to be had when the choice of a high-performance 75 Ohm S/PDIF digital coaxial or balanced AES/EBU digital cable, an audiophile-quality aftermarket power cord, and effective power line conditioning is carefully paid attention to, including the goal of custom tuning efforts for subjective listener dependent integration with the rest of an audio system. I find the various Monarchy Audio DIP models to be great tools for better digital audio when a Toslink interface is either required or chosen by a listener.

See link:

 

Newer Lifatec Toslink connectors..., posted on September 25, 2016 at 17:02:26
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 The new Lifatec Silflex glass Toslink cable I received features the same connector shown in my posted image, while my older Lifatec cable features a metal body, but with a gold plated end; it also features a black polymer strain relief insert that tends to come loose from the connector body -- an effective solution is to wrap the metal connector and strain relief with PTFE Teflon tape, which actually provides better strain relief as a result. BTW, the newer Toslink connector seems to provide an even more solid grip on a Toslink I/O jack, perhaps dependent on what make/model jack is involved.

 

RE: Lifatec Silflex Glass Toslink, posted on October 1, 2016 at 23:50:07
akatana2112
Audiophile

Posts: 32
Location: So. Cal
Joined: May 19, 2016
 This is my first audiophile post! Have I crossed over to the dark side, or stepped in the light? Hmmm...

So...I just purchased one of these cables. It has greatly aided me in evaluating the Toslink performance in my system!

Sony DVP S7000 to Channel Islands VDA2 DAC: Wow, using the optical output, the soundstage is the deepest I have ever heard in my system, and overall the sound is very smooth, controlled, and detailed. However, the presentation is somewhat lean and distant, and the deep bass impact is missing. The top end sounds a bit "artificial". It IS better than the coaxial out, but I'm only using a Canare L77 cable.

Gustard U12 USB interface to same DAC: The optical output seems rather hopeless here. I greatly prefer the coax output even with my modest cable. Overall, I prefer this to the Sony/optical. The sound is solid and up-front in the room. The dynamics are more dramatic, and the soundstaging is still very impressive.

These results will likely have me pursuing the coax route to future upgrades, but I will definitely use the Lifatec whenever I spin CDs.

 

RE: Lifatec Silflex Glass Toslink, posted on October 2, 2016 at 14:09:00
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002



Welcome to Audio Asylum, akatana2112.

I recommend a simple tweak to provide a more upfront presentation, with better performance at the frequency extremes via the Sony DVP S7000 when used as a CD transport. Even though the Sony DVP S7000 features a hardwired 18 AWG power cord with nickel plated brass 2-prong molded AC plug, an easy modification is to snip-off the 2-prong molded AC plug, and re-terminate the stock 18 AWG power cord with an Audio Grade AC plug. Anyone who is handy with a screwdriver can do this type of DIY project, and the sonic benefit is a worthwhile thing to explore. An even better option would be to install a chassis-mount or cable-mount IEC inlet to enable the use of an audiophile-quality aftermarket power cord with Audio Grade AC connectors, but even a hardwired 18 AWG power cord can sound better when terminated with an Audio Grade AC plug. While there are a number of options to choose from, I recommend the popular Furutech FI-11M(Cu) AC plug for your particular application, if you are interested in doing this kind of easy-to-do modification project. Note: Other than tightening-down the unused ground wire termination slot screw for a 3-prong AC plug so it doesn't rattle inside the connector, simply ignore it when terminating a 2-conductor power cord with a 3-prong AC plug. However, you should identify and mark the live and neutral conductors of the 2-prong power cord (normal width prong is live, wider width prong is neutral) then place the proper wires into the live and neutral termination slots of the 3-prong AC plug.

 

RE: Lifatec Silflex Glass Toslink, posted on October 3, 2016 at 11:38:45
akatana2112
Audiophile

Posts: 32
Location: So. Cal
Joined: May 19, 2016
 Duster, thanks for the welcome and the power cable recommendation. I have definitely noticed a difference when swapping power cables on my other digital gear. It still amazes me that they are so sensitive to these types of changes.

 

RE: Lifatec Silflex Glass Toslink, posted on October 10, 2016 at 17:35:29
JerryS
Reviewer

Posts: 2026
Joined: February 24, 2001
 YES! I've been recommending this product for years. And yes, it can sound darn near as good as coax!

Lifatec connects my TV sound (Toslink only), home theater surround receiver, Blu-ray player, and cable box. A good, reliable cable.

Happy listening.

Regards,
JerryS

 

Page processed in 0.022 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]