Compare Optical / Coaxial — Side-by-Side Specs
Optical vs coaxial comparisons for digital audio: coaxial (S/PDIF) transmits the same PCM or compressed audio bitstream as optical with similar jitter performance after the receiver's reclocking stage. Neither format carries lossless HD audio (Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA) — those require HDMI eARC. If your only goal is Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS from a streaming device, either works fine.
Top Optical / Coaxial Models
Tributaries
SERIES 4 MODEL 4AO 3.3FT
AudioQuest
PEARL OPTICAL 10FT
AudioQuest
FOREST OPTICAL 16.4FT
Tributaries
SERIES 8 MODEL 8AD MKII 3.3FT
Advance Paris
LINK 3.3FT
Tributaries
SERIES 4 MODEL 4AO 6.6FT
AudioQuest
CINNAMON OPTICAL 16.4FT
McIntosh
CDA1M 3.3FT
Austere
5-SERIES OPTICAL DIGITAL CABLE
Ethereal
MHX-T4 13.1FT
Ethereal
MHX-T2 6.5FT
AudioQuest
CARBON 3.3FT
Popular Optical / Coaxial Comparisons
AudioQuest PEARL OPTICAL 5FT
vs Ethereal VELOX OPTICAL AUDIO CABLE 6.6FT
AudioQuest CINNAMON 4.9FT
vs Ethereal VELOX OPTICAL AUDIO CABLE 6.6FT
Ethereal VELOX OPTICAL AUDIO CABLE 6.6FT
vs Tributaries SERIES 4 MODEL 4AO 9.8FT
Ethereal VELOX OPTICAL AUDIO CABLE 6.6FT
vs Tributaries SERIES 4 MODEL 4AO 13.1FT
Ethereal VELOX OPTICAL AUDIO CABLE 6.6FT
vs Tributaries SERIES 4 MODEL 4AD 3.3FT
Ethereal VELOX OPTICAL AUDIO CABLE 6.6FT
vs Tributaries SERIES 8 MODEL 8AD MKII 6.6FT
AudioQuest PEARL OPTICAL 5FT
vs Ethereal MHX-T1 3.2FT
AudioQuest PEARL OPTICAL 5FT
vs Ethereal MHX-T-5 1.6FT
AudioQuest PEARL OPTICAL 5FT
vs Ethereal MHX-T6 19.6FT
AudioQuest PEARL OPTICAL 5FT
vs Tributaries SERIES 4 MODEL 4AO 9.8FT
AudioQuest PEARL OPTICAL 5FT
vs Tributaries SERIES 4 MODEL 4AO 13.1FT
AudioQuest CINNAMON 4.9FT
vs Ethereal MHX-T1 3.2FT
AudioQuest CINNAMON 4.9FT
vs Ethereal MHX-T-5 1.6FT
AudioQuest CINNAMON 4.9FT
vs Ethereal MHX-T6 19.6FT
AudioQuest CINNAMON 4.9FT
vs Tributaries SERIES 4 MODEL 4AO 9.8FT
Compare Any Two Optical / Coaxial Models
Not seeing the pair you need? Use the search on our comparison hub to pick any two optical / coaxial models.
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