Optical/toslink and xlr recommendations needed.

[m7rso]

Yo chaps and chapesses. 

At the moment i am using Mogami with Neutrik XLR, FROM DAC to amps.

 Chord Company optical with toslink between source and DAC.

i am after recommendations from people who have possibly used the above cables and upgraded for what they heard as an improvement.

Its not a bum fight over cables. Many thanks in advance.

 

[JANDL100]

I've no views on XLR analog cables, I seem to be an RCA kind of person.

But I've had fairly extensive experience of optical TOSLINK, up to quite expensive glass examples.

My own preference regardless of cost is these white XO cables.

They have a transparency and vibrancy usually missing from optical connections ime.

Cheap as chips, too.

But I don't recall trying a Chord optical cable, so I'm just making a general rather than a comparative recommendation.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XO-Ultra-Digital-Optical-Audio-Cable-White-SPDIF-Optical-TOSLINK-Gold-Plug-DTS/371318193557?hash=item567449fd95:g:BE4AAOSwNSxVQ5Ot

 

[Strider]

These are good - quality plugs and decent cable, I've bought a few pairs of these over the years and they're still fine with my pre-amps and monitors.

Great value XLR and a quality produc

Mogami Neglex 2534 These have Neutrik plugs (professional spec and much applied to hifi cables) and comes with endorsements from both communities.

 

[bencat]

I think in the first instance I was confused with the Chord and thought this was your DAC but think instead you are talking about Optical TOSLINK cable by Chord Cable Co .

If the above is correct then your source is a Squeezebox Touch ? . In that case this has Optical , Coaxial and USB outputs so that gives you some easy and cheap to listen to options . First question have you got the Enhanced Digital Output patch installed on your SBT ? If not then would suggest that is worth doing . Digital connections seem to have more arguments for and against than cables do so each personal advice can and possibly will (just because this the Wam) be different .

General opinion is that Coaxial SPDIF connections are better than Optical . Having used both I find them very much the same and would be happy to use either . Coaxial is best using a BNC 75 Ohm plug at both ends and then a proper 75 Ohm specified cable between . This in my opinion without having access to I2S the best digital connection you can get . Using RCA Phono then again if you can find one get a properly specified 75 Ohm cable and that will be the best connection you can make .

Optical cables the only difference i have heard ever was when a Glass Cable was used instead of Plastic . Glass cables sounded better but no by much . If I use an Optical it is always a glass one cheapest that i can find as there is not too many out there anymore.

Lastly USB now this one has people across the divide . If the DAC has asynchrous input then many say this is the best sounding input of all and because the digital packets are stored and then reclocked that this reduces jitter and makes the signal as near as possible to the source code . I just do not get on with USB connections and find them often to be very flaky this is most likely because the only source I use them with (Joggler O2 converted to Squeezebox) is very old tech and has a USB 1 output which is getting less compatible with modern equipment.  However lots of others find this the best and declare it the best digital connection .

Good thing is getting a 75 Ohm Coaxial cable and I am sure you have a USB cable that you can use you can have a bit of fun and try them against your Optical with not a great deal of money spent .

Have fun .

 

[m7rso]

I've no views on XLR analog cables, I seem to be an RCA kind of person.

But I've had fairly extensive experience of optical TOSLINK, up to quite expensive glass examples.

My own preference regardless of cost is these white XO cables.

They have a transparency and vibrancy usually missing from optical connections ime.

Cheap as chips, too.

But I don't recall trying a Chord optical cable, so I'm just making a general rather than a comparative recommendation.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XO-Ultra-Digital-Optical-Audio-Cable-White-SPDIF-Optical-TOSLINK-Gold-Plug-DTS/371318193557?hash=item567449fd95:g:BE4AAOSwNSxVQ5Ot

Cheers mate.

 

[m7rso]

I think in the first instance I was confused with the Chord and thought this was your DAC but think instead you are talking about Optical TOSLINK cable by Chord Cable Co .

If the above is correct then your source is a Squeezebox Touch ? . In that case this has Optical , Coaxial and USB outputs so that gives you some easy and cheap to listen to options . First question have you got the Enhanced Digital Output patch installed on your SBT ? If not then would suggest that is worth doing . Digital connections seem to have more arguments for and against than cables do so each personal advice can and possibly will (just because this the Wam) be different .

General opinion is that Coaxial SPDIF connections are better than Optical . Having used both I find them very much the same and would be happy to use either . Coaxial is best using a BNC 75 Ohm plug at both ends and then a proper 75 Ohm specified cable between . This in my opinion without having access to I2S the best digital connection you can get . Using RCA Phono then again if you can find one get a properly specified 75 Ohm cable and that will be the best connection you can make .

Optical cables the only difference i have heard ever was when a Glass Cable was used instead of Plastic . Glass cables sounded better but no by much . If I use an Optical it is always a glass one cheapest that i can find as there is not too many out there anymore.

Lastly USB now this one has people across the divide . If the DAC has asynchrous input then many say this is the best sounding input of all and because the digital packets are stored and then reclocked that this reduces jitter and makes the signal as near as possible to the source code . I just do not get on with USB connections and find them often to be very flaky this is most likely because the only source I use them with (Joggler O2 converted to Squeezebox) is very old tech and has a USB 1 output which is getting less compatible with modern equipment.  However lots of others find this the best and declare it the best digital connection .

Good thing is getting a 75 Ohm Coaxial cable and I am sure you have a USB cable that you can use you can have a bit of fun and try them against your Optical with not a great deal of money spent .

Have fun .

Lol. I need to speak to you at length Andy. Ill give you a ring next week when everything relaxes a notch or two to get you over here when safe to do so. I am still messing with my main system so my source is a cdp transport. I have a few 75 ohm , digital cables, not stupidly expensive, but the chord optical i am using easily kicks them all into touch. All you have said though is relevant regarding our previous conversation  sbt, pi and lossless etc. So will be useful when i get my arse into gear.