Really long optical cable yay or nay?

[Gidorra]

Are there any issues running like a 7 meters optical cable? This is intended as a one-off, as a DJ buddy wants to bring his decks around, and we want to seat him by the table, while the stereo is across the room. This is meant to plug into the DAC from whatever he has. Cheers.

 

[Apesbrain]

From what I see online, optical S/PDIF is expected to work at lengths up to 10 meters so you should be fine. Avoid any sharp bends in the cable.

 

[MoreWatts]

I used a 20-footer for years with no issues.

 

[DVDdoug]

I'd give it a try!

Wikipedia says:

TOSLINK cables are usually limited to 5 meters in length, with a technical maximum of 10 meters, for reliable transmission without the use of a signal booster or a repeater. However, it is very common for interfaces on newer consumer electronics (satellite receivers and PCs with optical outputs) to easily run over 30 meters on even low-cost (0.82 USD/m 2009) TOSLINK cables.

Fiber optic cables go across oceans! I assume there are boosters/repeaters but certainly not every 10 meters (and it's a different technology).

P.S.
In case you don't know, digital doesn't degrade gradually like analog sometimes does. If there is a problem it won't work at all, or the audio will cut-out, or you'll get nasty clicks & pops, etc. If it works, don't obsess over "sound quality".

 

[respice finem]

I got 7,5 m, works. But quality of Toslink cables may be a lottery.
Sometimes the less "fancy" pro-like ones are better for 3+ m.

deleyCON 7,5m optyczny cyfrowy kabel audio - S/PDIF - 2x złącze Toslink - kabel światłowodowy metalowe złącze 5mm elastyczny - biały : Amazon.pl: Elektronika

deleyCON 7,5m optyczny cyfrowy kabel audio - S/PDIF - 2x złącze Toslink - kabel światłowodowy metalowe złącze 5mm elastyczny - biały : Amazon.pl: Elektronika

www.amazon.pl

This is mine, I see they're sold in 10 m length too

 

[Audio Science Pal]

One of my optical cables is 15 meters long.

 

[Devnull]

Like respice said you might want to look for a "pro" cable. If it's running across the room it's going to get stepped on or tripped over. Maybe not a full blown armored cable but something that can take the abuse and that doesn't get destroyed when the gaffers tape gets pulled off it.

 

[respice finem]

BTW: Toslink cables may tolerate stepping on them, but no sharp bending.

 

[MRC01]

I have had success with a 30 foot long cable. At these longer lengths, the difference between plastic (POF) and glass may become important. Glass typically has lower loss but less flexibility.

I've seen strange behavior with toslink, like audio that has intermittent glitching (which can be subtle or obvious). The same cable that works fine between devices A and B, glitches with devices A and C. Or when it glitches between A and B, insert another device between them (like a repeater or switcher) and the glitches go away. Or the opposite. Problems can arise that are not obviously a single device or cable, but specific to combinations of devices & cables.

 

[Lambda]

It always depends on the particular Sender and receiver... Butt that said i have used it over long distances without problems and there was always a lot of headroom since it also worked fine if the callable is only halve inserted and therefore a lot of light was lost as well as ambient light spilled in.

So in my Experience it is way way more rugged then the spec says.
Give it a try Toslink plastic fiber is dirt cheap.