Optical connectors

[Ferretfancy]

Just a small query. My Meridian sound controller and CD player has a choice of standard digital connection from the player, or optical. I have always used the standard cable connection, but I sometimes wonder whether optical would be superior, or too similar to worry about. I should say that I'm happy with the system, but the option is there, should I try it?

[Frances_iom]

Just a small query. My Meridian sound controller and CD player has a choice of standard digital connection from the player, or optical. ..

Optical has the advantage of no shared earth link - can reduce hum and mains borne noise on some systems tho depends on your equipment - my preferred choice if possible - try it and listen

[jayne lee wilson]

Just a small query. My Meridian sound controller and CD player has a choice of standard digital connection from the player, or optical. I have always used the standard cable connection, but I sometimes wonder whether optical would be superior, or too similar to worry about. I should say that I'm happy with the system, but the option is there, should I try it?

When you say "standard" digital connection, d'you mean coax? For various reasons, these often sounded superior in the past - the connection is often more secure than optical, but with the rise in computer sources designers tend to ensure they're pretty equal now. Just choose by listening, but be aware that cheap plastic optics often perform badly; get a glass fibre cable if you can (one or two come with jack connectors for the computer output). From a computer source optical may well be best since computers can be electrically noisy environments, unlike well-designed CD Transports.

Beyond all this, on the T&A DAC 8 I've found the locking BNC connection superior-sounding to RCA; I've never used XLR (AES/EBU on Dacs) but again, they're simply better, firmer connections: use them if you can.

As ever, trust your ears; but go for the most secure connection available - by default.

[Ferretfancy]

When you say "standard" digital connection, d'you mean coax? For various reasons, these often sounded superior in the past - the connection is often more secure than optical, but with the rise in computer sources designers tend to ensure they're pretty equal now. Just choose by listening, but be aware that cheap plastic optics often perform badly; get a glass fibre cable if you can (one or two come with jack connectors for the computer output). From a computer source optical may well be best since computers can be electrically noisy environments, unlike well-designed CD Transports.

Beyond all this, on the T&A DAC 8 I've found the locking BNC connection superior-sounding to RCA; I've never used XLR (AES/EBU on Dacs) but again, they're simply better, firmer connections: use them if you can.

As ever, trust your ears; but go for the most secure connection available - by default.

Thanks for that info, my present connection is high quality 75 ohm co-ax. As it is, I have no problem with hum or noise, the system is very good at eliminating that. As the controller handles everything in digital mode, my analogue sources such as FM are all digitally converted in the system and everything from there on is digital up to the DACs and amps in the speakers. I suppose it's the thought that there might be an improvement in sound using an optical cable from the CD to the controller input. Perhaps I'll invest in a good one and suck it and see as you suggest.

I don't really need to feed my computer output into the system, as I'm not interested in downloads etc.

[David-G]

Thanks for that info, my present connection is high quality 75 ohm co-ax. As it is, I have no problem with hum or noise, the system is very good at eliminating that. As the controller handles everything in digital mode, my analogue sources such as FM are all digitally converted in the system and everything from there on is digital up to the DACs and amps in the speakers. I suppose it's the thought that there might be an improvement in sound using an optical cable from the CD to the controller input. Perhaps I'll invest in a good one and suck it and see as you suggest

Excuse my ignorance here - and also please excuse the irrelevance of this question to the topic in hand - but is it usual to convert analogue to digital and then back in this way? I would have thought that some degradation in quality would be implied.

[Ferretfancy]

Excuse my ignorance here - and also please excuse the irrelevance of this question to the topic in hand - but is it usual to convert analogue to digital and then back in this way? I would have thought that some degradation in quality would be implied.

You might think that, but I've never had a problem with the system, perhaps Meridian are rather clever at avoiding losses in the design. It would not have paid them to put a digital system on the market without providing for analogue sources. As it is, once the analogue to digital conversion has been applied to the source, whether it's FM, vinyl or whatever, everything stays in the digital mode until it reaches the loudspeakers. I suspect that shortcomings might be more likely in an all analogue system, especially where speaker matching is concerned, many people use amplifiers and speakers which do not suit each other, not to mention variations in room acoustics. My old Quad / KEf system suffered in this regard, although it might have been fine if located elsewhere.

We can never get it right, can we? Except by buying a concert ticket!

Happy Easter !

Ferret

[Dave2002]

We can never get it right, can we? Except by buying a concert ticket!

Even then not always! One fine concert I went to recently was somewhat ruined for me by a strange whistling noise, which I supect was due to a hearing aid. Wasn't close, either - probably 20 or more feet away. Either everyone else near me was also deaf, so could not hear it, or needlessly "polite" and simply tolerated the intrusion.

[Ferretfancy]

Even then not always! One fine concert I went to recently was somewhat ruined for me by a strange whistling noise, which I supect was due to a hearing aid. Wasn't close, either - probably 20 or more feet away. Either everyone else near me was also deaf, so could not hear it, or needlessly "polite" and simply tolerated the intrusion.

Of course Dave, perhaps they should have shone their mobile phones and tablets on the offender while tweeting their irritation!

[Dave2002]

Ferret

I think if you're prepared to try optical you can make up your own mind. I've tried both - I agree that plastic optical is not so good - but I haven't been able to tell the difference reliably between coax and optical. Some claim that there are reflections in optical cables which can affect the sound - though for that to happen it would surely have to upset the digital detection of the DAC. I have seen diagrams showing some effects on the digital signal - but again - does it really matter? I think there can be slight differences depending on how the clocking is done at the DAC - and there may be jitter introduced which some may notice.

I have not been tempted to try very expensive cables, either coax or optical, in the hope of detecting a very small difference. Some say it's worth it, but although some may be genuine and serious, some may also belong to the "paint green ink" round your CD edges brigade.

If you try it for yourself, do let us know if you can hear any differences. I have heard differences in analogue cables, but digital .... no.

[Ariosto]

Oh dear, it should have been green ink and I've been using red!

[Ferretfancy]

Ferret

I think if you're prepared to try optical you can make up your own mind. I've tried both - I agree that plastic optical is not so good - but I haven't been able to tell the difference reliably between coax and optical. Some claim that there are reflections in optical cables which can affect the sound - though for that to happen it would surely have to upset the digital detection of the DAC. I have seen diagrams showing some effects on the digital signal - but again - does it really matter? I think there can be slight differences depending on how the clocking is done at the DAC - and there may be jitter introduced which some may notice.

I have not been tempted to try very expensive cables, either coax or optical, in the hope of detecting a very small difference. Some say it's worth it, but although some may be genuine and serious, some may also belong to the "paint green ink" round your CD edges brigade.

If you try it for yourself, do let us know if you can hear any differences. I have heard differences in analogue cables, but digital .... no.

A colleague of mine years ago had a friend called Blu Tack, so named because he used to stick it all over the furniture in the belief that it improved the sound. He also got very upset if there was a phone in the room!

At about the time that the speaker cable manufacturers were all over the hi-fi magazines, a group of BBC engineers invited a number of companies to give a demonstration and submit to a carefully designed double blind test. They all refused the invitation.

[Thropplenoggin]

This makes for an interesting read on the thorny issue of interconnects, cables, etc.: http://www.audioholics.com/gadget-re...-interconnects

I keep reading that Van Damme's basic and affordable UP-LCOFC copper wire works as well as any. Does gauge make a difference? 2.5mm vs 4mm? If so, would I even hear it? That's always my question with these audiophile elements. Given how many factors are in the chain- CD recording, CD Player, Amp, Speaker - would I even hear the difference of this or that cable?

I would argue, however, that many things don't pass double-blind tests, such as wine connoiseurship, where famed tasters can't tell the difference between cheap plonk and vintage wines blind (there's an article on this somewhere? New Yorker?) ... the fact is, humans are influenced by such things (labels, knowing something's expensive, etc.)...surely this will have an impact on what we hear/taste/etc. in the same way sugar pills prescribed by a doctor have an impact on the way we feel, if we think it's medicine (placebo effect).

[Ariosto]

See my comments on the thread called "Orchestre National de France Thursday 17th April" where I call into question some of the B/S being promoted about listening "quality" especially by one young lady.

[Dave2002]

I like the mains conditioners which don't have much in them, other than "high quality mains wire". Replace the power lead for your audio devices - at £xxx per metre, and just listen to the improvement!

I once questioned someone about this, and suggested that the much longer lengths of mains cable behind the plaster/plaster board would be far more significant, but ...

OTOH, I've heard that fairly cheap mains wire can be used as loudspeaker cable to good effect.

I've mentioned before that one of the problems that the makers of esoteric cables have is that they have difficulty getting the virgins these days.

[jayne lee wilson]

See my comments on the thread called "Orchestre National de France Thursday 17th April" where I call into question some of the B/S being promoted about listening "quality" especially by one young lady.

On the ONF thread, I just suggested you were "sexist under the skin", Ariosto - well, just edit out the "under the skin", bit... "deeply" might be a better fit.

Right. Back to Sky Sports 1. My time will be FAR better spent...