Toslink vs. Coaxial


Need some help please.
I'm fairly new in the sceene, and I'm wondering if I use a toslink to connect my C.D. player (onkyo integra) to my D/A converter (Adcom GDA-700) will I loose alot of signal??
Or is the difference between toslink and coax. minimal??
and is their a toslink thats as good as a coaxial.???
Thanks in advance.
hasaw

Showing 1 response by sean

The superiority of one format ( coax ) over the other ( toslink ) is all equipment dependent. Under most circumstances, the coaxial SHOULD fare better due to having to go through two less converters. Using the coax, the digital signal from the transport remains digital and is fed directly into the digital to analogue converter. Using the Toslink, the transport must convert the digital signal into an optical signal and feed the Toslink cable. This in turn feeds the input of the external DAC which converts the optical signal back into a digital signal. More work and and a longer signal path typicall results in degradation of signal and resolution. This is not to say that the Toslink won't work okay, but you do have the opportunity for greater loss or increased colouration of the signal. Sean
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