Wireworld Supernova 3 vs. Audioquest Optilink-4 toslink / optical digital cable review

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Just a quick review that hopefully folks will find helpful. I have the optical output of my DirecTV receiver hooked via toslink to my Bel Canto DAC-2 outboard D/A converter on my Conrad Johnson powered system driving ProAc Response 2.5 speakers. I play the 40 different Music Choice channels that come over satellite through my system for some remarkably high-quality commercial-free listening. When piped through my Bel Canto DAC-2, the sound quality is essentially CD-quality, rivaling the sound coming from my CD-transport into my DAC-2.
My satellite receiver has only a toslink output, whereas my Bel Canto DAC-2 has both an optical and RCA digital input. I have my CD transport hooked to the DAC-2 via the RCA digital input. As an aside, the Stereovox HDXV cable I am using for the copper digital interconnect is a marvelous performer, and at $100, is quite possibly the most fantastic value in the entire world of digital copper interconnects.
Anyway, I have had a chance to try both the Wireworld Supernova 3 toslink cable, which is often touted for excellent bang-for-buck performance (~$75) and the Audioquest Optilink-4, which can be found for about double the cost. I often wondered which sounded better, and couldn't find any reviews directly comparing the two. After trying both, I have to say that unequivocably, the Audioquest Optilink-4 is the better cable and produces an absolutely marvelous sound. Keep in mind that the Optilink-4 is a solid glass cable and not as flexible and can in fact be broken with rough handling. That said, once in place, it produces a very detailed and smooth sound. The quality of your optical or copper digital interconnects has a huge impact on sound quality when hooking into either an external DAC, digital amplifier, or home theater. I thought the Wireworld Supernova 3 put on a good performance, and if cash is tight, I can still recommend this cable. But if you can swing the extra money, I think the Audioquest Optilink-4 is a marvelous sounding cable and superior to the Supernova 3.
As an aside... for folks out there with DirecTV tuners with digital outputs-- the RCA outputs generally suck, but if you get a top-quality toslink cable (or digital copper interconnect if your receiver supports it) and happen to already own a good quality external DAC, you can get amazingly good sound from the 40 Music Choice channels on DirecTV. It's a nice supplement to my CD collection and definately higher quality than the XM/Sirius services. Also, home theaters with high-quality DAC's and especially home theater receivers with digital class-D amplifiers (I also own a class-D digital amplified Harmon Kardon DPR 2005 for my home theater, which is a seperate system than my high-end 2-channel system).
In fact, I originally had the Optilink-4 on my digital receiver, with extraordinary results, and originally used the Supernova 3 cable on my 2-channel system. On a whim, I switched in the Optilink 4 from my home theater, and was very impressed with the improvement over the Supernova 3. In fact, I'm now getting another Optilink-4 so I can have that cable on both systems.

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Topic - Wireworld Supernova 3 vs. Audioquest Optilink-4 toslink / optical digital cable review - JeffT 21:35:04 08/31/05 (4)

I've got the AQ Optilink 5, SuperNova 3+, Stereovox HDXV, PS Audio xStream Resolution... - darkmoebius 11:23:24 09/01/05 (0)

Re: Wireworld Supernova 3 vs. Audioquest Optilink-4 toslink / optical digital cable review - Duster 09:42:59 09/01/05 (0)

Re: Wireworld Supernova 3 vs. Audioquest Optilink-4 toslink / optical digital cable review - RJdio 05:06:07 09/01/05 (1)

Re: Wireworld Supernova 3 vs. Audioquest Optilink-4 toslink / optical digital cable review - JeffT 08:47:07 09/09/05 (0)

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