Info about Optical Cable for Audio

[sukhas19]

Hi Guys, Recently i bought a Airtel HD which has sound out through opical out to connect to AVR, i have zero knowledge about the optical cables...what is the cost, the specifications,etc.... Can i buy it from Chroma in bangalore?

Unfortunately the STB does not have a coaxial output, and the 5.1 sound of the hd channels does not go through the HDMI cable...

 

[jaudere]

I recently bought Bandridge 1 metre optical cable for 600. Happy with it. There are cheaper and costlier versions and longer versions available. If you don't have co-ax, optical is the only chioce unless your STB has 5.1 analogue out and AVR has 5.1 in. Optical cables have similar performance to co-ax cables . 2 differences. Optical are more delicate and cannot be bent at acute angles (will get damaged). Optical are not affected by electromagnetic interference. There a whole lot of debate on optical vs co-ax but overall opinion seems that both are equal for lengths typically used in home applications. You may buy your cable from Chroma. Look for Bandridge/Belkin.

 

[sukhas19]

I recently bought Bandridge 1 metre optical cable for 600. Happy with it. There are cheaper and costlier versions and longer versions available. If you don't have co-ax, optical is the only chioce unless your STB has 5.1 analogue out and AVR has 5.1 in. Optical cables have similar performance to co-ax cables . 2 differences. Optical are more delicate and cannot be bent at acute angles (will get damaged). Optical are not affected by electromagnetic interference. There a whole lot of debate on optical vs co-ax but overall opinion seems that both are equal for lengths typically used in home applications. You may buy your cable from Chroma. Look for Bandridge/Belkin.

what do i tell them? optical cable?

 

[technobhatt]

what do i tell them? optical cable?

Just look for any Toslink Optical Cable and it should solve your purpose.
Bandridge/Belkin are priced between Rs. 400 to 700.

 

[baijuxavior]

I am using belkin brand optical cable 1.8 meter. Price is around rs 500. Just search in ebay to get an idea. Unbranded cables are also available at cheap rates.

 

[rishiguru]

I recently bought Bandridge 1 metre optical cable for 600. Happy with it. There are cheaper and costlier versions and longer versions available.

jaudere does your Bandridge TOSLink optical cable support 24 bit 192 kHz? I think not.

Link : Bandbridge Blue

But the Bandbridge premium cables are explicitly rated at 192 kHz.

Link : Bandbridge Premium

Look at the additional photos tag and you will find the premium version is explicitly stated to support 192 kHz.

 

[jaudere]

Hi Rishiguru. Noticed your post after many days. I don't know if my cable supports 24/196. Anyway I am not bothered because my DAC iitself supports audio only upto 24/96, which is more than enough for CD audio which is at 16/44.1. I know that all optical cables can support upto 5.1 channel audio but not 7.1(HD audio) for which one needs HDMI connection.

 

[rishiguru]

Hi Rishiguru. Noticed your post after many days.

Got married recently. Hence no time.

I don't know if my cable supports 24/196. Anyway I am not bothered because my DAC iitself supports audio only upto 24/96, which is more than enough for CD audio which is at 16/44.1. I know that all optical cables can support upto 5.1 channel audio but not 7.1(HD audio) for which one needs HDMI connection.

Personally I believe 16/44.1 is all you require for music.