Digital Man Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 Hi All, I was wondering if anyone here could direct me to a optical cable ? Is glass better over plastic ? does J.B Hi-Fi sell a good one ? I intend to run it from my Apple desktop computer to my Schiit Modi 3. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlr8or Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 If you're after an optical toslink cable there are only 2 I would recommend. Either a Lifatec Silflex or Wireworld Supernova 7 borosilicate type. I've tried countless plastic ones and they don't sound the same. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirockr Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 I’ve been researching the same topic for a little while now. I agree with the post above, both of those are excellent and are on the shortlist. If budget isn’t an option consider the DH Labs Glass Master Toslink Optical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david j Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 I have a dh labs and a wireworld supernova Both excellent performers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kroozzy Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 On 19/11/2020 at 7:06 PM, david j said: I have a dh labs and a wireworld supernova Both excellent performers Howdy David would you have a preference between the DH Labs Glass Master and the Wireworld Supanova 7 if not a preference , a sonic difference of opinion christopher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david j Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 There on different systems havent really compared both very good wireworld probably sell better on the second hand market if you need to move on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikey d Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 I'm having trouble finding an Australian source of a decent glass Toslink cable. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy8 Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 5 minutes ago, mikey d said: I'm having trouble finding an Australian source of a decent glass Toslink cable. Any suggestions? Cannot remember seeing Australian made Toslink cables from this list? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ittaku Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 They all sound the same to me. I would buy one based on the quality of the connector instead of worrying about the potential sound quality of the transfer medium. I doubt there's any Australian company that makes one though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikey d Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 Just now, Ittaku said: They all sound the same to me. I would buy one based on the quality of the connector instead of worrying about the potential sound quality of the transfer medium. I doubt there's any Australian company that makes one though. 33 minutes ago, Snoopy8 said: Cannot remember seeing Australian made Toslink cables from this list? Sorry, I don't mean Aussie made, just a retailer / distributor of quality Toslink cables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ittaku Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 CAV have some decent cables, The Chord Company cheapest optical cable is respectable and not too expensive. https://www.carltonaudiovisual.com.au/hi-fi/accessories/cables/chord-c-lite-optical-cable-1m.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikey d Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 7 minutes ago, Ittaku said: CAV have some decent cables, The Chord Company cheapest optical cable is respectable and not too expensive. https://www.carltonaudiovisual.com.au/hi-fi/accessories/cables/chord-c-lite-optical-cable-1m.html Cheers, a bit of googling & I have found some good retailers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlr8or Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 (edited) As @Ittaku states the connectors are key on all cables regardless of price range. As of last week my Wireworld Supernova 7 toslink cable mentioned above stopped functioning. The red light is still there so there is definitely something wrong with the connectors. In addition to the Silflex Lifatec and Wireworld Supernova 7 cables, the QED Reference borosilicate optical cable also looks interesting. Edited March 3, 2021 by xlr8or Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason101 Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 Adding to the general conversation, I can’t vouch for this option as haven’t purchased, but when I went hunting for toslink options these were rated highly at sensible prices: http://www.sysconcept.ca/product_info.php?products_id=365 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warweary Posted March 12, 2021 Share Posted March 12, 2021 +1 for Chord Optichord. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agisthos Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 (edited) 10 years ago when I tried some different optical cables the glass based ones did sounder better than plastic. I ended up with the original metal jacketed Lifatec back then (its a soft 'optisilk' jacket now). If you are interested in the numbers game here is how many strands..... QED Reference Optical Quartz Toslink (210 strands borosilicate fiber optic) DH LABS Glass Master Toslink (300 strands of proprietary glass fibers) WIREWORLD Supernova 7 Toslink (338 strands borosilicate fiber optic) LIFATEC Premium Silflex Toslink (470 strands glass fiber optic) From this it looks like Lifatec is still king of the price v performance ratio like it was back then (but sometimes these numbers-of-strands games don't always result in better sound). I am not sure if there is there any difference between glass fiber strands and borosilicate fibers. Maybe its the same thing, or maybe boro-silicate is its own thing and different to normal glass strands. And finally DH LABS claims to be using proprietary glass fibers. Could be true, but we all know the marketing pages of cables companies love to pretend they have proprietary wire/shields/composites when they don't. The Sys Concepts page claims to have a cable with 1300 strands but its a Toslink-Mini only, no Toslink-Toslink. Edited March 13, 2021 by agisthos 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwstereo Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 (edited) 4 hours ago, agisthos said: I am not sure if there is there any difference between glass fiber strands and borosilicate fibers. Maybe its the same thing, or maybe boro-silicate is its own thing and different to normal glass strands. Borosilicate is a type of glass. It has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than normal glass. Test tubes, high end glassware, etc, resistant to cracking with sudden temperature changes. It's also harder than standard soda-lime glass. So possibly no difference when used as the fibre in a fibre optic cable. Edited March 13, 2021 by pwstereo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hung02 Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 (edited) I am a big fan of QED reference optical. for 140 aud on amazon , it is the best value for money digital cable. I just thought wow when i first listen to it. it make a BIG improvement in audio. it beats chords opticord or c-lite significately, which i also own. haven't compared it to supernova or other highend ones, though Edited July 29, 2021 by Hung02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiofeline Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 (edited) On 14/03/2021 at 3:41 AM, agisthos said: ...And finally DH LABS claims to be using proprietary glass fibers. Could be true, but we all know the marketing pages of cables companies love to pretend they have proprietary wire/shields/composites when they don't... Yes, but the name they give the cable certainly is proprietary! Edited July 29, 2021 by audiofeline Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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