Properties and Issues
Due to the use of clock recovery, TOSLINK cables are widely rumored to introduce jitter (reproduction inaccuracies due to timing errors), erroneously described as "smearing" or a poorly articulated sound. However, the actual effect of jitter on audio reproduction is an increase in noise or intermodulation, and most humans' hearing is not likely to notice any effect. Multi-strand glass fiber TOSLINK cables might cause less jitter than larger diameter, single strand cables. (See Jitter.) One cause of jitter is bandwidth-limiting of the digital signal.
TOSLINK cables can temporarily fail or be permanently damaged if tightly bent. Their high light-signal attenuation limits their effective range to between 5 metres (16 ft) - 10 metres (33 ft).
Optical cables are not susceptible to electrical problems such as ground loops and RF interference.
Bandwidth can be 10 MHz with high-purity quartz fiber, but 5 to 6 MHz for plastic cable.
Read more about this topic: TOSLINK
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