I've read around a bit and found out the basics between the differences and how each cable works.

I have a computer with an Auzentech X-Fi Prelude 7.1, which has two combo optical/coaxial ports on it. It's connected to a Yamaha 6030 receiver, using the optical cable included with the card, which seems pretty pokey and pathetic, some of the optical signal leaks out from around the adapter plugged into the port on the card.

I presume having some of the light leak out around the adapter is bad? Does this mean some of the signal going to the receiver, is lost? I have the option of using a Monster coaxial digital cable instead.

The way the connector is designed, it needs the adapter to use a standard optical cable. I guess it's a mini toslink, then? Would a mini toslink to standard toslink be the best option?

Thanks for reading an putting up with my newbie cable question. :)

I presume having some of the light leak out around the adapter is bad?It doesn't make any difference.

Never, EVER pay for a Monster cable!! Use them - they're OK, but never pay want they want.

Get all your cables from monoprice.com

It doesn't make any difference.

Never, EVER pay for a Monster cable!! Use them - they're OK, but never pay want they want.

Get all your cables from monoprice.com

I got the Monster on the cheap from Amazon.. $60 cable for less than $10. :D No way I'd pay $60 for a cable.

Optical has the benefit of avoiding ground loops. Bend the cable and the signal goes bye bye. Coaxial may or may not cause electrical interference. So there are differences.

But in terms of actual perceived sound quality, there are no differences.

--Regards,

I prefer coaxial, due to the fragile nature of the optical cable.

There should be no difference since they are both the exact same SPDIF format.

Major differences:

1) Coax is cheaper, resiliant, the plug doesn't fall out, did I mention coax is super cheap?

2) Optical is not subject to interference.

3) did I mention that coax is cheaper, thus at very long distances where interference could MAYBE be a problem, optical would cost you ridiculously obscene quantities of money

4) Coax is shielded, making interference extremely unlikely.

5) unless you have to by force of available inputs/outputs, just use coax.

^ i think people are more inclined to use optical inputs (spdif or toslink) just because those connection are on more components. its been around since the 80's. Also because manufacturers are just starting to use co-ax, its not as commonplace as an optical audio conn.

^ i think people are more inclined to use optical inputs (spdif or toslink) just because those connection are on more components. its been around since the 80's. Also because manufacturers are just starting to use co-ax, its not as commonplace as an optical audio conn.

Interesting. I have found that older, higher-end components have always favored coax over toslink. In fact my first DVD player, the Toshiba 3006, which I bought in 97, had a coax output only, no toslink.

^ i think people are more inclined to use optical inputs (spdif or toslink) just because those connection are on more components. its been around since the 80's. Also because manufacturers are just starting to use co-ax, its not as commonplace as an optical audio conn.

Uh.... huh? :confused: Coax has been around since forever.

Coax has been around since forever.

At the Big Bang? LOL :D No wonder it was so big.:D

Interesting. I have found that older, higher-end components have always favored coax over toslink. In fact my first DVD player, the Toshiba 3006, which I bought in 97, had a coax output only, no toslink.

thats weird considering toslink is a toshiba product.

Uh.... huh? :confused: Coax has been around since forever.

well if you put that way, ok i wasnt sure what i was talking about. :p