[Propstuff]

I admit I haven't kept track of all the discussion on this topic, and havn't read all the archives, but........

The Apple G5 desktops come with Optical Audio (TOSLINK) in and out as standard. Given all the discussion on transports to be used with the future DAKSA, where might the (hopefully soon) G5 Superdrive>DAKSA combination sit in the general scheme of things?

cheers,
N.

[AKSA]

Hi Nicholas,

Coffee beckons, Sire........

I've discussed TOSLINK with Ben, and his feeling is that it's a poor protocol.  I cannot pretend to know the reasons why, so I'll ask him to reply at his leisure.  

Cheers,

Hugh

[Tinker]

Hi Nicholas,
I've discussed TOSLINK with Ben, and his feeling is that it's a poor protocol.  I cannot pretend to know the reasons why, so I'll ask him to reply at his leisure.  

For a CD player TOSLINK and coax S/PDIF are basically the same format, so there's no real signal compatibility issue. TOSLINK was thought to have some advantages since it offered electrical isolation between boxes (the DAKSA level II delivers isolation with a digital pulse transformer). However, as far as jitter goes TOSLINK is regarded by many as being rather poor: there are smearing problems with the reflected (and refracted) signal in the fibre and also the switching elements the receiver that converts the signal back into electrical form are not always optimal.

The DAKSA could have both inputs, but at quite some dollar cost, particularly an increase in design/assembly complexity. A survey of CD/DVD players shows that all have coax (presumably for DTS compatibility) but not all have TOSLINK. So in short, we felt that we would reach the widest audience and deliver the best performance with a coax inteface. You could also retrofit a 75ohm BNC termination (as I have done) if you buy into some of the hig-end arguments about termination impedences (which I do), but this is not really necessary now that true 75ohm RCA terminations are available (although often hard to find). I have ordered some Canare one, but supply is a little patchy right now.

Cheers,
     T.