Digital Drive

RE: Toslink newbie

149.102.228.237

Todd Krieger

A

In Reply to: RE: Toslink newbie posted by flood2 on May 12, 2025 at 13:54:33

The best Toslink cable that I've encountered is the DH Labs Glassmaster...... But it's expensive at over $200.....

Best for the money is the BTPA.com Toslink-xxx cable...... About $60, I use this cable as well......

If you want to go cheap, a good one is the KabelDirekt optical cable (link below).... There are a lot of expensive cables out there that to me don't perform as well as this one.

There are also a lot of "highly regarded" optical cables, including Supra and Lifatec.... Although I prefer the cables I mentioned above over them.

https://www.amazon.com/KabelDirekt-Optical-Designed-Soundbar (Open in New Window)

Follow Ups:

KabelDirekt - psgary 19:44:55 05/12/25 (2)
Only $7 for a cable? Is that possible for a good cable? Not much to lose, so I'll probably try it.

Clearly, you're indicating that price is no indication of good sonics, right?

Thanks for the recommendations.
- RE: KabelDirekt - flood2 13:38:33 05/13/25 (0)
  It all comes down to the quality of the fibre cleave and how close to ideal the ends of the fibre end up. I remember doing this at university and it takes some practice to do a clean job that gives a clean cleave with a perpendicular flat surface with a glass fibre. These days there are specialist tools that can do a clean job with minimal optical loss with plastic fibres. The end polish for a plastic fibre is important too.
  The data rate requirement for SPDIF is pretty low (relatively speaking) compared to Telecoms requirements so "most" products that have the essential design features (connector ends) and polish will meet the requirement for digital audio.
  
  Keep the cable length as short as possible without sharp bends and most cables will be fine. I would certainly recommend trying Todd's suggestion.
  
  I have no problem with the freebie short lengths of optical cable that came with my portable Minidisc recorder which goes to show how good the current state of the art is for DAC design.
  Regards Anthony
  
  "Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty.." Keats
- RE: KabelDirekt - Todd Krieger 23:54:49 05/12/25 (0)
  "Clearly, you're indicating that price is no indication of good sonics, right?"
  
  There is price-performance correlation, but it's not a particularly strong one...... (I have such opinion for cables in general..... Could be why some claim it's "snake oil"..... )
  
  There are some expensive Toslink cables that I don't like..... QED Reference Quartz and WireWorld SuperNova, to name a couple........
  
  YMMV.....

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