Analysis Plus Toslink Fiber Optical Digital Cable

Analysis Plus Toslink Blocks EMI/EMC at the Connector

A fiber optic cable carries sound as pulses of light, not electricity, so it can't pick up the electrical or radio-frequency noise a copper cable can. What still matters is fiber quality and how cleanly the ends are polished.

Analysis Plus builds its Toslink cable from medical-grade light-conducting fiber in an 8mm-thick, flexible body, terminated in a metal-body Toslink connector that the company says helps block EMI/EMC interference for maximum signal integrity.

Medical-Grade Light-Conducting Fiber

Analysis Plus says this premium fiber has excellent light-transfer characteristics and, unlike glass, will not microscopically fracture when the cable is bent or flexed. The company adds that the cable is incredibly flexible, making it good for snaking through tight spots or crowded equipment racks.

A Metal-Body Connector, Not Plastic

Analysis Plus terminates the cable in a metal-body Toslink connector at each end, which it says helps block EMI/EMC interference for maximum signal integrity. That is the one connector-level noise-rejection claim any maker makes in this category; most optical connectors on the market are molded plastic.

The Connectors, Explained

Analysis Plus Toslink ends in a square Toslink plug on both ends, built in a metal-body shell rather than the molded plastic shell most competing optical cables use at that price point.

Who Is This Fiber Optic Cable Best For?

• You want the one optical cable in this category with a metal-body connector — Analysis Plus is the only maker here that makes an EMI/EMC-blocking claim at the connector itself
• You are routing a cable through tight bends in a rack — the company specifically calls out this cable's flexibility for that kind of routing
• You want a straightforward, affordably priced Toslink upgrade — this is Analysis Plus's whole optical line, at its own price point
• Your gear's optical port is the 3.5mm mini size, not full-size Toslink — AudioQuest's Pearl Mini-Toslink is built for that connector; check your source's port before ordering
• Your only digital connection is coaxial, HDMI or USB rather than optical — a coaxial digital cable or another digital cable, rather than an optical one, is what you need instead

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Plug the square Toslink connector into the OPTICAL OUT or DIGITAL OUT port on your source, and the matching square plug into the OPTICAL IN port on your receiver, DAC or soundbar. The connector is keyed to fit only one way.

Then power up the system as usual.

Measure the Path, Then Add a Little Slack

Measure the route the cable will really take from your source to your receiver, DAC or soundbar, around furniture and behind the rack. Then add a little slack. As audio legend George Cardas puts it, "A cable that's just long enough usually turns out to be just not long enough."

When Is It Time to Upgrade?

An optical cable often stays in a system for years, so it is easy to overlook. Look again when something else changes: a new DAC, streamer, receiver or soundbar.

Pairs Well With

An optical cable is one link between a source and a receiver, DAC or soundbar. It usually joins these categories.

• Digital-to-Analog Converters — the most common destination for an optical signal
• CD Players and Transports — a common optical source for a receiver or DAC
• Home Theater Receivers — the usual optical input for a TV or soundbar feed
• Music Streamers — a source component that often carries an optical output

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a glass or plastic fiber?

It's plastic optical fiber, not glass. Unlike glass, it will not microscopically fracture when the cable is bent or flexed, which is what lets these cables route through tight spots without breaking.

Does an optical cable carry any electrical signal at all?

Light travels down the fiber core with no electrical current on the cable itself, which is exactly why it can't pick up hum, ground loops or radio-frequency noise the way a copper interconnect can. The signal is decoded back to an electrical one only inside your components.

Is there a step up?

Not in the Analysis Plus Toslink line we carry. Analysis Plus Toslink is the top of that range.

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