Up until about three weeks ago I had never explored the Toslink option on my Stello units. After a couple of pints at my favorite watering hole in Austin,Tx and a visit to Fry's electronics I came home with a $17.00 Matix toslink.

I replaced the Blue Marble Audio coaxial with the Matix and was surprised at how much more quiet the optical cable was...darker background, greater resolution, and an even handed forward push toward the listener without favoring any particular frequency. I was simply missing the bass slam and upper end sparkle of the BMA cable.

So, went online shopping at Parts-express last week and all 4 new Toslink's arrived yesterday. Long story short- I am in love with my Belkin Toslink -part# 249-166, $3.00. With the Belkin I do believe I hit paydirt. I now have the bass weight and upper end liveliness that I was missing with the Matix. A very close second best is the Parts-express toslink 181-040, $4.30. This P.E. Toslink is all that the Belkin is except it's just a smidge less lively than the Belkin. Both are exceptional value. The P.E. really locks on really tight to both Stello units so that's and edge the P.E. cable has over the Belkin. The Belkin connects tightly to the transport and somewhat loose on the DAC.

I dismissed the Opti-glow optical cable as when I opened the package I realized the connectors themselves are plastic so not even going to bother with them. I also dismissed the Acoustic Research Toslink and put it on the HT straight away after listening to the Belkin. I don't want to disconnect the Belkin.

The bottom line...I am enjoying my $3.00 Toslink over my $300.00 BMA Coax and am kicking myself in the pants that its taken me all this time to discover this toslink stuff.... lol

L