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Lifatec SilFlex Glass Optisilk mini-Toslink to Toslink Report







Images: Lifatec SilFlex Glass Optisilk mini-Toslink to Toslink digital optical cable - German-made 470 strands borosilicatec glass optical audio data fibers polished to 1 micron optical finish, all metal connectors, Optisilk jacketing.

I never thought this Cable Guy would ever be involved with the use of any Toslink digital interface for any audiophile application, but the acquisition of a modern Apple Power Mac G5 computer and more recently a 2010 iMac that replaced an obsolete Power Mac 8600/300 A/V workhorse featuring a built-in high performance soundcard with line-level stereo rca output jacks gave me no recourse other than to either use a 3.5mm stereo mini-plug to rca audio cable to connect the newer sub par built-in line-level audio soundcard capabilities, a USB or FireWire digital audio interface to connect an external computer audio DAC, or use the Apple computers digital optical output capacity to provide a electrically isolated digital signal transmission interface for use with the DAC of my choice. A remarkable Monarchy Audio DIP 48/96 Upsampler (digital interface processor, jitter reduction device) which among other things enables improved Toslink to 75 Ohm S/PDIF digital coaxial cable conversion for use with a traditional home audio DAC helped make the attraction to Toslink more desirable and at least worthy of exploration.

The first Toslink cable tryout began with a generic single-fiber plastic Toslink that offered no audiophile merit to speak of, with a lifeless low-fi presentation that seemed no better than what typical came-in-the-box stereo patch cables provide. Next came a PureAV Silver Series multi-fiber plastic Toslink that hands-down outperformed the generic single-fiber plastic Toslink. Not one to leave well enough alone, I decided to try a single-fiber plastic Vampire Tos Series 2 Toslink that provided a rather euphonic characteristic which soon lost any entertainment value. The next logical step was to try the popular eBay glass toslink which has an equivalent product found on the web, a SonicWave Glass Toslink cable. The SonicWave Glass Toslink went on to win my audiophile evaluation tests in the speed and clarity departments, with little to complain about other than a problem with an unnatural quality of the leading edge that proved unsatisfactory over a period of time, especially as I became more interested in computer audio playback sessions that involved more critical listening. Further internet research pointed towards Toslinks from Van den Hul, WireWorld, and an unknown product from Lifatec with a moderate price and high praise from computer audiophiles. The more I looked into the product, the more attractive it became to seem like the hoped-for Toslink solution. Without trying to put company information into my own words, here’s an overview according to Lifatec USA, LLC located in Jordan, New York:

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LIFaTEC USA, LLC was formed in 2000 to meet an increasing demand for smaller, high transmission fiber optic lighting and sensing products for the medical market.

As medical systems strive to become less invasive, the company's focus is to provide the smallest, most durable cable systems in the industry. Cable assemblies as small as 0.25mm diameter are now possible as a result of specialized technological development of our core proprietary processes.

With over 35 years of engineering and manufacturing experience in the development and production of medical systems, from blood analysis sensors to miniature pediatric bronchial scopes, LIFaTEC USA is well-equipped to provide fresh ideas for the demanding needs of today's medical market.

The optical borosilicatec fibers utilized in all LIFaTEC USA's products are manufactured by our partner company, LiFaTeC GmbH, located in Hüttenberg-Rechtenbach, Germany. This state-of-the-art facility produces optical glass fibers only; no other products are manufactured, assuring that customers' fiber needs are of first priority. LIFaTEC USA is the exclusive North American and Canadian representative for LiFaTeC GmbH borosilicate glass fibers.

In keeping with our original mission to supply the finest fiber optic cable systems and glass fibers in the industry, LIFaTEC USA is continually researching ways to use optical systems to improve the quality of everyday life. As a result, our line has expanded to include other innovative products which contribute to this end.

-snip-

The first high performance glass Toslink cable for audio applications from Lifatec appears to be an armored jacket version of the SilFlex Glass cable that was met with mixed reports by computer audio enthusiasts from a mechanical point of view. A newer SilFlex Glass version featuring Optisilk jacketing which seems to be a lightweight polymer of sorts is the version I opted to obtain, and I’m very pleased with its mechanical build. The original armored jacket version of the SilFlex Glass cable is still available from Lifatec’s website. I have no idea if there is any sonic differences between the armored jacket version and the Optisilk jacket version. My evaluation of the Lifatec SilFlex Glass Optisilk mini-Toslink to Toslink digital optical cable is even better from a sonic perspective, with all aspects of audiophile criteria meeting or exceeding reasonable expectations.

As compared to the SonicWave Glass Toslink cable with Swiss-made mini-Toslink adapter, the Lifatec SilFlex Glass mini-Toslink to Toslink cable presents a substantial increase in perceived clarity and precision. In direct comparison, the SonicWave Glass presented a certain low-level grunge that came across as sounding somewhat brittle, with a lack of natural relaxation that came across as a non-organic “digititis”, or in other words lacking an analog-like fluidity. The presentation is easy and effortless with a beautiful “rightness” a.k.a “correctness” to the cable that seems to simply get out of the way of the digital information being sent. There is no brittleness nor hardening of the leading edge, in my evaluation. Just how much sonic improvement is due to the exclusion of a mini-Toslink adapter is unknown to myself. However, the increase in performance is so obvious to my ear that I find the gestalt to be on par with the big step up in performance that a modest-cost SonicWave Glass digital optical cable provided vs. one of the finest examples of plastic optical fiber Toslink cables: the Van den Hul Optolink MkII.

The Van den Hul Optolink MkII seems to be confused as being a glass fiber design, but it’s a single-fiber plastic design featuring special convex shaped ends as a selling point. While I did find the Optolink MkII to provide a superior performance level to that of other plastic Toslink cables including the single-fiber Vampire Tos Series 2 Toslink and multi-fiber PureAV Silver Series Toslink, the sonic signature of the Optolink MkII is still that of what I find to be a more diffuse sounding POF (plastic optical fiber) Toslink sonic signature. The best analogy that I can offer to illustrate this impression is the difference in gestalt between stranded copper line-level interconnects vs. what I tend to find superior solid core copper line-level interconnects (YMMV). However, the selection of one type vs. the other can be a component/system/listener dependent issue, with no “written in stone” right or wrong answer to what may be worthy of a listener’s preferencial choice. That said, the Lifatec SilFlex Glass Optisilk mini-Toslink to Toslink digital optical cable has ended my search for an audiophile quality Toslink cable for my Apple computer audio system wants/needs. Additionally, it’s a real joy to discover a Toslink cable that I can respect as much as I would do for a high-performance 75 Ohm S/PDIF digital coaxial cable.

Lifatec SilFlex Glass Optisilk mini-Toslink to Toslink cable (3 foot) - $69 plus $6 USPS Priority Mail shipping charge.

Cheers, Duster

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Edits: 09/19/11

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Topic - Lifatec SilFlex Glass Optisilk mini-Toslink to Toslink Report - Duster 08:18:39 09/19/11 (4)

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