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Supra ZAC Toslink Cable Report

76.28.209.43
Posted on March 30, 2017 at 13:27:02
Duster
Manufacturer

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




I had been using a 35 foot Monoprice Premium Toslink cable for a distributed audio system for quite some time, and while I found it to perform well especially at such a low price, I considered it was likely a weak link in the signal chain, but was hesitant to upgrade it with a better product due to the expense of very long-length audiophile-quality Toslink cables. The main hesitation being the fact that the cable I wanted was a Lifatec Silflex Glass Toslink cable, but the longest-length available is 20 feet. The Supra ZAC Toslink cable is one of the few very long-length audiophile Toslink cables that caught my attention. In fact, their longest cable available is 20 meters (a whopping 65.6 feet) which gave me courage to buy a 10 meter (32.8 feet) cable based on the potential ability of the design to successfully transmit a high-quality digital optical signal at long distances.

In my experience, the build quality of the Swedish-made Supra ZAC Toslink cable is superior to that of a typical consumer electronics Toslink cable, with an unusual feeling jacket that is different to the touch than other Toslink cable I've handled, and the cable features a high-quality connector with robust strain relief. The cable is very flexible and easily routed, and the ice blue color is neutral enough to be easy on the eye when routed along the floorboard of a listening room.

I find the Monoprice Premium Toslink cable sounds comparatively reticent, with the impression of an incomplete level of resolution, in that images do not sound as fully formed compared to the Supra ZAC Toslink cable, which presents a crisper, more vibrant sounding signal with better dynamics, greater presence, and an increase in tonal richness without sounding hazy or blurred like some POF (Plastic Optical Fiber) Toslink cables. Whether or not the performance of the Supra ZAC Toslink cable as Supra claims is equal to that of a glass Toslink cable such as the stellar Lifatec Silflex Glass Toslink cable that I use as a reference quality digital optical cable for much shorter-length applications is unknown, but what I can opine is the performance of the Supra ZAC Toslink cable is worthy of the expense in my opinion, and offers the same type of audiophile satisfaction that a 22 AWG solid core copper Supra Cat7+ Ethernet cable provides upstream within the signal chain.

See link:

 

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RE: Supra ZAC Toslink Cable Report, posted on March 30, 2017 at 15:57:00
bcowen
Audiophile

Posts: 1076
Location: North Carolina
Joined: December 19, 2015
 Thanks for the nice review, Duster.

Question: with your experience with Toslink cables, have you heard any changes with break-in?

I just got one of the Lifatec cables. First Toslink cable I've ever played with, so I'm a newbie. Plugged it in last night, swapping it in place of the Oyaide DR-510 S/PDIF cable. Tried it first between the transport and Remedy re-clocker, and got kind of a mixed bag -- some things better, some things worse. Then I put the Oyaide back between the transport and Remedy, and ran the Lifatec between the Remedy and Cary DAC. One of them wasn't happy with that arrangement -- got nothing but some intermittent popping sounds out of the speakers. So I pulled the Remedy out, and went straight from the transport to the DAC with the Lifatec. Yuck. The Remedy clearly improves things. So it's back in, and I'm wondering if things will improve if the Lifatec lives between the transport and Remedy for a few hundred hours. Logic would kinda dictate that break-in wouldn't be a factor with a glass cable, but logic doesn't always apply in this hobby. :)

 

RE: Supra ZAC Toslink Cable Report, posted on March 30, 2017 at 16:44:14
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 Not the same kind of break-in/burn-in of electrical cables, but I think the Toslink receiver circuitry may need to break-in if never operated under load, which might affect the the presentation of the DAC in some manner that is improved after a number of hours of operation...

 

RE: Supra ZAC Toslink Cable Report, posted on March 30, 2017 at 17:19:24
bcowen
Audiophile

Posts: 1076
Location: North Carolina
Joined: December 19, 2015
 Hadn't thought about the circuitry. Never been used in any of the 3 components. I'll let it play some and see what happens. Thanks!

 

RE: Supra ZAC Toslink Cable Report, posted on March 30, 2017 at 18:12:01
Duster
Manufacturer

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



Another issue I find is that any make/model Toslink cable interface does not sound as good as it could unless it's first connected to a Monarchy Audio DIP (Digital Interface Processor), then the Monarchy Audio DIP is connected to a DAC via S/PDIF digital coaxial cable or AES/EBU balanced digital cable interface. Otherwise, a digital optical Toslink signal tends to sound lackluster, dull or brittle in some cases. The Monarchy Audio DIP reclocks the S/PDIF signal, reduces jitter, and converts the digital optical signal to a digital electrical signal. I own three of them, they are inexpensive within the used marketplace (Mr. Poon of Monarchy Audio is retired), and they work like a charm, bcowen.

However, the DIP is very sensitive to digital cables and a power cord upgrade, so you have to factor that investment into the purchase. Otherwise, the sound quality may be better than before, but not near its full potential, IME.

See link:

 

RE: Supra ZAC Toslink Cable Report, posted on March 30, 2017 at 18:33:06
bcowen
Audiophile

Posts: 1076
Location: North Carolina
Joined: December 19, 2015
 Duster,

From what I can see with a brief read on the Monarchy is that it and the Remedy are serving much the same purpose if jitter reduction via reclocking is the main function. Perhaps, and totally by accident if so, I had the best setup initially: Transport -> Lifatec -> Remedy -> S/PDIF (Oyaide) -> DAC. I'll give this setup some time to break in the circuitry and see what happens.

It's also hard to know the quality of the optical circuitry -- could be an afterthought in any of the 3 pieces, which would make the quality of the optical cable a moot point.

 

RE: Supra ZAC Toslink Cable Report, posted on March 30, 2017 at 18:43:26
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 What type of external 9VDC power supply does the Remedy Reclocker feature? If it's a switch-mode wall wart, a PSU upgrade is a must-have.

 

RE: Supra ZAC Toslink Cable Report, posted on March 30, 2017 at 18:48:25
bcowen
Audiophile

Posts: 1076
Location: North Carolina
Joined: December 19, 2015
 The Remedy came with a cheapo wal-wart supply. I replaced it with a linear PSU (linked below). It made a clear improvement.

 

RE: Supra ZAC Toslink Cable Report, posted on March 30, 2017 at 18:51:22
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 What DC umbilical design are you using?

 

RE: Supra ZAC Toslink Cable Report, posted on March 30, 2017 at 19:04:15
bcowen
Audiophile

Posts: 1076
Location: North Carolina
Joined: December 19, 2015
 I bought the wire from Chris VH you recommended for the tight twisted-pair configuration, just haven't gotten around to putting it together yet. I'm way behind on my project list. :)

What's in there now is Canare star-quad (copper), connected directly to the PSU output terminals on one end, and with an Oyaide DC-2.1G plug going into the Remedy (last 2 pictures in the prior post link).

 

RE: Supra ZAC Toslink Cable Report, posted on March 30, 2017 at 19:19:09
Duster
Manufacturer

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



I noticed the Oyaide DC connector, which is a must-have; nothing else comes close to it. BTW, as good as the hand-built 21 AWG VH Audio OCC solid core AirLok wire is for a DIY DC umbilical project, VH Audio's pre-made V-Quad cable is a more refined sounding option, but at greater expense. The self-shielding factor is that of a Canare star-quad cable, but it's unshielded (as it should be), the AirLok dielectric design is SOTA, the solid core OCC copper, and the precision manufacturing is far superior to that of a Canare cable. I suggest buying a length of it rather than my DIY design for your particular project, and find use of the 21 AWG VH Audio OCC solid core AirLok wire for another project if you seek a reference-quality DC umbilical. YMMV

 

RE: Supra ZAC Toslink Cable Report, posted on April 1, 2017 at 17:29:18
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 I really liked my Lifatec. My system leans warm even on digital and it raised the top a touch and with more detail than my coaxial. Either transport to DAC or Music server to DAC. DAC is a MF Trivista with a dead transport


ET

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

 

RE: Supra ZAC Toslink Cable Report, posted on April 3, 2017 at 14:21:31
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 IIRC, you once had a mixed impression of the Lifatec Silflex Glass Toslink, Awe-d-o-file. If so, you might like to post insights about your current perspective, since it might be of help to bcowen.

It could be that the presentation of a glass Toslink cable may take some time to get accustomed to, since the interface does seem to have a unique sonic signature that is different than a digital coaxial cable interface.

IME, the Lifatec Silflex Glass Toslink cable does sound very streamlined which might reveal other issues that should be addressed if the previous 75 ohm digital cable sounded somewhat warm and full-bodied in comparison, which might be a preferable option. This issue being pertinent if a listener has an ability to use either type of interface for their application, since if given a choice I prefer a high-performance 75 ohm or 110 ohm interface vs. digital optical. The underpinning reason being that many types of audio applications only provide a Toslink output for a digital interface, so one has to work with that limitation. That is the case in my audiophile situation.

 

RE: Supra ZAC Toslink Cable Report, posted on April 4, 2017 at 18:34:13
bcowen
Audiophile

Posts: 1076
Location: North Carolina
Joined: December 19, 2015
 I'm quite impressed with the Lifatec's quality. Very nicely manufactured. I have nothing to compare it to sonically, so I simply don't know what's responsible for the mixed results (so far). Could well be a poor implementation of the optical converter in any one of the 3 components involved. And it could be that coax just sounds better in my setup. I'm giving things time to break in and settle down, and I'll evaluate again thereafter.

 

RE: Supra ZAC Toslink Cable Report, posted on April 6, 2017 at 21:42:01
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 via the SB it was preferred via the transport a little hot but on an older lifeless recording it was the ticket on the transport too


ET

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

 

RE: Supra ZAC Toslink Cable Report, posted on April 6, 2017 at 21:47:32
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 I dont think my Lifatek changed much with time. You are using a transport which was hotter on top for my setup as well. That seemed to be your issue, too much on top. Does the transport have safety ground? If so try it lifted.


ET

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

 

RE: Supra ZAC Toslink Cable Report, posted on April 7, 2017 at 08:20:30
bcowen
Audiophile

Posts: 1076
Location: North Carolina
Joined: December 19, 2015
 There wasn't any real issue (on initial listen) with too much top end. A little more detail up top, but not overblown. Bass was a bit deeper, and overall macrodynamics improved a touch. But what seemed to lose ground was the harmonic texture and low level dynamic shadings, which are both important to me. I wasn't expecting the cable to change much with play time, but with Duster's suggestion was giving the optical electronics some time to break in as they had never been used before. Haven't had a chance to listen since, but will this weekend.

 

Lifatech is worth the cost differential, posted on April 11, 2017 at 22:08:53
mr.bear
Audiophile

Posts: 4167
Joined: November 13, 2001
 Lifatech gives you genuine glass fiber at prices you can afford, costing only around 30% more than the Supra ZAC, I think.

I have sensed no break-in occurring over a lot of listening for 3 weeks now.

 

I found something similar., posted on April 19, 2017 at 16:03:44
jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5950
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000
 And I put it down to the toslink circuitry not having been used.

It's been a few weeks now and the toslink sounds particularly vivid with the Lifatec glass fibre cable, with greater differentiation between recordings than previously (Blue Jeans Cat 6A cable, I2S connection between transport and dac). Most unexpected, especially given my past experience of toslink (muffled dynamics, poor definition, vague tonality).


Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."


 

RE: I found something similar., posted on April 19, 2017 at 16:11:24
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 The Lifatec Silflex Glass Toslink cable sounds very fast and detailed. It may sound pretty ruthless if there are other aspects of an audio system that sound a bit edgy. It sounds best if a system provides good image density, IME.

 

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