How much improvement with better toslink cable?

I can tell a definite difference when using a Virtual Dynamics Master digital cable in my system on some recordings.

I cannot tell any difference in clarity, but I like the way the VD cable presents its sound stage differently. To me it seems that each instrument is not only in its own space, but that I can focus in on each musicians feelings of the music. I don't get this on all cd's, but I do notice this when using the Virtual Dynamics cable. This probably sounds absurd to some of you, but I can tell the difference and I know it is not just about the ones and zeros.

Mattzack2,

I think it is possible to hear such differences in some scenarios with these cables where things are just not going right with the cable, but that it's just not as common place nor as significant a difference perhaps as I find typically with different ICs say.

Here is how I shopped Toslink. I contacted Steve at The Cable Company www.fatwyre.com, and I used their cable lending library. Upon his suggestion I got a wireworld 5 and a Cardas cable that he suggested I try. The wireworld was very analytic and the Cardas was much more warm sounding. I wound up buying each cable as I has use for each of these qualities.

You have to call them about the lending library. It is not easy to find on their web sight.

Borrow some cables and shop without spending money on experiments. Yes, to answer your question glass is better.

I've got an echoaudio Layla 3g and tested the Bel Canto Dac3, the Berkley Alpha Dac, and the Audio Research Dac3, with some very expensive coax cables. All sounded better with the optical connection. Yet the guy at Berkley thought I was nuts for using optical. Is there some prejudice against optical, it seems like it should obviously be a better way to transmit digital information.

Btw, it was Radioshack optical cable, maybe I'll go get me some glass eh?

I've been very happy with a glass optical cable that I purchased from this place.

http://www.uniqueproductsonline.com/gltodiopca.html

I purchased it from their ebay store. For less than $20 shipped, you can't go wrong.