Is there any difference in sound quality between digital optical cables (toslink) and digital coaxial cables?

Question

Is there any difference in sound quality between digital optical cables (toslink) and digital coaxial cables?

Answer 1

I use both and I can't perceive any difference in sound quality. Both sound totally great. 5.1 system.

Answer 2

The both have the same data, but just over different transports. The idea that optical was better stemmed from propaganda from the big box stores that optical is better since the customer would have to buy a optical cable instead of just about any 75Ω impedance coaxial cable with RCA ends, figures they would out and out lie!

It really depends on the application and what equipment is involved to make that determination. For most of the masses the difference is negligible and therefore not important.

However if you have the means and the right performance equipment use balanced audio in discrete channels for interconnects. The higher number and cost of cables is well worth it, but again most will not tell a difference.

Answer 3

None.

Answer 4

Personally I can't tell the difference. It all comes down to which cable is needed for a particular appliance.

Optical cables tend to be thinner but I've heard that they are better suited to short lengths (less than 5 metres). So if you need longer runs then use coaxial otherwise it shouldn't matter.

Answer 5

No difference electrically on what sound formats optical and coax cable support.

There are many misconceptions in home theater and the "Optical is better ", argument is one of them. That said

I will say that HDMI provides the best audio reproduction. It has to do with signal compression.

-Optical incorporates HDCP, (the spec for HD Copyright Protection). This prevents an optical cable from delivering uncompressed multichannel high definition audio. 2.0 uncompressed is the best you can get over optical, which then is utilized by the Dolby 5.1 matrix, DTS, (or whatever other sound field you select), in your receiver. .... That is why, with an optical cable, you can get only normal 5.1 Dolby digital, the core mix, but it is not "true" high definition audio, its only delivering what's referred to as "core audio".

-The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), the interface for transmitting uncompressed digital streams. HDMI (1.3), provides 340 MHz bandwidth, and provides support and for 8-channel uncompressed digital audio.

It supports the newer HD formats DTS-HD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, High Resolution Audio and DTS-HD Master Audio.

If your equip has the capability to support HDMI this is the preferred connection.