The best digital audio out of coaxial, or optical?


We would like to have an answer for our customers regaurding this.
chriscross
If both work properly (the bits arrive) and the DAC device has a re-clocking PLL then perhaps it is just a coin toss between the two....both are equally good (as good as the PLL re-clocker algorithm).
Click on this link for a Forum thread that includes a listening comparison for different cables, digital media, etc.:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1196311011&openmine&zzBruce_1&4&5#Bruce_1
"significant number of our Audiogon membership has never done a comparison with a high quality Toslink cable."
Mt10425

I wouldn't be so sure........"Q".

Mariusz.S.
Coax is generally superior to the plastic Toslink cables. Those that use a Quartz or Glass conductor can be very good, however they tend to be much more expensive.

One nice thing about optical is that it does not link the grounds of the two components like a metal cable does, which can help resolve ground loops and even minor sonic issues.

AES/EBU properly implemented tends to be better than either.