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Hello, and a happy August to you! Before we know it, school bells will be ringing and leaves on the trees will be turning. All of these signs point to one thing...it is the perfect time to buy cables! In this newsletter, we will be discussing a common issue for home theater cable customers. What is the REAL difference between Coaxial (Coax) and optical (Toslink) digital audio cables? Well, we'll tell you. In fact, we will probably tell you more than you'd ever want to know! We will also highlight what is new at Cobalt Cable, including current promotions. Here is an outline of this newsletter: Toslink
vs. Coax Coax vs. Toslink, The True Hollywood Story
First of all, lets start with a couple of definitions:
Optical (Toslink) Digital Audio Cable: Transfers a digital audio signal, via a red light beam, over a fiber-optic cable. A fiber optic cable is simply several small strands of polished plastic specifically designed to transfer light. The connector for this connection looks like this:
OK, now for the bombshell. In our opinion, the performance difference between Coax and Toslink connections is negligible. That is not to say that each connection cannot sound different, though. We believe that any audible difference between the two connections stems from differences in the quality of the electronics, NOT the type of connection. For example, if a CD player uses superior quality components for its Coax digital audio connection and inferior components for its Toslink connection, then it is reasonable to assume that the Coax could have superior sound quality. The bottom line is, neither type of connection is inferior to the other for digital audio connections. Both connections are equally suited for multi-channel digital audio connection duty. If you ever have to choose between these two types of connections, performance will basically be a moot point. So, how do you choose? Well, lets look at the physical characteristics of each cable/connection. A Coax cable is more sturdy and durable than a digital optical (Toslink) cable. However, due to its metal shielding and conductor, a Coax cable will transfer grounding problems from one component to another if they already exist. That is, if there are ground loop problems stemming from electrical abnormalities in the electronics, the cable may carry ground or "hum" noise from one component to the other. However, these problems are fairly rare, and the Coax cable will ONLY exhibit the problems if they are already there. It will NOT create any new ones. An optical (Toslink) cable, on the other hand, is more fragile than a coaxial cable. If stepped on, a Toslink cable can be crushed and thus be destroyed. However, an optical connection is immune to possible ground or "hum" problems because it does not contain any metal. Confused yet? Wait there's more! There are also usability differences between the two cables. A Coax cable uses a standard male RCA plug, which is very easy to plug-in. On the other hand, a Toslink cable uses a quasi-pentagonal connector, which must be aligned properly to be inserted. It will only go in one way, which makes it a lot harder to work with. With most equipment racks requiring us to become a contortionist with near-perfect night-vision to make any sort of connection, the ease of use of the familiar RCA is a good thing! So, what is the moral of the story here? With everything else being equal, we prefer a Coax digital audio connection. This is simply because a Coax digital audio cable is more durable, easier to use, and less expensive (in most cases) than a similar quality Toslink cable. Your mileage may vary, but if you stick with what makes the most sense in YOUR setup, you really can't go wrong. Promotions? Have We Got a Deal for You!First
and foremost, we want to thank our customers who responded to our "Five
Minute, $10 Survey". Your opinions are truly invaluable, and have
really helped us make sure we are offering the best products possible. Also,
we are still running our "Share the Savings" program. Do you
have a friend that might like a Cobalt Cable or two? Send them a 10%
off coupon, and receive a 10% off coupon for yourself. We will not further
contact your friend in any way (and we will NEVER share ANY personal
information with ANY other parties). Here is a link to the "Share
the Savings" page: Click Here to Share the Savings at CobaltCable.com! Industry-Leading Warrantees and Guarantees on Every Cable Sold!All of
our standard cables come with a 90-day money-back guarantee. If, for
any reason, you are not totally satisfied with your Cobalt Cable purchase,
simply return your cable(s) within 90 days from the purchase date for
a full refund. * -Please see our "Warrantees and Guarantees" page for more information. |
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