I heard a sound difference between different optical Toslink cables!

[@cesargaray6137]

Phillips cables sounds ok Monster cables THX certified sounds bassy but lacks details Pearl AQ sounds crispy, clean and the dialogues perfect and very detailed, even some 3d details but lacks some bass. Thats all folks!

[@Justas-M]

Fair enough!

[@ChrisTaylor-dz6nk]

If got ag.on sale cheap 😅

[@BoomerUKEngland]

Some years ago i purchased a qed carbon optical toslink, it made the audio worse compared to my regular existing optical cable, i sent the qed back. I was amazed there would be any different. Since that time i have also discovered coax digital cables can also sound different.

[@Justas-M]

Absolutely, coax are even easier to justify that they can be different.

[@tmackn6592]

Lifatec rules them all! IMHO And I've tried most of the high dollar Toslink cables

[@Justas-M]

Thats what i am currently using. Lifatec silflex.

[@SirFreak]

I suspect any difference you think you might have heard is actually just a placebo effect. Unless a cable is faulty, there shouldn't be any difference in sound between those optical cables. That's because the signal is transferred digitally, not analog. The conversion from sound (digital) to light and back also happens outside of the cable. If you would do a null test, you'd see that there is actually no difference in the received audio from the different cables. The only way in which these cables will really differ is in build quality, so I definitely wouldn't waste any money on super expensive optical cables.

[@Justas-M]

Thank you, you saved me from unnecessary expenses!

[@Mario_Terzi]

@SirFreak All these people I would pay the doctor to have their 'hearing checked. So much for placebos!

[@Pete.across.the.street]

I did null tests and there are differences. No placebo

[@thinkIndependent2024]

​@@Pete.across.the.streetDefective cables or no quality control Pete Do U have any ability to test? I actually own $50k in various types of test equipment and 40 years of experience.

[@Pete.across.the.street]

@@thinkIndependent2024 your mother must be very proud of you. I have a Neumann KU 100 and pro tools. Play the same track with different cables. Line up the tracks in pro tools and flip the phase on one of the tracks. Then you hear only the differences, which are many if you have a good, properly setup system. If your system isn't resolving, isn't throwing a proper sound stage, or your hearing isn't that great, then cables won't make a difference.

[@kodithebear]

I've experienced this too! Cables 100% change the sound. I prefer mid range over the most expensive.

[@georgecav]

And that is the other myth, that more expensive and supposedly better cables will always be the ones you prefer. Not so as you say you prefer mid cables. Thats the big problem wirh asking salesmaen or influencers which is the best product. They are not you with your preferences and ears because some peoples hearing is vastly different even freuence response wise to others.

[@MrAxv]

thanks for an interesting and rare review of optical cables, very little information, very good result AudioQuest Diamond glass but it's expensive, спасибо 🙏

[@sureshlingabathina]

Excellent, subscribed.

[@MykeHawke-r9r]

Thank you for being brave and making this video even that everybody's going to say we are cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs

[@raymondchan3587]

Absolutely were difference. Coaxial also.

[@a-j6798]

Nice review! My comparison between QED Quartz Reference and AQ Vodka is slightly different. Vodka indeed sounds more natural and stage is bigger but QED has more details and therefore makes listening experience in a way more interesting compared to Vodka. Also in my setup Vodka is darker cable. So which in better...hard to say. I like them both.

[@Justas-M]

Very interesting! So your experience is similar in some aspects but different in a way. I ended up buying Lifatec Silflex after reading so many positive reviews on the web. It is very detailed and at first I thought it was defect as it revealed grain in high frequencies which I later fixed working on improving power supplies. I had an idea to compare it to Vodka but the plan did not materealise.

[@a-j6798]

@@Justas-M I put Lifatec Silflex on the list. I have DH Labs Glass Master coming soon. I let you know how it plays.

[@AG-zw1ce]

@@a-j6798 And how did the dh labs sound for you? do you also have the Lifatec - a comparison between glass master and lifatec would be very interesting

[@a-j6798]

@@AG-zw1ce To my surprise, Vodka has a bit more holographic soundstage and little bit darker tone than DH LABS glass master. In other words Vodka is smoother. So in my current setup Vodka was "better". That is not to say DH Labs is bad, not at all. DH Labs is more brighter in some way. It is more natural than QED though. I have not ordered Lifatec yet.

[@CarlVanDoren61]

❤ my optical vs coaxial 😊

[@Justas-M]

Same here, I am now using Lifatec Silflex, the best!

[@adam872]

The only way to know if there is any difference is to measure the output and compare. With optical there should be no difference at all if you overlay the waveforms. I

[@Justas-M]

I have no way to measure. But the difference was obvious.

[@adam872]

@@Justas-M this article, with measured results, may be of interest. I can't link to it directly, but punch this into Google: archimago Measurements: TosLink digital optical audio cables

[@q2forever778]

wow, for the first time I see such a short pinkie

[@KCsabi]

It's about light my brother, and the dac. The digital to analog conversion is not produced by a cable. External diameter is only coating that offers you some extra strenght, to not ruin with 90 degrees path.

[@Justas-M]

I think a lot can be explained by material qualities and vibration control.

[@simonzinc-trumpetharris852]

​@@Justas-Mjust how is a beam of light going to be affected by vibrations? It's like saying that radio waves get blown by the wind.

[@Justas-M]

​@@simonzinc-trumpetharris852 try to move a flashlight in the dark, you will see how "vibrations" impact the light.

[@GoldenEagle0007]

the mental gymnastics never ends 😅

[@Justas-M]

It will only end with life :)

[@GoldenEagle0007]

@@Justas-M 💯 😭

[@mikeprior8712]

Uh oh,here we go....

[@Justas-M]

Good morning, hello!

[@AllHandlesHaveBeenTaken]

Optical cables add nasty jitter and degrade music. A horrible interconnect. Use coax

[@Justas-M]

In my personal situation I find them more pleasing to the ear than Coax.

[@mden2490]

That's why you need to use a toslink/optical cable that is made of glass and not plastic. The glass made cables reduce jitter tremendously and offer better music quality.

[@a0r0a7]

If you understand fibre optic transmission you know this is nonsense. I worked in telecommunications with fibre, fibre is impervious to any issues related to copper cables. The only issue would be if damaged or connection is poor either end. It either works or does not work. Considering the ridiculously short fibre for a interconnect issues such as vibration are again nonsense.

[@Justas-M]

I understand your position and agree these points should not be an issue. I did not believe myself there could be a difference before starting this comparison. But you know what, I stopped looking for explanations in Audio a year or so ago. Everything is important to sound signature and seemingly impossible to explain at the same time.

[@a0r0a7]

@@Justas-M I would say your first cable was faulty, as for the rest unless you didn't know what was in place and you said to someone that now sounds different and they changed the fibre just before the test then I might believe you. Sadly how fibre tech works it will simply decode the light received. Analogue copper cables yes, these cables face induction, close proximity or radio waves etc.. If it works for you good 👍

[@Justas-M]

@@a0r0a7 faulty or not, my ultimate goal is to achieve satisfaction. The cable I have selected, provides me with that and I do not care for the physical underlying reasons. As mentioned previously, I stopped looking for explanations.

[@a0r0a7]

Like I said, good for you, enjoy👍

[@eamonnbrown7877]

Only a nutcase would pay those crazy prices for the so called high end cables, any well made optical cable around £7 to £15 is all you need.

[@Justas-M]

Thanks, that is a huge savings potential!

[@eamonnbrown7877]

@@Justas-M Sarcasm suits you.

[@rogerturner1881]

Amplifier with Optical output to CD player with optical input = better sounding than RCA TO RCA connection?

[@Justas-M]

It depends, cannot really know until you test both scenarios.

[@AhmadFauzi-pd2tb]

$400 and you said its natural , good sound stage , detail and whatever, Its garbage bro, imho You need at least a $20000 cable to translate the file into and acurate signal

[@Justas-M]

I think every comment counts for KZbin algorithm, so I will leave yours here, I do not have anything to reply... :D

[@nstadsnes]

placebo only,... you just cant.. its the same data signal... and light dont distort.. (maybe on a damaged fiber you can get some clipping)

[@thinkIndependent2024]

Is Pete across the Street Ronnie from NRD?

[@Justas-M]

@@thinkIndependent2024 every comment counts, thank you!

[@fuqui035]

My boss system came with the cable you call cheap worked fine

[@s2601d]

Audiophile detected

[@Justas-M]

Well done!

[@noelcostantino1308]

Total placebo effects it's impossible to heard in audio differrence with any Toshlink cables

[@Justas-M]

Thank you for your opinion!

[@CyrilleBoucanogh]

why do you think so? Are you deep into math and physics to think so? Did you do millions of tests to be so sure? Toslink (not Tosh) is a realtime high speed digital data conductor, so the accuracy of the data would depend on the quality of the connectors and fiber. Cheap optical cables would transmit better if the wire is laid straight. All digital cables vary the realtime signal.

[@Mario_Terzi]

@@CyrilleBoucanogh Exactly, very good answer!

[@laszlolenner7957]

🤣@@CyrilleBoucanogh

[@joestarkie5597]

You are incorrect. I am currently demoing we’d reference quartz and wireworld supernova 7 with a Accuphase dp450 . There are clear differences