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
AudioQuest
CARBON 3.3FT
AudioQuest
Carbon Coax
Advance Paris
LINK 3.3FT
Tributaries
SERIES 4 MODEL 4AO 6.6FT
Ethereal
MHX-T2 6.5FT
Tributaries
SERIES 4 MODEL 4AD 6.6FT
McIntosh
CDA2M 6.6FT
Ethereal
VELOX OPTICAL AUDIO CABLE 6.6FT
AudioQuest
CINNAMON 4.9FT
Ethereal
MHX-T-5 1.6FT
Tributaries
SERIES 4 MODEL 4AO 13.1FT
AudioQuest
Forest Coax
Popular Optical / Coaxial Comparisons
AudioQuest PEARL OPTICAL 5FT
vs Pangea Audio PREMIER XL DIGITAL CABLE 2FT
AudioQuest PEARL OPTICAL 5FT
vs Ethereal MHX-T3 9.8FT
AudioQuest PEARL OPTICAL 5FT
vs Ethereal MHX-T4 13.1FT
AudioQuest PEARL OPTICAL 5FT
vs Ethereal MHX-T6 19.6FT
AudioQuest PEARL OPTICAL 5FT
vs Ethereal MHX-T10 32.8FT
AudioQuest PEARL OPTICAL 5FT
vs Austere 5-SERIES OPTICAL DIGITAL CABLE
AudioQuest PEARL OPTICAL 10FT
vs Pangea Audio PREMIER XL DIGITAL CABLE 2FT
AudioQuest CINNAMON OPTICAL 10FT
vs Pangea Audio PREMIER XL DIGITAL CABLE 2FT
AudioQuest Cinnamon Coax
vs Pangea Audio PREMIER XL DIGITAL CABLE 2FT
AudioQuest FOREST OPTICAL 10FT
vs Pangea Audio PREMIER XL DIGITAL CABLE 2FT
AudioQuest CINNAMON OPTICAL 16.4FT
vs Pangea Audio PREMIER XL DIGITAL CABLE 2FT
AudioQuest PEARL OPTICAL 10FT
vs Ethereal MHX-T3 9.8FT
AudioQuest PEARL OPTICAL 10FT
vs Ethereal MHX-T4 13.1FT
AudioQuest PEARL OPTICAL 10FT
vs Ethereal MHX-T6 19.6FT
AudioQuest PEARL OPTICAL 10FT
vs Ethereal MHX-T10 32.8FT
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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