Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/01/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Spencer, I know there is only one cable. However I believed the equipment manufacturers were not allowed to pass SACD digital over the Toslink output. So when you used TosLink only it was the common stereo digital signal being passed and not the encrypted SACD stream. If you tried to play the Sony SACD only disks you would get no audio at all. That's the way it was 4 or 5 years ago. I don't know if that restriction disappeared or not. Some day I will get Blue-Ray if I get a new HDTV set. But currently I amplify my cable signal, using a line extender, to + 15 dbmv. Except for true HDTV channels my pictures are noise free and better then the common, over compressed, digital channels. Regards, Len On Jan 15, 2009, at 1:55 PM, Spencer Cheng wrote: > Hi Len, > > The TosLink cables are the same regardless whether it is used to > carry standard CD-audio or SACD data stream (if I believe in > Wikipedia). The difference is the protocol used by the 2 ends. I am > using a Blu-Ray player with digital out as my CD player because > there aren't THAT much difference in the audio decoders to my aging > ears (and it takes up 1/2 the space of a separate CD player and > reduce the number of wires by 2 which pleases my other half > tremendously :). > > Regards, > Spencer > > On Jan 15, 2009, at 12:01, Leonard Taupier wrote: > >> Spencer, >> >> TosLink cables are fine for a conventional CD player but doesn't >> work with SACD disks because of the proprietary digital format. If >> this has changed in the last four years please let me know. Also >> some CD players may not even have a digital output jack. I have >> TosLinks of different lengths but don't use them. >> >> You are certainly right about the phono, preamp, power amp chain. >> I use a low output Koetsu moving coil cartridge, a separate phono >> preamp, a tube preamp and a tube power amp. The cables do sound >> different. But I don't go all out. You reach a point where the >> increase in cost can't be justified by a minute improvement, if >> any, in sound quality. Fortunately my dealer allowed me to try and >> return any cable I wanted. >> >> Len >> >> >> On Jan 15, 2009, at 11:23 AM, Spencer Cheng wrote: >> >>> For digital source such as CD player or digital TV signals, use a >>> TosLink cable which keeps it digital into the (pre-)amp. No >>> interference issues. No shielding or ground issues are likely. >>> >>> Especially with TosLink cables, Monster Cable would be a waste of >>> money. It's a hunk of passive fibre optic cable with a simple >>> connector at both end. It would postpone the conversion to the >>> analog domain as far as possible. Available at my local PC shop >>> for $5-$10. >>> >>> For vinyl or pre-amp to power amp where it is analog, the sky is >>> the limit as long as one can hear the difference in a double >>> blind test.... :) >>> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information