the old coax vs. optical test in digital cabling

Cable Asylum

Interconnects, speaker wire, power cords. Ask the Cable Guys.

Got a DAC over X-mas and hooked it up sort of automatically to a digital coax IC (blue jeans cable). Cheap start. Figured I'd start upgrading digital ICs later.
Had to take down my rig to fit 18 people into the living room for holiday dinner. Bummer. When I put it all back together I hooked up both the coax and a starter optical IC to see what they would do side by side.
Now this is NOT a true test of anything, because I didn't have anyone handy to literally do the A/B switch for me.
Anyway, I was surprised at how clean the optical sounded. It wasn't more detailed in any way than the coax, but wasn't noticeably less at first. What was immediately and consistently apparent was that the gain lowered slightly every time I switched to optical. After a couple of tries I was quite sure that the optical portrayed the cymbals a little differently (not better) than the coax, bass was less, and the soundstage was not as big or airy. Can't pin down the differences any better than that as yet.
This make sense to anyone? Is this a common experience? Do really good opticals surpass coax at some price point???
Just curious, not spending any money as yet.

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Topic - the old coax vs. optical test in digital cabling - bartc 07:43:34 04/08/07 (10)

At about $20.. - RickeyM 11:45:58 04/08/07 (4)

Re: At about $20.. - Chris R 16:46:36 04/08/07 (3)

Re: At about $20.. - Chris R 20:21:18 04/09/07 (0)

Re: At about $20.. - Squonk 12:47:15 04/09/07 (0)

"Problem with the cheap multiple glass strands toslink is that they fracture easily" - RickeyM 17:08:53 04/08/07 (0)

Re: the old coax vs. optical test in digital cabling - Ted Smith 11:36:53 04/08/07 (3)

Did you measure it ? - SoftwireEngineer 16:36:08 04/08/07 (2)

Not well - Ted Smith 16:45:24 04/08/07 (1)

Re: Not well - SoftwireEngineer 17:32:07 04/09/07 (0)

Re: the old coax vs. optical test in digital cabling - ddanielsmith 10:57:16 04/08/07 (0)

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