Toslink vs. RCA

One thing is that the sending component must convert from electrical to optical and then the receiving component must convert back, thus introducing two additional circuits, each adding noise and jitter.

Has something to do with two factors: 1)the Toslink material (plastic) allows internal bouncing and reflections of the optical signal within the cable. 2) the interface at the cable ends and input/output terminals is really sloppy allowing for further degradation of the signal. These problem are minimized with the much higher quality AT&T Glass optical cable. This is what I have heard, but if I'm mistaken or there are other factors at work, hopefully better minds will set us straight! Happy Tunes!

While I'm certain that there are differences, I am skeptical as to whether or not the average audiofool can delineate between the two formats.

Try to set up a double-blind comparison. I did, and I couldn't distinguish between Toslink and RCA. The only format that made an audible difference was AES/EBU. Even that was very minor, though.

I wouldn't spend too much time or money fiddling with this issue. Life's too short, and there's a lot of music out there to be heard. Ciao!

Gthrush1 is right that there is a lot of music worth a listen, but this is one area where I think a little effort is well spent. While I often do not hear the significant differences between specific cables or tweaks that others do, the difference in my system between toslink and coax was not subtle and much in favor of coax.

Here is what I've found, from best to worst.

1) AT&T glass optical
2) Toslink plastic optical ($19.99 Recoton from Fry's Electronics)
3) BNC
4) XLR (Madrigal's MDC-1)
5) RCA

Here is what IMHO, that metal cable are saturated for the bandwith are limited. Lots data that transfer through cable especially video and audio signals. That is probably why most new network backbone are fiber optics.