Digital coax cables deliver a digital audio signal via electricity travelling
down a copper wire over a shielded 75-Ohm coaxial cable with 75 Ohm
RCA connectors used on both ends. Toslink (Optical) delivers a digital
audio signal via a red light beam over a fibre optic cable comprised of
many small strands of polished plastic specifically designed to transfer light.
In our opinion the performance difference between Digital coax and Toslink connections is negligible. The major difference will come from the quality
of your electronics, not the cable. For instance, if your CD player uses
superior quality components for its Coax digital audioconnection and
inferior components for its Toslink connection, then it only stands to reason
that the Digital coax would have better sound quality than the Toslink. The
difference in the cables physical characteristics is also something to look at.
A Digital coax cable is much sturdier; however, since it carries the digital signal
via electricity running down a conductor, it can transfer grounding
problems from one component to another, if they already exist. The Toslink cable is more fragile, if stepped on a Toslink cable can be crushed
and possibly destroyed. However, an optical connection is immune from
possible ground earth loops.
Once you have identified the type and length of cable that you require you will no doubt then have a range to choose from which will include different manufacturers and varying prices. We frequently get asked which is best and why are they different prices? These questions can be answered by considering that the cables will probably differ in the following ways;
Shielding. All signals are susceptible to electro-magnetic interference. This interference can be significantly reduced by surrounding the signal conductors with an interference blocking shield of metal. The best cables will have shielding around individual signal wires which is constructed to encase as much as possible of the conductors. Adding greater shielding to a cable adds to the cost of construction and materials. It will also make the cable less flexible, larger and heavier. The connectors of the cable should also be shielded. This is often achieved by using metal connector housings.
Conductors. The quality of the signal will be affected by the type and purity of the conductor material. Various versions of Oxygen Free Copper (OFC) are used, often displayed with a purity percentage. Some manufacturers also have developed hybrid conductor constructions or conductors coated with silver designed to optimise the signal path at certain frequencies.
Contacts. A good cable requires a good electrical contact with the piece of equipment with which it is interfacing. Gold plated contacts are often used to provide a solid contact with low resistance.
Flexibility. Flexibility of the cable is important as often the cables on equipment have to fit within a defined space. Inflexible cables can make positioning equipment difficult and will lead to increased forces on the connectors and equipment. Greater shielding often comes at the price of reduced flexibility, however, some manufacturers use hybrid construction techniques in order to deliver good shielding and flexible cables.
Durability. All cables will come under stresses and strains and abrasions therefore it is imperative that materials used and the construction be adequate for the purpose.
Most of the cables we sell do not have a choice of colour options. Please see the individual product pages for details of item.
