Gazjam wrote: > Previously used BNC to BNC hookup my TP to my M2Tech Young DAC, sounding > better than onboard DAC to me and read in this parish that Sean Adams > himself had quoted BNC as best digital connection. > > Last part makes sense...given Transporter is "proper" transformer > coupled 75 Ohm socket as is the socket on my DAC? > > Recently heard a coupled glass optical cables in my system, which > surprisingly to my ears noticeably improved upon the BNC connection. > (Lifatec glass optical and another one....both sounded different) > Had tried toslink before with plastic based cables and written it off as > subpar, but glass one sound noticeably better to these ears. >
There are two questions here - which are: (1) Which is the preferred interface, coax or optical? (2) I think I hear a difference, what does that mean? Answers: There is an incredible amount of angst among audiophiles about coax versus optical, and IME audiophile wisdom is that coax is always better sounding. The big technical difference between the two is that the coax connection usually involves what is known as a Galvanic Connection or electrical or metallic connection between the chassis of the two pieces of equipment being the source component (optical player, TV set, cable box, etc.) and the DAC, AVR, or surround decoder. This connection (usually due to the shield of the coax cable) at least opens the door to the creation of a ground loop which may cause hum and noise elsewhere in the system or in the component being driven. Therefore, from an interfacing standpoint *-the optical connection is superior -*in terms of the probability that it will cause the system to have noise in it. Given the choice, the wise person will IMO choose the optical connection. Audiophiles have been taught to distrust optical connections on spurious grounds of jitter, which ironically, if anything the optical connection could make go away. The other question is whether or not the optical connection will actually lead to improved sound quality. The answer here is an undesirable answer of Maybe. If your system has an audible ground loop which is mostly manifest as a hum either low or loud, then the optical connection should make it go away. Of course that should be a good thing. Against that you have to weigh the usual perceptions of changes in sound quality due to the fact that in all liklihood, you will be doing one of those eqgregiously flawed sighted evaluation, which are reliable enough perchance there is actually a clearly audible deficiency such as a clearly audible hum, which one alternative makes go away. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ arnyk's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=64365 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=104290 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
