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Toslink Survey / Please Participate

Digital interconnection, IMHO, has always held many myths.

When I first began delving into outboard D/As, jitterbugs, and transport combinations, very few component manufacturers (for some stupid reason) were actually providing coax RCAs (75ohm SPDIF). Interconnection, in many cases, was acheived through the use of Toslink.

Now most of here already know that I am quite an extreme advocator of balanced interconnection including, digital signal. I personally use AES/EBU on XLRs for my 2 channel system.

Out of necessity, I have had to hook up my home theater DVD player to HT receiver using the Toslink (Denon DVD 5000/Denon 3300). And after listening for an extended period of time, I have to ask, (because I obviously must be forgetting),....... Why was Toslink so bad? Why do many people say it sounds like crap?

The system sounds fine. Very natural and "undigital". I won't mention the Toslink cable manufacturer, but it is glass, and the cable costs $39.95. No "Break-in". No "cryo" no crap, just hook it up and go.

When you think about it, many issues associated with interconnection are negated. Balanced????? No Need. RFI, EMI ????? Trivial. Impedance mismatch????? None. Adverse environmental conditions????? Irrelevant. Overall, a very easy, inexpensive, and sonically acceptable interconnection. I don't know about 2 channel usage, but if this any indication, I'm sure it would yield acceptable results?

Can anyone comment? Is anyone still using it for 2 channel? Even if just out of necessity, or otherwise. Does anyone find Toslink unacceptable?

128x128buscis2

Showing 3 responses by buscis2

buscis2's avatar
buscis2 OP
468 posts
 
I agree with all you guys. If I had my choice, I would have NOTHING but 75 ohm RCAs. (If I could have EVERYTHING, I would prefer those TRUE balanced.) Unfortunately, many major manufacturers utilize Toslink. For instance: This particular Denon receiver has 2 Toslink inputs, 1 RCA. Obviously, I would of preferred 3 RCAs. But, Oh Well.

Ultimately, I have been experimenting with "throughputting" the DMX music signal originating from a Motorola cable box, (provided by Adelphia cable) through the wonderful Burr-Brown dacs contained within the Denon DVD5000. Then running analog out to the receiver, where I then bypass the DSPs by running the receiver in the "direct stereo" mode. I am using Toslink between the cable box and the digital input on the DVD player.

Quite frankly, it sounds great. I really cannot find anything derogatory to mention. It provides an excellent source of background music. I would probably guess that the signal is somewhat compressed, but you would never know after running it through the 24/96 Burr-Browns.
buscis2's avatar
buscis2 OP
468 posts
 
Also, Has anyone used that optical "goop" that is applied on the ends? Did it yield different results?
buscis2's avatar
buscis2 OP
468 posts
 
Prpixel. I agree. That's why I had mentioned a compression issue somewhere. Although some years back I was using (for my 2 channel system) A Sony CDP-555ES as a transport into all kinds of crazy digital processing. This Sony was a flagship CD player in the same league as the Denon. Separate power supplies, chassis dampening, 35 pounds, composite feet, I mean, it was a brute. BUT, Toslink out ONLY! Go figure. Ultimately, for it's time, it was considered reference quality and it sounded great, again, for it's time. But no RCA.

I think you might be surprised at how great this combination actually sounds. I would have to assume that using the Toslink out of the Denon DVD into the HT receiver might be a more accurate indication of it's sonic potential? I'll let you know.

Sorry to hear about your bad experiences with the Denon. I know of several of us using them without issue. Obviously, your unit was built on Friday, 10 minutes before closing the plant for the weekend. :>(
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