optical or coaxial audio cable?

I am running both optical and coax from my Sony transport. They are indistinguishable now, but only after I did mods to the digital output circuits to improve jitter. With the right cable, the coax can usually be better, because it avoids the optical to electrical conversion stages, which add both noise and jitter.

When we put the latest generation of Trident missiles into existing submarines there was concern that the hundreds of feet of 25 year old coax cable between the missile and the fire control system would never work at ten times the frequency for which it was originally intended. I participated in tests which revealed that the digital pulses were indeed thoroughly mutilated as they traveled through the wires...but, after reclocking and regeneration by the well designed line receivers, information was transmitted flawlessly. If digital audio equipment were properly designed (and I think that some is) this whole issue of digital transmission fidelity wouldn't matter.

Sean, I think the referance was to degredation of optical whenever it is disturbed. Buried optical lines remain untouched and unaffected.

If the cables are anywhere near heavily traveled roads, railroad tracks, construction zones, etc... the soil will constantly be shaking, vibrating and settling. This vibration will be transferred to the cables that are buried in the soil. Same things happen to very heavy buildings due to vibrations transferred through the ground i.e. foundations cracking, buildings shifting, etc.. If what Ellisonb said is true, these companies will be out digging up cables at random intervals having to deal with cable degradation. I sure hope he's wrong or we can expect a LOT of intermittent phone and / or high speed internet interruptions in the future. Sean
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sean....In newer subs lots of optical cable is used. It, like everything else on the boat, will survive depth charge attack!!!