AudioQuest 1.5m Vodka Optical Toslink Fiber-Optic Cable + Mini-Adaptor

This cable is pricy. Is it worth it? For me it was. I’m running all McIntosh tune gear with the new La Scala III speakers. I tried several 50-100 dollar cables I had from video gear. This was a big improvement from those for audio. The timing is better with a lot more low level sound. The music is much more cohesive with good tonal balance. This review is for connection from my CD player to the preamp. I tried it to connect my streamer to preamp and did not like it as well as my digital coax cable although it sounded better than the other toslinks I’ve tried for that connection. Hope this helps you decide whether to get one or not.

Audioquest is very good cable. I've been buying them for a few years now. It's the best you can buy for the money. I've brought cables for three times as much in the past, that weren't as good as Audioquest. EJK

Excelente cable toslink, el único problema es que en lugar de 1.5 Mts lo enviaron sin costo extra de 5 Mts., lamentablemente era muy largo y decidí regresarlo. Excelente vendedor y buen servicio de Amazon.

If you don't believe there can be much of a difference in optical cables...try this cable. I first put one in my high end theater room, then after a few minutes demo, ordered this one for my family room system. In both cases it is connected between the Directv receiver and the processor. This cable is very open and delivers a huge soundstage that I didn't believe could come from this type of connection!! Very smooth with lots of layer in movie soundtracks...greatly outperforming my previous Audioquest cables!!

Cable reviewThis is a review of all 4 Audioquest models of Toslink interconnects - from low price to high, the Forest, Cinnamon, Vodka, and Diamond - based upon my personal experience using them in my home stereo system. In summary, each model provides significantly better sound quality than the ones below. All four models tested were 1.5 meters long and ended with standard-sized Toslink connectors.Initially, I purchased the Cinnamon model and was generally pleased with it; using it as an interconnect between my CD player and my external DAC. Later, I bought a cheaper Forest version to use as an interconnect between my music player and DAC; thinking the connection is digital and bits are bits so why not save some money. I was wrong; there was in fact a pronounced difference in sound quality between the Forest and Cinnamon interconnects as I swapped them in my system.Huh! I was very surprised by this; totally unexpected. The only explanation I could come up with is maybe a reduction in jitter (time-related transmission errors leading to an audible "smearing" of details)? I'll defer the "why" of the differences to someone more qualified and instead focus on the "what" differences I actually heard on my system.This Forest/Cinnamon difference sparked a desire to try out the Vodka model. Again, the Vodka sounded much better than the Cinnamon. So I then took the next obvious leap and purchased a Diamond model. In blind A/B testing, the Diamond model sounded better.Testing Methodology:I compared the cables in A/B fashion - leaving all other variables the same, I switched between two cables at a time. Initially, the test was informal and I listened to a song all the way through and swapped cables and relistened. I cycled through a variety of rock and pop songs. From this, I developed a knowledge of the sonic charistics of each model. The informal testing was done twice; once to headphones and once to speakers.Next, testing entered a more formal phase. A friend performed the cable swaps and controlled the equipment; I did not know which cable was being used at any given time. Four different reference songs would each be played 4 times with a cable swap done between each song playback. The cable chosen for first use was determined by coin toss and unknown to me until after the test. I kept notes on a pad of paper while listening. The formal testing was done twice; once to headphones and once to speakers.Each cable model was A/B compared only to those directly next to it on the price scale.Resulting cable evaluations:Forest:I thought the Forest model actually sounded bad. Some instruments in some songs were rendered almost inaudible. It was often difficult to map a sound to which instrument played it. High frequencies like sibilants (for example, the 's' sound in speech) were distorted; cymbals were not very forward and sounded distant. Drums were a dull thud and did not sound tympanic. The sound stage (position of the instruments) was poorly defined. Vocals were intellagable but could not be mistaken for "you are there". Guitars sounded like they were recorded from the next room over from where they were played. The music sounded smeared and lacked details.Recommended usage would be in very low-end systems sporting $10 ear buds - and also, I'd recommend buying one of these Forest interconnects specifically to do your own A/B test with another cable. For instance, suppose you were buying a Vodka model Toslink, you should also buy a Forest model Toslink cable to experiment with and swap. That way, you'll readily hear what the extra expense of the Vodka bought you in sound quality and you'll be happier with your Vodka purchase. Or you can demo cable differences at will to any friends saying cable quality does not affect music playback quality.Cinnamon:I think the Cinnamon model Toslink interconnect sounds good and represents a big step up from the Forest and is a much better value. While not the final word in audio quality, this is none the less a very serviceable cable.Instruments were now all present and accounted for. However, a cow bell might sound a bit hard to identify as such; "I think that is a cow bell there but I'm not sure where it is on the stage." High frequencies like sibilants sounded good and cymbals sounded more forward but lacked a silky metallic tang with a long decay. Drums were tight and a little tympanic. The sound stage was well defined with drum rolls spanning across the stage for example. Vocals were good but still sound "recorded". Guitars sounded clear but base guitars lacked a sense of authority.Recommend uses would include consumer-grade systems. Your $100 headphones will strut their stuff with the Cinnamon model.Vodka:I think the Vodka Toslink interconnect sounds excellent and represents a significant step up from the Cinnamon and is a good value when matched with a mid-level Hi-Fi system. Unless you have a high-end system, this might be all the cable you need.This cable gives an excellent performance in all respects. Sibilants are life-like and vocals realistic - you can hear the singer drawing his breath. Symbols are forward and silky with long realistic decay times. That is definitely a cow bell, sounds metallic, and you know exactly where it is on stage. Drums are tight, tympanic, and realistic. Guitars sound lifelike and each string pluck is nicely detailed. Both large drums and base guitars have a lot of energy and clarity.Recommended uses would be for mid-level Hi-Fi systems capable of reveling the additional detail and micro-dynamics preserved by this interconnect. Although this cable would give good service on even a high-end Hi-Fi system, it would still be a weak link in that high-end system. Your $800 headphones will sound excellent with the Vodka.Diamond:I think the Diamond Toslink interconnect sounds surreal and represents a significant step up from the Vodka and is a good value when matched with a high-end Hi-Fi system.This cable gives a surreal performance in all respects. The jaw-dropping clarity and micro-details provide a "you are there" experience. This cable allows you to connect emotionally with the music. When the singer tells her tale of woe, it brings you to tears because your brain is tricked into thinking she is sitting right there and poring her heart out to you. It is like the difference between a regular movie screen and an IMAX 3D theater with its additional resolution and added depth perception. Sounds in the music are frequently mistaken for sounds actually in the room with you. I frequently would find myself startled and looking over my shoulder thinking someone else had come into the listening room; only to realize it was just a sound from the song; kind of creeps you out a bit at first - forewarned is forearmed!Sibilants are exeptionally clear and vocals realistic - you can hear the singer drawing his breath. Symbols are forward and silky with long realistic decay times; additionally, the symbols have a nice metallic twang that makes them sound especially life-like. That is definitely a cow bell, sounds metallic, and you know exactly where it is on stage. Drums are tight, tympanic, and realistic. Guitars sound lifelike and each string pluck is so nicely detailed as to be its own concert. Both large drums and base guitars have a lot of energy, clarity, and authority.Recommended uses would be for high-end Hi-Fi systems capable of reveling the additional detail and micro-dynamics preserved by this interconnect. Your $1800 headphones will sound surreal with the Diamond.Test equipment:RCA interconnects were AudioQuest Black Momba II. Power cords were VooDoo Vector.Source music was 24/192 FLAC files played on an Astell & Kern AK100 II bypassing its built-in DAC to connect to an external DAC via the 4 tested models of Toslink interconnects. An AudioQuest mini-Toslink to Toslink converter was plugged into the A&K.The external DAC was a Woo Audio WDS-1 with a PCM1795 chipset. The DAC was connected to two different amplifiers as the testing was done twice; once to headphones and once to speakers.The headphone amplifier was a Woo Audio WA5 upgraded with audiophile caps and Teflon tube sockets; matched-pair Sophia Electric Princess mesh plate 274B rectifier tubes, matched-pair NOS Sylvania 6SN7GT driver tubes, and matched-pair Woo Audio Signature Black 300B power tubes. The headphones were Grado PS1000.The speaker amplifier was a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum with stock matched-quad Tung-Sol KT120 output tubes and upgraded NOS Telefunkin small-signal 12AU7 and 12AX7 tubes. The speakers were Boston Acoustic floor-standing 3-ways and a 10" subwoofer. Speaker interconnects were by Monster Cable.

Very high-quality toss link. very high-quality toss link.

The sound was tinny with this cable. The 217 fibers was not a plus, but a minus. My Series M1000 or 850 by monster was much better and cheaper.

Connected to my dvdo edge digital output and my bryston bda 2 dac the Vodka Toslink CAN NOT handle hi res digital 24bit ( 176 and 192) !! I have to go back to my old audioquest cable that works perfectly. BEWARE!!!!

Lo compre gracias a la reseña que hizo otro señor llamado Jesus al que estoy muy agradecido. El cable es muy detallado y claro, yo ya tenia un audioquest pero era mas sencillo, con este te das cuenta que escuchando un pasaje musical te das cuenta que lo escuchas todo, con el sencillo parece como si se perdieran la mitad de las notas. Ya se que es caro, pero un producto como este que le va a durar mucho tiempo lo va a disfrurar siempre. A mi solo me sabe mal el tiempo que he perdido con el otro cable. Lo recomiendo

Upgrade from carbon optical, I love it so much!

Hasta ahora lo más que tenía era Audioquest Carbon. El Vozca cuesta el doble, pero el sonido es carbon x 5. Abierto, contundente. Con presencia. Agudos suaves. Graves controlados perfectamente. Imagen sonora. Suavidad absoluta. Se escucha el rasgueo de las cuerdas. El apoyo de los dedos en el teclado. Y eso que el sonido procede de la television digital en streaming (canal de clásica, ballet, ópera).Mejora impresionante de carbon a vozca (siendo el sonido del carbon muy bueno)