I am currently using my laptop to play FLAC lossless music files and internet radio from an external USB soundcard directly into my Supernait amp via a 5m optical interconnect cable with excellent results, however the soundcard also gives me the option of a coaxial digital out and I was wondering what is considered the most Hi Fi of the two, anyone care to offer an opinion........
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When should you upgrade your hi-fi? How to control ‘upgradeitis’
Optical vs Coaxial digital interconnects.
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matengawhat
Well-known member
i think the two will give virtually identical results as the difference between the two should be absolutely minimal
Very similar to my music set up except I use a Benchmark DAC instead of your Supernait's onboard. Coaxial is supposed to provide marginally better sound than optical, however you'll struggle to find a brand cable longer than 1-2m.
matengawhat:i think the two will give virtually identical results as the difference between the two should be absolutely minimal
Despite the two changes of state - electrical to optical and optical back to electrical - involved?
Despite the two changes of state - electrical to optical and optical back to electrical - involved?
matengawhat
Well-known member
see what you mean by that so in that case coaxial all the way - but i couldn't tell the difference between the two when rewiring my old homecinema amp and i tried both.
Andrew Everard:
matengawhat:i think the two will give virtually identical results as the difference between the two should be absolutely minimal
Despite the two changes of state - electrical to optical and optical back to electrical - involved?
But 5m is starting to be fairly long for a coaxial lead, could be fairly expensive, and probably not give any audible improvement.
If he were starting from scratch, maybe the coax route would be potentially preferable, but then maybe not. The conversion to optical and back really ought not to make any difference, esp on a high quality amp such as a supernait.
I guess if a lead can be 'borrowed' it would do no harm in testing the 2 though.
matengawhat:i think the two will give virtually identical results as the difference between the two should be absolutely minimal
Despite the two changes of state - electrical to optical and optical back to electrical - involved?
But 5m is starting to be fairly long for a coaxial lead, could be fairly expensive, and probably not give any audible improvement.
If he were starting from scratch, maybe the coax route would be potentially preferable, but then maybe not. The conversion to optical and back really ought not to make any difference, esp on a high quality amp such as a supernait.
I guess if a lead can be 'borrowed' it would do no harm in testing the 2 though.
Basically if you need to keep it at 5m I would definitely stick with optical. If you are willing to go down to 1m, personally I'd give coaxial a try.ÿ
Well I have just conducted an A/B blindfold comparison test A was with FLAC files the optical cable, and B was with my Naim CD5 using the same track ( Barbers violin concerto ) started at exactly the same time and found it impossible to tell the difference, so for me the optical cable will suit just fine.
Thanks for all your help and comments guys...............
Thanks for all your help and comments guys...............
Excuse me pal, I'm not a liar, I'm just reporting to what I and others heard.
I think many people worry too much about what the marketing boys come up with instead of trusting what they hear.........
I think many people worry too much about what the marketing boys come up with instead of trusting what they hear.........
Wasn't calling anyone a liar my friend!
I was merely saying that some people are hell bent on the fact that the CD on a good CD player will always be of a higher quality than FLAC through a good DAC. I'm a FLAC man myself!
I was merely saying that some people are hell bent on the fact that the CD on a good CD player will always be of a higher quality than FLAC through a good DAC. I'm a FLAC man myself!
Octopo:
Wasn't calling anyone a liar my friend!
I was merely saying that some people are hell bent on the fact that the CD on a good CD player will always be of a higher quality than FLAC through a good DAC. I'm a FLAC man myself!
Sorry Octodo , I misinterpreted your post , thinking about it there is not much reason for there being much difference given that the FLAC files were ripped into lossless EAC from the self same CD, and both CD player DAC and amp DAC are manufactured by the same company.......
Wasn't calling anyone a liar my friend!
I was merely saying that some people are hell bent on the fact that the CD on a good CD player will always be of a higher quality than FLAC through a good DAC. I'm a FLAC man myself!
Sorry Octodo , I misinterpreted your post , thinking about it there is not much reason for there being much difference given that the FLAC files were ripped into lossless EAC from the self same CD, and both CD player DAC and amp DAC are manufactured by the same company.......
Next time you are in the HiFi store you need to get an ear upgrade so you can hear the differences.
(joke)
Octopo:
Wasn't calling anyone a liar my friend!
I was merely saying that some people are hell bent on the fact that the CD on a good CD player will always be of a higher quality than FLAC through a good DAC. I'm a FLAC man myself!
Through the same DAC (given equal quality digital out), the FLAC will be 'at least' as good as the BEST money no object CD transport, as it is a lossless (I assume bit perfect) rip of the CD track. A Hard disk is a much better medium for reading accurate data than an optical disc.
Wasn't calling anyone a liar my friend!
I was merely saying that some people are hell bent on the fact that the CD on a good CD player will always be of a higher quality than FLAC through a good DAC. I'm a FLAC man myself!
Through the same DAC (given equal quality digital out), the FLAC will be 'at least' as good as the BEST money no object CD transport, as it is a lossless (I assume bit perfect) rip of the CD track. A Hard disk is a much better medium for reading accurate data than an optical disc.
Andrew Everard:
matengawhat:i think the two will give virtually identical results as the difference between the two should be absolutely minimal
Despite the two changes of state - electrical to optical and optical back to electrical - involved?
As far as the medium -
That shouldn't matter. The original and intermediate states aren't as important as the pattern read and returned.
Processing electrical signal of highs and lows is read to 1s an 0's and likewise optical. Both should return an identical patterns.
This pattern is eventually converted to audio.
Over long distances (miles) fibre would be the way to go. In a room pointless debate.
I'd be inclined towards copper but would happily live with optical.
matengawhat:i think the two will give virtually identical results as the difference between the two should be absolutely minimal
Despite the two changes of state - electrical to optical and optical back to electrical - involved?
As far as the medium -
That shouldn't matter. The original and intermediate states aren't as important as the pattern read and returned.
Processing electrical signal of highs and lows is read to 1s an 0's and likewise optical. Both should return an identical patterns.
This pattern is eventually converted to audio.
Over long distances (miles) fibre would be the way to go. In a room pointless debate.
I'd be inclined towards copper but would happily live with optical.
welshboy:Next time you are in the HiFi store you need to get an ear upgrade so you can hear the differences.
(joke)
Why do you bother to post if you can't contribute anything constructive, ( joke splitting my sides here )
Why do you bother to post if you can't contribute anything constructive, ( joke splitting my sides here )
The conversion from electric to optical and then back can introduce jitter into the signal (Hi-Fi purist nightmare). Admittedly it takes a higher quality system to notice these kind of differences but it does happen. This is why at the extreme end of the market so much goes into clocking signals through the system or making use of a connection which will not introduce jitter (e.g. TAGTronic, Denon DigitalLink, Firewire etc).
Liam @ Prog AV:The conversion from electric to optical and then back can introduce jitter into the signal...
My point exactly.
My point exactly.
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