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Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
from Seffner, FL on 8/5/2008
Not sure what the reviewer meant when he said "optical signals begin to degrade after 5 feet." I use Multi-mode fiber at work to hundreds of meters in length, and so long as the cable hasn't been stressed, is run and terminated correctly, and is left alone once connected, the losses don't start to get significant until after 500 meters or so. Even then, we can push out to kilometer lengths without data degredation, and start multiplying by ten if using single-mode. The only difference between RS TOSLink FO cable and Monster (besides price, overwhelmingly) is that Monster certs its cable to more rigorous running geometries and its connectors and terms are also certified.
Honestly though, if you just need an optical cable to run the 6 feet between the Cable/Dish/FiOS set top box to your A/V switcher, there's absolutely nothing wrong with using this cable. If you need longer, buy longer, but buy the least expensive cable available.
The other reviewer's correct: Optical's optical: there's no need for gold connections in a FO cable!!!
It passes the bits correctly, but who cares if the connectors are "24K gold plated"? This is light, not electricity!
Don't understand some of the above reviews. Optical signals degrade after 6 feet, so long runs have special needs that I won't get into. As far as no sound difference, understand that unless you have digital info transfering, you won't hear a difference. My cable is between my pre-amp and my DVD player (which is what I use to play Cds) and the sound is amazing. Crisp, clear, spacious. Even with my EQ and BBE turned off. Do some research, you might be using the cable incorrectly.
Yamaha MX-1000U amp
Yamaha CX-1000U pre-amp
JVC NV-X44 DVD/CD/SuperVCD/VCD player
Bose 901 speakers
BBE 422A sonic maximizer
ABI 31 band graphic EQ
from Illinois on 4/19/2008
I wish RadioShack made a longer one, but this one just barely makes the run. As with any digital cables, extra high quality (such as Monster cables) only makes a difference, if any at all, on extremely long runs (50ft or more). The cable is well made, works great, and is decently priced.
Nicely built cable. Does what it is supposed to at a reasonable cost.
[0 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
not sure what the previous reviewer meant, you will see no difference, but you will hear a big difference if you set your system to allow digital. this is a audio cable, not a video cable. like all the "gold series" cables from radio shack, they are well made and a good value for economy type cables. you can spend more and get more, but they work good for me. works and sounds good on my mid level denon/boston/direct-tv set-up.
[0 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
see no change at all between optical cabel,and the cable that came with my surround sound.