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CD Players, Digital Music & Servers Aurender, dCs, Esoteric, Lumin. |
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#21
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The optical cable uses a woven metal shielding. I find them preferable to ordinary unshielded optical cables and coax cables as well. For me digital interconnects solved, I could not ask for anything better.
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#22
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From the product descriptions, it looks like these cables use a braided metal jacket for durability and to prevent kinking. I don't see any mention that the braid is actually tied to ground. Of course that could be verified with a multimeter.
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Primary sources: VPI TNT III/SDS turntable, SME-V arm; Bryston BDP-3 digital player; Bryston BDA-3 DAC; McIntosh MVP-881 disc player; McIntosh MR-80 tuner. Preamplifier Audio Research Ref 5SE; Audio Research Ref Phono 2SE; Moon 430 HA. Amplifiers Conrad Johnson Premier 1B; Audio Research D-300; Bryston 4B. Speakers Infinity IRS Beta. Recorders Tandberg TD20A; Crown SX-822; Nakamichi 670ZX; Alesis Masterlink ML-9600. Power Tice Power Block/Titan (x2); McIntosh MPC1500; API Ultra II-20; multiple 20A derated dedicated lines. |
#23
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I'm looking at both the EMK site itself (doesn't work well for me) and the Amazon version of it, but I'm not seeing any metal-braided TOSLINK cables. I do see several styles from EMK ranging in cost from $6 to $25(!) for 3' length. Some have grey plastic connectors and some have gold-plated (for whatever reason) metal connectors. The braid ranges from cotton to nylon ("Blue Series" and "Silver1") to nylon with double-PVC (possibly too stiff). Elsewhere I see that you can spend up to several hundred dollars(!) on multi-fiber TOSLINK cables that are supposed to reduce jitter, etc. I guess the bottom line here is what features do I actually need (and how much do I have to spend) to get a 3' cable that will carry 24bit by 192 kHz PCM flawlessly? -- Clark2 |
#24
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W9TR -- FYI, I switched from digital coax to TOSLINK optical between my BlueSound Node 2i and my D50s, and it seems to work fine nearly all the time. (The D50s is reputed elsewhere to have displayed difficulties with digital coax input.) On a couple of occasions I have experienced what sounds like bursts of high-frequency "static" -- not the same as the earlier "crackling" and far better than actual dropouts -- over the music. (My Qobuz is currently limited by the Node 2i to 96 kHz.)
Although I've pretty much put this issue to bed, I'm still puzzled by what could cause "static," unless it's some kind of EMI creeping into other parts of my system... -- Clark2 |
#25
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Yes, the D50s has known issues with the coax input. I did not use this input when I had my D50 so I’ve not experienced it. Other Toppong products have had issues with static susceptibility. Some have failed catastrophically destroying headphones connected to them.
It’s still very likely you have a DAC problem, but the only way to know is to buy something better and try it.
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Main System: Amati Futura Mains Amati Homage VOX Center, Proac Response 1sc Rears, Three MC2301's for L,C,R MC 602 for the rears C 1100, MX 151, MCD 1100, MR 80 Nottingham Dais with Wave Mechanic Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation SurfacePro 3, RPi 4, ROON, WW Starlight Platinum USB, Schiit Yggdrasil, Benchmark DAC3 HGC MX 151, OppO BDP-95, JVC RS-500 DILA projector, 106" diagonal Stewart Luxus Screenwall Deluxe with Studiotek 130 G3 material. Lake House: Ohm F, MC 275V, C2300, MR 77, Rega P3 OnDeck: McIntosh MAC 4300v |
#26
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I'm not ready to spend vastly more money to experiment with another DAC. (I'm also not sure I'm ready to spend a couple of hundred on a glass TOSLINK cable just to see if it's noticeably better than plastic.) Is there a DAC for a reasonable price that would be a step up (preferably with a working digital-coax input)? Cheers! -- Clark2 |
#27
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Dear Field -- Back to you again if you're still here. What resolution/sample-rate are you listening to through your EMK TOSLINK? (I assume it's a plastic fiber, since EMK does not appear to make glass.) Have you ever tried glass fiber? I'm not sure it's worth the huge increase in price. 24 bit X 192 kHz is my goal... -- Clark2
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#28
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Hello Clark2 -
you were right about metal shielding on a optical fiber. It may provide a mechanical benefit, but nothing else as far as the signal. Optical communication is impervious to electronic and magnetic noise. For short runs (1-2 meters), either plastic of glass will work fine. Glass and newer plastic fibers can provide higher transmission bandwidths over longer distances, so high sample rate multichannel audio is best with these fibers. The original TOSLINK (TOShiba LINK) is a very old standard, developed around the time of the original CD format in the 1980's. However, the transmission rate possible has increased a lot since then. So, it depends on the capabilities of your specific hardware. https://www.audioholics.com/audio-vi...history-basics That all being said, I agree with Tom, you might have a DAC issue.
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Main - Roon on Synology/Sonos Port/SoTM Neo endpoints; Chord Qutest, Bryston BP-17 cubed with phono option; EAT C-sharp with Ortofon Bronze MM, Bryston cubed Amplifier; Revel F126Be on custom Atocha stands; interconnects by WireWorld, furniture by Atocha Design 'Phones Audeze LCD-3, Bryston BHA-1; Office: Sonos/Roon; OPPO HA-1, Naim NAP100 and PSB Mini-C. Media Room:, Samsung QLED QN90 series, Sonos, OPPO 205, ATI N-core driving KEF LS-50's with REL subs; furniture by Glassisimo; Kids - U-turn for vinyl, Sonos Play5; Summer Shack - Sonos, vintage Pioneer, Dynaudio Special 40's. Last edited by clpetersen; 05-02-2022 at 06:23 PM. |
#29
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Spending money in a glass toslink cable will do nothing. Toslink just works, even with plastic cables. Using asr as the only source of information on a product is a path to audio disappointment. I bought my D50 on a glowing asr recommendation. It is by far the worst sounding DAC I own. I’ve relegated it to a gaming system.
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Main System: Amati Futura Mains Amati Homage VOX Center, Proac Response 1sc Rears, Three MC2301's for L,C,R MC 602 for the rears C 1100, MX 151, MCD 1100, MR 80 Nottingham Dais with Wave Mechanic Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation SurfacePro 3, RPi 4, ROON, WW Starlight Platinum USB, Schiit Yggdrasil, Benchmark DAC3 HGC MX 151, OppO BDP-95, JVC RS-500 DILA projector, 106" diagonal Stewart Luxus Screenwall Deluxe with Studiotek 130 G3 material. Lake House: Ohm F, MC 275V, C2300, MR 77, Rega P3 OnDeck: McIntosh MAC 4300v |
#30
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