Optical vs. Coaxial inputs Stealth DC-1

[clearear]

Which input gives you better sound when the DC-1 is hooked up to a cd player? Does anyone hear a difference?

[celing]

Only you can pretty much answer that, switch back and forth and see if you can tell a difference, I myself prefer coax, the optical outputs on some of my equipment are sub standard, plus depending on your source, it may be restricted to 24/48 (copy protection protocols)
I actually just ordered a coax --> BNC cable to utilize the extra input on the DC-1 for my CD player, and then using the analog out for my Pre-emphasis cd's 

[LCSeminole]

Using both the optical and coaxial outputs from an ERC-2 to the DC-1, I heard no difference.

[knucklehead]

Its the same digital information regardless of which cable you use. I've read that some people have problems with a ground loop problem with coax that goes away when they use the optical cable. I've never experienced ground loop problems with coax and like LC I don't hear any difference.

[garbulky]

The sound is very very similar. I have the ability to listen to it two ways.

1. I have the DC-1 using BNC connection using a coax rca cable coming from my Sony blu ray. (The adapter used is passive and doesn't alter the signal.

2. I also have my blu ray player outputting via HDMI to the TV which eventually makes its way using an optical converter to optical in on the DC-1. However the signal is resampled to 48k hz. Between these two the sound is similar. But the Coax connection is preferred. It feels a bit more "real". But nothing I can point to.

[AudioHTIT]

I like coax because it's a more positive connection and one less conversion, but generally I have more TOSLink and have never heard a difference between the two. Coax is stronger, TOSLink more flexible. I only wish the DC-1 had a second TOSLink input.

[geebo]

Jun 15, 2016 6:36:36 GMT -5 AudioHTIT said:

I like coax because it's a more positive connection and one less conversion, but generally I have more TOSLink and have never heard a difference between the two. Coax is stronger, TOSLink more flexible. I only wish the DC-1 had a second TOSLink input.

+1. I have never been able to tell a difference either but do prefer the coax for a positive connection that's also easier to make in cramped areas.

[garbulky]

Jun 15, 2016 6:36:36 GMT -5 AudioHTIT said:

I like coax because it's a more positive connection and one less conversion, but generally I have more TOSLink and have never heard a difference between the two. Coax is stronger, TOSLink more flexible. I only wish the DC-1 had a second TOSLink input.

I have added a second coax input by using the BNC input and a cheap adapter.
There are also optical to coax and coax to optical converters that are about $15. They do resample things to 48khz.

[Chuck Elliot]

I've switched between Coax and TosLink a couple of dozen times over the last few years.

I can detect Zero difference between the two!

[KeithL]

In theory, if you hear any difference, it would be because one or the other input has more jitter.
(So, whether one or the other is better would depend on how much jitter there is on each output of your source device.)

However, also in theory, if you have the ASRC turned on, it will remove all the jitter from both inputs.
(So, with the ASRc turned on, there should be no difference between the inputs.)

[KeithL]

There are also more expensive converters that support higher sample rates.
The most annoying thing about converters is that, since neither Toslink or Coax carries power, they need to be powered.

Also note that I have seen passive Toslink switches and splitters; and some splitters claim that you can use them to combine two devices to a single input (as long as only one of the two devices is powered on at any given time).
(I haven't ever tried one, and the very idea is a bit dubious, but they might work, they only cost a few bucks, and they aren't going to physically hurt anything.)

Jun 15, 2016 9:25:30 GMT -5 garbulky said:

Jun 15, 2016 6:36:36 GMT -5 AudioHTIT said:

I like coax because it's a more positive connection and one less conversion, but generally I have more TOSLink and have never heard a difference between the two. Coax is stronger, TOSLink more flexible. I only wish the DC-1 had a second TOSLink input.

I have added a second coax input by using the BNC input and a cheap adapter.
There are also optical to coax and coax to optical converters that are about $15. They do resample things to 48khz.

[clearear]

I decided to go with coaxial paired with the cdp. This way I can use the optical with the tv (no coax output) and the analog input with the tuner. I use the DC-1 as a preamp. The HDMI & USB inputs are also in use as is the headphone amp. I'm continually awed by the DC-1's versatility.
The reason I posed the question is because I thought I heard a small difference leaning toward the optical but I was using a different transport (cheaper one) at the time which in all likliehood made the difference. Anyhow the difference was small if any at all.
Thanks for everyone's input.

[sal1950]

Just noticed this old thread and thought I would add my $.02 in any case.
I'm one who has experienced a low level ground loop hum with both the USB or Coax connection. My DC-1 is feed by my computer server and feeds into fairly complex Home Theater 5.2 system with multiple amps, etc. I tried playing around with floating the grounds at a few locations with no success. I changed over to a nice Mitsubishi's ESKA POF Toslink cable from BlueJeansCable and haven't looked back. The hum is gone, I get totally faultless 24/192 data streaming from the computer, and the music sounds wonderful.
Then there is also the point that if you do buy into all the magic dust claims of various audible noise issues on a USB line, (the ones they're selling all those pricey widgets to cure LOL), a optical connection will get you a 100% galvanically isolated connection.
With the DC-1's ASRC I see a Toslink connection as Win-Win if your transmitter can supply reliable 24/192 stream.