Cable question

I say no, so long as both cables are working correctly and not dropping bits.   Digital is all 1s and 0s so there is no .98 vs .99 performance.   Generally those who tout improved digital performance are trying to sell something and hope you'll convince yourself you can hear a difference. That said, there are people I respect who disagree with me so I continue to keep an open mind on this issue.

Optical does require some data management on both ends so you can lose some bits there and I have had optical systems that I thought didn't sound as good.  Maybe it's the conversion.

I use USB.

Jerry

The answer to the question is like most things with audio - it depends on the gear that's sending and receiving the data.

Whenever I have the option, I try both. I don't think I've ever never not preferred coaxial to optical in a comparison. My Bluesound Node 2i was far superior via coaxial into my Marantz SA-10.

Optical cables are cheap but there are more expensive coaxial cable options. My favorite coax is actually a Blue Jeans Cable coax that is reasonably priced. I have coaxial cables that are magnitudes greater in price and I prefer the Blue Jeans for $30 or whatever it was. I don't understand why but different coax cables altered the sound I heard.

I'm using optical just because that's what i had laying around. I was also thinking of the BJC coax. I will try that. Thanks.

Yes. Optical is compromised. But the question is can you hear it? That is equipment dependent… is your equipment sensitive enough to make it obvious?

Only one way to find out. Get an appropriate digital cable.

I have been pursing high end audio for fifty years. I have always known I would continue pursuing better and better systems. So for me, I would always stay away from known potential issues that could compromise the sound… like different length speaker cables. Evaluating sound quality is very time consuming. So I would spend my time on the big stuff… evaluating components, cables, interconnects, power cords and just take for granted stuff like cable elevators, no different length cables, etc.

That has been my strategy and it has worked as each generation system has gotten much better and I now own a world class sounding system customized to my taste.

@rnrmf1971 nailed it.  It all depends on how the sending unit's outputs are implemented, and on how the receiving unit's inputs are implemented.  You might hear a big different, a slight difference, or no difference at all.  The cable doesn't exist in a vacuum (so to speak).