Why does optical suck so much?

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by sphinxvc, Jul 31, 2016.

  1. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    Sure, but the galvanic isolation permits the use of filtered power strips or power conditioners / re-generators on the audio setup and a separate - more conventional - power strip for the AV equipment, by preventing any ground loops.
     
  2. donunus

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    I don't know if this is the thread to post this in but I have a question about USB DAC connections/contacts. My Geek Out 1000 intermittently sounds softer and louder when I rock the dac up and down. It also goes out of phase sometimes just like how an analog jack would behave. How is this possible if the analog information hasn't even been converted from digital yet? Does digital audio numbers say louder and softer when it has better or worse connection contact quality? It seems absurd to me lol
     
  3. Armaegis

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    My quick guess is that there's a bad connection/solder joint/etc somewhere on the analog output side.
    If you interrupt the digital signal, you get nothing.
     
  4. allegro

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    At my office desk I have a 28 inch Samsung TV on my three monitor Ergotron stand along with two other monitors. I am using optical out from the TV to a Bifrost > Vali 2 > phones. Sound is surprisingly good just using a $10 Amazon Basics Toslink cable. Sound definitely does not suck: movies and concerts streamed from Netflix are quite enjoyable.
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2018
  5. Thad E Ginathom

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    I never thought that optical did suck. Or that it had to be some fancy glass rather than plastic.

    It has its limitations, but I don't think it sucks. Mind you, the time when I was using it every day was almost twenty years ago. On the other hand, my hearing was a hell of a lot better then.
     

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