Optical cable length matter?

[Squishman]

I have a 35 ft optical cable. I no longer need the length. It was used for a Pure brand iPod dock. Now I have purchased a Teac CD player with a USB port for iPods with an optical output. Is there a difference in audio quality if I purchased a short cable? If not, I'll just coil up the long one and use it.

 

[Brettc]

It’s been my experience you either get a signal or not. I would say you’re good


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[viorelc]

The optical cable carries digital signal. It either works or it doesn’t, the only degradation could be signal loss. Quality (of the signal that made it) would be the same.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Brettc]

They do make optical cleaners ? So I guess you could have a dirty signal ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[R.Elder]

I’m thinking it’s fine since it’s a digital transport. Fiber optic cable has to get pretty long before real light degradation kicks in AFAIK.

 

[Squishman]

Well good to know! Thx.

 

[highfigh]

Don't kink it, pull too hard, or coil the excess too tightly.

 

[Squishman]

Don't kink it, pull too hard, or coil the excess too tightly.

Roger. thx!

 

[Squishman]

I may play The Kinks though!

 

[JerryLove]

There's a loss in light strength over distance (I believe this is in db?). If the signal gets too dim for the receiver to interpret it then you will get damaged sound or none at all. Prior to this point, the sound will be perfect.

A damaged cable will have a similar effect.

The signal is digital. It has a tendency to be perfect or indecipherable with the in-betweens being very edge cases.