Best buy Toslink?
 

On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 15:50:21 -0000, Jim H
wrote:

What are the differences in terms of construction between a posh cable and a
cheap one? Even the cheapest fibre optics are *amazingly* pure glass, it'd be
hard to imagine how anyone can improve on it.

No, they're not, almost all Toslink cables are plastic. It's usually
only the high-speed AT&T links that use quartz monomode fibres.

Btw, I'm pretty sure if you can tell the difference under controlled conditions
there's a large cash prize up for grabs. If you are sure you can hear the
difference might be worth a try.

That's really for conventional cables, but I'd be happy to extend it
to Toslinks, especially with all the ******** about 'cleaner highs'
that's been spouted!
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

Best buy Toslink?
 

"Stewart Pinkerton" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 15:50:21 -0000, Jim H
wrote:

What are the differences in terms of construction between a posh cable
and a
cheap one? Even the cheapest fibre optics are *amazingly* pure glass,
it'd be
hard to imagine how anyone can improve on it.

No, they're not, almost all Toslink cables are plastic. It's usually
only the high-speed AT&T links that use quartz monomode fibres.

Btw, I'm pretty sure if you can tell the difference under controlled
conditions
there's a large cash prize up for grabs. If you are sure you can hear the
difference might be worth a try.

That's really for conventional cables, but I'd be happy to extend it
to Toslinks, especially with all the ******** about 'cleaner highs'
that's been spouted!
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering


Stewart,

Thanks for your two-penny-worth.

The problem I see with anyone who wants to pay a reward is that what we need
is a third party whop doesn't know the difference between any two products
under comparison.

That's because you are probably already smitten with the idea that most
cables sound the same.
While I think that they can make a system sound different.

Neither of us might be willing to actually "give in" our views even if it
was demonstrated that either of us was wrong.

So a third party it has to be.

But then who do we get?

Someone who knows about music and sound or a complete pleb who doesn't know
the difference between A minor and D flat?

So as much as I'd like to take up your kind offer, I don't think it's
workable.

Thomas

Best buy Toslink?
 

"Stewart Pinkerton" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 15:50:21 -0000, Jim H
wrote:

What are the differences in terms of construction between a posh cable
and a
cheap one? Even the cheapest fibre optics are *amazingly* pure glass,
it'd be
hard to imagine how anyone can improve on it.

No, they're not, almost all Toslink cables are plastic. It's usually
only the high-speed AT&T links that use quartz monomode fibres.

Btw, I'm pretty sure if you can tell the difference under controlled
conditions
there's a large cash prize up for grabs. If you are sure you can hear the
difference might be worth a try.

That's really for conventional cables, but I'd be happy to extend it
to Toslinks, especially with all the ******** about 'cleaner highs'
that's been spouted!
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering


Stewart,

Thanks for your two-penny-worth.

The problem I see with anyone who wants to pay a reward is that what we need
is a third party whop doesn't know the difference between any two products
under comparison.

That's because you are probably already smitten with the idea that most
cables sound the same.
While I think that they can make a system sound different.

Neither of us might be willing to actually "give in" our views even if it
was demonstrated that either of us was wrong.

So a third party it has to be.

But then who do we get?

Someone who knows about music and sound or a complete pleb who doesn't know
the difference between A minor and D flat?

So as much as I'd like to take up your kind offer, I don't think it's
workable.

Thomas

Best buy Toslink?
 

"Ian Molton" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 10:44:24 GMT
"This works now" wrote:

Does the fact that opinions are maybe 10:1 against an expensive
cable making any difference whatsoever suggest anything to you?

Yup, some people have cloth ears ...!
Or maybe some people don't take it seriously enough?
Or they haven't got a clue what they are listening for?
Or lots of other reasons....!

You do realise the bandwidth of TOSlink is FAR *FAR* below the
capability of the fibre it uses? heck, you could probably get it to work
with no fibre at all if you put the devices back-to-back. Are you going
to suggest that air has *remotely* similar optical properties to 3
metres of glass?

Whatever happened to free speech - instead you get put down for
voicing an opinion, by people who don't even know you?

you didnt get put down for speaking, you got put down for being a dork
;-)



No, Ian,

I seem to be "put down" for expressing an opinion that many other newsgroup
readers do not agree with. That's not to say I am wrong (or right for that
matter). At the very least people should use their own ears to decide for
themselves, instead of having people hounded out of newsgroups because what
has been said isn't the "common" view.

(Wars were fought for because of people not agreeing to "minority" views).

And if you want to call me a dork, fine - if that helps you.

But at least I can spell on my website...!

(See "....oten...." topical )

Oops !

Thomas

Best buy Toslink?
 

"Ian Molton" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 10:44:24 GMT
"This works now" wrote:

Does the fact that opinions are maybe 10:1 against an expensive
cable making any difference whatsoever suggest anything to you?

Yup, some people have cloth ears ...!
Or maybe some people don't take it seriously enough?
Or they haven't got a clue what they are listening for?
Or lots of other reasons....!

You do realise the bandwidth of TOSlink is FAR *FAR* below the
capability of the fibre it uses? heck, you could probably get it to work
with no fibre at all if you put the devices back-to-back. Are you going
to suggest that air has *remotely* similar optical properties to 3
metres of glass?

Whatever happened to free speech - instead you get put down for
voicing an opinion, by people who don't even know you?

you didnt get put down for speaking, you got put down for being a dork
;-)



No, Ian,

I seem to be "put down" for expressing an opinion that many other newsgroup
readers do not agree with. That's not to say I am wrong (or right for that
matter). At the very least people should use their own ears to decide for
themselves, instead of having people hounded out of newsgroups because what
has been said isn't the "common" view.

(Wars were fought for because of people not agreeing to "minority" views).

And if you want to call me a dork, fine - if that helps you.

But at least I can spell on my website...!

(See "....oten...." topical )

Oops !

Thomas

Best buy Toslink?
 

"Ian Molton" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 10:44:24 GMT
"This works now" wrote:


You do realise the bandwidth of TOSlink is FAR *FAR* below the
capability of the fibre it uses? heck, you could probably get it to work
with no fibre at all if you put the devices back-to-back. Are you going
to suggest that air has *remotely* similar optical properties to 3
metres of glass?


Ian

Are we going to get trapped in the scientific numbers game that because a
particular number is too high or too low, then it must be "right" or
"wrong".


Fact is: You've (hopefully) used your ears and brain and decided that all
TosLink cables sound the same. I did the same, maybe with other products,
and came up with a different result.

Leave it at that and be grateful !!

Thomas

Best buy Toslink?
 

"Ian Molton" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 10:44:24 GMT
"This works now" wrote:


You do realise the bandwidth of TOSlink is FAR *FAR* below the
capability of the fibre it uses? heck, you could probably get it to work
with no fibre at all if you put the devices back-to-back. Are you going
to suggest that air has *remotely* similar optical properties to 3
metres of glass?


Ian

Are we going to get trapped in the scientific numbers game that because a
particular number is too high or too low, then it must be "right" or
"wrong".


Fact is: You've (hopefully) used your ears and brain and decided that all
TosLink cables sound the same. I did the same, maybe with other products,
and came up with a different result.

Leave it at that and be grateful !!

Thomas

Best buy Toslink?
 

Hi,

In message , Jim H
writes
What are the differences in terms of construction between a posh cable
and a
cheap one? Even the cheapest fibre optics are *amazingly* pure glass,
it'd be
hard to imagine how anyone can improve on it.

Actually, I think that even most posh ones are plastic, but I'd be happy
to be proven wrong.

Btw, I'm pretty sure if you can tell the difference under controlled
conditions
there's a large cash prize up for grabs. If you are sure you can hear the
difference might be worth a try.

I won't be trying. While really bad components can increase jitter
generation in separating clock from data in the receiver, decently made
plastic is plenty good enough for me, thanks :-)

FWIW, I'm using the freebie that came with my minidisc recorder, and
none of the others I've tried made any detectable difference.

--
Regards,
Glenn Booth

Best buy Toslink?
 

Hi,

In message , Jim H
writes
What are the differences in terms of construction between a posh cable
and a
cheap one? Even the cheapest fibre optics are *amazingly* pure glass,
it'd be
hard to imagine how anyone can improve on it.

Actually, I think that even most posh ones are plastic, but I'd be happy
to be proven wrong.

Btw, I'm pretty sure if you can tell the difference under controlled
conditions
there's a large cash prize up for grabs. If you are sure you can hear the
difference might be worth a try.

I won't be trying. While really bad components can increase jitter
generation in separating clock from data in the receiver, decently made
plastic is plenty good enough for me, thanks :-)

FWIW, I'm using the freebie that came with my minidisc recorder, and
none of the others I've tried made any detectable difference.

--
Regards,
Glenn Booth

Best buy Toslink?
 

Hi,

In message , Stimpy
writes
This works now wrote:

Does the fact that opinions are maybe 10:1 against an expensive cable
making any difference whatsoever suggest anything to you?

Yup, some people have cloth ears ...!
Or maybe some people don't take it seriously enough?
Or they haven't got a clue what they are listening for?
Or lots of other reasons....!

I have some snake oil here you might be interested in purchasing ;-)

Yeah, it would be a great lubricant for this bridge I've got up for
sale...

--
Regards,
Glenn Booth