QED Performance Optical Graphite vs. simple $10 KabelDirekt

[MetaLchesH]

I recently tried a very cheap toslink cable I found at home on my DAC. Although I used a high quality Neo by Oyaide brand USB cable, I was positively surprised by the sound I got from the cheap toslink cable.

Afterwards, I decided to buy an optical cable of higher quality and, if possible, made of glass.

QED Performance Optical Graphite 1.5 m

Do you think it makes any difference to connect PC to DAC with such a cable instead of USB? Or should I choose the $10 KableDirekt?

How do you think the two cables affect the sound quality? I'm curious about user reviews. Thanks.

 

[morpheusX]

No, cables do not affect the sound quality, no matter what the salesman will tell you.

Have a look at the cable analysis on this site:
- https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...audioquest-nrg-x3-review-ac-power-cord.32257/
- https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/belden-iconoclast-xlr-cable-review.33929/
- https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/nordost-tyr-2-review-usb-cable.31730/

Can you see a trend there?

Regarding the KableDirekt, i have one that i used a long time ago, and it seems well built, its an excellent option!

 

[MetaLchesH]

No, cables do not affect the sound quality, no matter what the salesman will tell you.

Have a look at the cable analysis on this site:
- https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...audioquest-nrg-x3-review-ac-power-cord.32257/
- https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/belden-iconoclast-xlr-cable-review.33929/
- https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/nordost-tyr-2-review-usb-cable.31730/

Can you see a trend there?

Regarding the KableDirekt, i have one that i used a long time ago, and it seems well built, its an excellent option!

Thank you very much for your reply. I checked above reviews.

"Save your money and buy more music with it." -Amirm.

I also believe that the cable quality will not make a big difference in the scenarios where we talk about transmission by light. But the cable industry is pretty proficient at persuading us with fancy phrases.

Better to stick with KableDirekt and save money to buy more earphones, DACs, Amps and music

 

[Dunring]

I've used Kabeldirect stuff for years and never had a problem or heard a difference to expensive ones. I just wish they made shorter ones for interconnects.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Now some DACs with USB and spdif coax and toslink will show more jitter with Toslink or coax. However, the jitter in all the measures I've seen Amir do here are well below any audibility threshold.

 

[Chester]

I’m no engineer but the scientist in me says given there is no electrical connection with an optical cable, so long as the light can be correctly received, cables can’t possibly sound any different.

Happy for someone more knowledgeable to correct me though.

 

[morpheusX]

"Save your money and buy more music with it." -Amirm.

Better to stick with KableDirekt and save money to buy more earphones, DACs, Amps and music

Its refreshing to see someone ask a cable question, and use the head to understand the science and discard the snake-oil marketing!
Kudos to you sir