Optical Cable

[dinkeye]

Where should I get an optical cable. They are a rip off (like $50 or more) in big box stores. I am also in Canada which limits this. So where is the best place to get a decent cable for a decent price. Thanks guys.

 

[Sheep]

Where should I get an optical cable. They are a rip off (like $50 or more) in big box stores. I am also in Canada which limits this. So where is the best place to get a decent cable for a decent price. Thanks guys.

If you can wait, and wouldn't mind paying shipping charges, the optical cables from dayton on Parts Express would be a great buy.

This one (remove space)

http://www.parts express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=180-945

Is all you will ever need.

SheepStar

 

[nibhaz]

Do have Radio Shacks up there in Canada? You should be able to find optical cables starting around 15 dollars.

 

[GlocksRock]

find someone on ebay who sells them and ships to canada. Even though they are generic no name cables, they work great, I've bought them before and had no trouble.

 

[Sheep]

Do have Radio Shacks up there in Canada? You should be able to find optical cables starting around 15 dollars.

We have "The Source's". All their cables are $29 or higher. I already checked.

SheepStar

 

[bobbydigital]

Walmart can't get much cheaper

 

[markw]

Where should I get an optical cable. They are a rip off (like $50 or more) in big box stores. I am also in Canada which limits this. So where is the best place to get a decent cable for a decent price. Thanks guys.

I take it coaxial isn't an option?

 

[dinkeye]

I prefer an optical connection versus coax.
I don't know why, is one better than the other?

 

[Francious70]

Not really.

 

[j_garcia]

I prefer coax to optical whenever possible. Far less likely that it will accidentally be knocked off due to a more solid connection with coax. I've had two installs that both called a day or two later complaining that they had lost their sound and both times it turned out to be the optical cable simply falling out of the cable box and satellite box. I've never had a problem with the cables falling out myself, I just prefer coax.

 

[patnshan]

I prefer an optical connection versus coax.
I don't know why, is one better than the other?

There are multiple articles discussing how sound quality is the same between digital coax and optical. I use coax for durability and because I got them for like $10 each on ebay. Works fine. Tried my buddy's optical and cannot tell the difference.

Pat

 

[Hi Ho]

I just optical and, if anything, the optical connectors are held on tighter than coax. If I turn my receiver around the optical cables stay tight but the coax cables easily slip off. There's no difference in sound but optical is more interesting with it's red light.

 

[Johnny Canuck]

I have tried both. With my Denon 3805 and 2910, i found the optical considerably better as the surround was wider compared to more forward with coaxial. Just what i heard. And I agree, the optical cable is a better connection. it does not come out unless you really pull it out. It "clicks" in, it does not just push in like a coaxial cable, therefore the suggestion that coaxial is a better connection is false..

I have a Monster optical cable (very good, but bought before I was educated) and tried the Bluejean optical cable.

I did not notice any difference on the cable box between the two but did notice a difference with my DVD player.

 

[rschleicher]

I think I paid 13 or 14 dollars (US) at Target for an optical cable made by GE. Works fine, although it does pull out easily from the back of both the receiver and my DVD player.

I have an optical link from my DVD player, but a coax cable from my HDTV cable box. That's just how the default inputs happened to be set-up/named on my receiver (a Yamaha).

 

[Hi Ho]

I have tried both. With my Denon 3805 and 2910, i found the optical considerably better as the surround was wider compared to more forward with coaxial. Just what i heard. And I agree, the optical cable is a better connection. it does not come out unless you really pull it out. It "clicks" in, it does not just push in like a coaxial cable, therefore the suggestion that coaxial is a better connection is false..

I'm not going to argue with you about what you heard but I'll bet it's really your mind playing tricks on you.

When a coax or optical cable is sending a Dolby Digital or DTS signal, they cannot alter the signal in the manner that you describe. It just can't happen. DD/DTS is a stream of bits that are decoded by the receiver. If the stream gets to the receiver, you will have sound and it will be the same whether you're using a coax or optical cable.

 

[Sheep]

I'm not going to argue with you about what you heard but I'll bet it's really your mind playing tricks on you.

When a coax or optical cable is sending a Dolby Digital or DTS signal, they cannot alter the signal in the manner that you describe. It just can't happen. DD/DTS is a stream of bits that are decoded by the receiver. If the stream gets to the receiver, you will have sound and it will be the same whether you're using a coax or optical cable.

Yep, the mind works in misterious ways. I though banana plugs made a difference. Boy, how stupid was I!

SheepStar

 

[Hi Ho]

Yep, the mind works in misterious ways. I though banana plugs made a difference. Boy, how stupid was I!

Not stupid, just wishfull. The brain *thinks* it is hearing/seeing a difference and therefore you do. If you spend a lot of money on something you want to notice a difference. If there is none, your brain makes one.

Once I *thought* I heard a difference when I put larger guage wire on my center speaker in an attempt to alieviate sibilance (at the recommendation of someont). I later figured out that it didn't do squat but at the time I sure thought it did. I didn't spend any money on it either.

 

[Takeereasy]

I use digital coax simply because they are cheaper. I've read that for really long runs optical has the advantage but that isn't a concern for myself at the moment. I have used both optical and coax in the past and I haven't noticed a difference in either. The connection made with coax cables has been super tight in all cases in my experence, and I've only ever had one loose optical and that was a cable I got for $6.

 

[markw]

I prefer an optical connection versus coax.

Not a problem. I prefer vanilla to chocolate ice cream myself. That doesn't imply either is "better"

...is one better than the other?

Performance wise in real world situations, no. For long runs with high levels of RFI/EMI, which is not a typical environment for home use, optical may have an advantage.

And, virtually any cheap interconnect with RCA cables will work well as a digital connection. You might be surprised at the money you can save with no sacrifice in quality.

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Probably right. I think lots of this talk on speaker cables and wires is all psychological.