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I am closing in on final choices in a very long quest to build a system around a PC-based audio server.I plan on connecting the optical digital out of the soundcard on the PC (ESI's Juli@ soundard) with my Lavry DA-10 DAC (which also has coax and AES inputs).
My preference for optical here is because the DAC will reclock the signal anyway, so I am not interested in jitter reduction as much as I am by the loss of EMI I'll get by going optical.
My brief reading on optical links has me looking at the Van den Hul Optocoupler Mk II, and the WiredWorld Supernova 5+. I've also heard about eBay glass toslinks and the Nordost White Ghost or something like that.
Are there any other cables I should be thinking about for this application? I need a short run - 1 meter is fine - and I'd like to keep it under $150 for sure. Is there a consensus here on the likely best candidate for me?
Thanks,
Follow Ups:
I recently replaced a $15 eBay glass toslink with an XLO/VDO toslink (model ER-TOS). In my system, the XLO has better resolution than the glass toslink, particularly in the treble area, while sounding more transparent and true to timbre. The XLO toslink retails for around $50 for 1 meter, but can be had at a bargain on eBay.The connectors on the XLO are more robust and may play a part in the sound quality. (XLO claims their "focus polishing" reduces jitter).
That said, the multi-core eBay glass toslink was a great step up from a $20 plastic Monster interlink.
___________C N Machani
I agree, the XLO's are special (their complete line, too)
having tried lots of good coax and toslink cables, although not with a computer as source -- the supernova 5 + is extremely good, and is very easy to use, does not have to break in or burn in, is always ready to go, and won't introduce a ground loop into the system.
There is a difference. I have the Lavry and have run signal through decent glass Toslink and via really good coax. No contest, coax wins by a noticeable margin. Glass was softer, less detailed, not as deep or tight in the bass, lots less depth, not as extended in the top. I do have a very quiet system and use a CD player as transport so I don't know if the results would be the same with a PC.FWIW - The VH Audio 1.5 meter Pulsar with WBT silver NextGens sounds much better than the well regarded Stereovox coax. I am referring to the original Stereovox cable which I also own. Really good for the price but outclassed by the VH. And I have tried other Pulsar combos at 1 meter and prefer the 1.5 meter.
IIRC, the Lavry's coax inputs are transformer-coupled, so optical does not in itself provide any advantage over coax. Go with whatever is cheaper or more suitable for you.
This is new to me. I had understood optical would have an advantage because even though it potentially carried more jitter, it completely blocked EMI through isolating the two units, and the jitter was a non-issue due to overclocking.From my reading it seems many optical interconnects are not quite up to coax cables but that some - and the VDH and Wireworld Supernova are in this group - appear to be virtually indistinguishable from good coax cables.
However if the transformer coupling on the digital inputs of the Lavry does exist - and I will check this - then am I correct that this also effectively electronically isolates the Lavry from the PC?
Best and thanks again,
I believe Dan Lavry mentioned this himself in his forum. While the fact of transformer coupling itself does not guarantee galvanic isolation (depending on the way it is wired), I can't imagine the purpose of having it there otherwise.You might want to ask him in the Lavry Engineering forum.
BTW I firmly believe the PC should be isolated from the rest of system, whether digital or analog outputs are used.
Check these out. They work great for me.
Long time ago, when I had Sony CD changer with both coax and toslink outs, I experimented with Proceed DAP feeding it through WireWorld Supernova III (optical) and cheap Signal Cable (coax). Drop-off in bass was first thing I'd notice switching to toslink.Generally, toslink is considered inferior - but I'm sure you know that already. $150 can buy you pretty decent by audiophile standards SPDIF cable, if you go used route.
I am not convinced that glass or plastic has any affect on the character of the sound. If you are not worried about jitter, you owe it to yourself to compare a cheap optical cable with an expensive one that you can return (if no difference is heard). I do believe in cables. I have AQ Sky interconnects and Zu speaker cables. But my 10m plastic toslink (from PC) delivers beautiful results. Mine runs through a Theta TLC dejitter device.
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