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AudioQuest Pearl Digital Optical Cable
As low as £29.95 £24.96
SKU
AQ Pearl Optical
Lifetime
New
24 hours
AudioQuest Pearl Digital Optical cable is constructed with low-dispersion fibers and precision polished fiber ends all contained within a black/gray stripe in-wall rated PVC jacket.
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AudioQuest Pearl Digital Optical Cable
The audio frontier is all abuzz these days with the pleasure possible though HDMI, USB, FireWire® and Ethernet connections. However, these current generation digital technologies are only part of the story, just as the challenge of designing, manufacturing and choosing the best analog interconnects and speaker cables is as important as ever. The S/P-DIF (Sony® Philips Digital InterFace), which arrived in 1983 along with the CD, is still very much a part of our world today. S/P-DIF is transmitted through Digital Coax and Toslink fiber optics (EIA-J), making them still some of the most important cables in electronic entertainment.
While, thanks to HDMI, Toslink is not so often used to connect a DVD player to an A/V receiver, Toslink connectors are common on cable-boxes, TV sets, subwoofers, all sorts of products. And now, the 3.5mm Mini Optical connector, also somewhat incorrectly known as Mini-Toslink, is everywhere … from the 3.5mm dual-purpose headphone jack on a Mac laptop, to inputs on some of the finest portables.
For these many reasons, AudioQuest has refined and renewed our line of serious high performance OptiLink cables. All models and all lengths are now available Toslink to Toslink and Toslink to 3.5mm Mini Optical. When the question is “how can a fiber-optic cable change the sound?” … the answer is easier to explain than for almost any other type of cable. If the light source were a coherent laser, firing into a vacuum, all the light would stay straight, arriving at its destination at the same time. Even if the LED light source in a Toslink system were coherent, the light entering a fiber-optic cable is scattered and dispersed by imperfections and impurities in the fiber. This can be measured as a loss of amplitude … but amplitude is not the problem, a 50% true loss would have no effect on sound quality.
The problem is that the dispersed light does get through the cable, but only after it has taken a longer path, like a pool ball bouncing off the side-rails, causing it to arrive later. This delayed part of the signal prevents the computer charged with decoding this information from being able to decode properly, or even at all. The inability to decode shows first at higher frequencies (not audio frequencies, this is a mono stream of digital audio information), so reduced bandwidth is a measurable signature of light being dispersed by a fiber. The punch line: The less dispersion in the fiber, the less distortion in the final analog audio signal presented to our ears.
There is another serious dispersal mechanism in the Toslink system. The fiber is a relatively huge 1.0mm in diameter, and the LED light source is also relatively large, spraying light into the fiber at many different angles. Even if the fiber were absolutely perfect, the signal would be spread across time because light rays entering at different angles take different length paths and arrives with different amounts of delay.
The almost complete solution to this problem is to use hundreds of much smaller fibers in a 1.0mm bundle. Because each fiber is limited as to what angle of input can enter the fiber, there is far less variety, and far less dispersion over time. This narrow-aperture effect is similar to how a pin-hole camera can take a picture without a lens … by letting in light at only a very limited range of angles, a picture can be taken, whereas removing the lens from a wider aperture would make photography impossible. Less light gets through a multi-fiber cable, but the light that does get into the fibers comes out within in a much smaller time-envelope.
So there is one problem, the dispersion of light across time … and two avenues towards a better result: less dispersion in the fiber (better polymers and ultimately quartz), and less dispersion by filtering the input angle. How simple is that! Listen and enjoy.
Specification :
- Low-Dispersion Fiber
- Low-Jitter (Digital Timing Errors)
- Precision Polished Fiber Ends
- Black/Gray Stripe In-Wall Rated PVC
About AudioQuest
AudioQuest has been the largest cable supplier to the high-end specialist market for many years. AudioQuest is sold in several hundred outlets in the US and in over sixty countries. Bill Lowe (Founder) is especially pleased that this success has been possible despite his insistence that the foundation of the company, and the foundation of AudioQuest marketing, must be the performance of the product. In the audio world, many professionals have learned that it is not always convenient to listen to the products they sell … they might learn something they don’t want to know! Bill has always understood the challenge of basing the existence of AudioQuest on the performance of the product. However, to Bill, this is the only reasonable way to do business and the only acceptable way to combine his passion for music (and all things high performance), with his need to make a living.
Specification :
- Low-Dispersion Fiber
- Low-Jitter (Digital Timing Errors)
- Precision Polished Fiber Ends
- Black/Gray Stripe In-Wall Rated PVC
UK Delivery
1. We use Royal Mail 1st Class Services as a Standard Postage Option
Orders received before 4.30pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) are usually dispatched the same day by FIRST CLASS post (unless premium postal or timed courier services are selected), subject to stock availability. Over 98% of our orders are usually delivered the next working day including Saturdays.
Standard delivery is usually within 2-3 working days, although 98% of all orders are delivered the next working day including Saturdays . In extreme cases, such as delivery to the Highlands and Islands, this may take 3 days.
All items are fully insured and come with an invoice from Futureshop.co.uk. We use the Royal Mail for delivery of small packages and DPD or Interlink Express for items that weigh over 2KG. Items over 2KG are fully insured and will usually be delivered within 48 hours of placing your order Monday to Friday subject to stock availability. For International orders, we use FedEx Services where customers have selected this option.
Please note, special orders for non-standard cable lengths or custom-made cables may be subject to longer delivery time-scales. This may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
We offer 'Free UK delivery on orders over £99' subject to the following terms & conditions:
- Applies only to orders with £99 or more of items (including VAT at the UK rate), at FutureShop.co.uk
- Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK (excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by UK Mail).
- Applies only to deliveries to addresses within mainland UK and Northern Ireland addresses. Applies only to orders that are to be delivered to a single Mainland UK delivery address.
- You will not be eligible for free delivery on your order if any items are cancelled or returned for a refund, bringing the total order amount below £99. Where items are returned, the refund due will be the cost of the item less any postage costs.
- We reserve the right to change or discontinue 'Free delivery on orders over £99 promotion at any time.
- FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OVER £99 OFFER DOES NOT APPLY TO TRADE CUSTOMERS.
Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD or Interlink Express next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK.
Free Delivery for orders over £99 excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by DPD or Interlink Express.
2. Special Delivery UK - Guaranteed Next Working Day
We have 99.9% of the UK covered With Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery. We guarantee delivery to most UK addresses by 1pm the next working day. This includes Northern Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey. Some places take longer to deliver to but we still guarantee delivery within three working days by 5.30 PM.
For the Next Day Special Delivery service, orders must be received by futureshop.co.uk by 4.30pm weekdays. Orders after the 4.30pm deadline cannot be guaranteed for same day dispatch.
Please note, Royal Mail Special Delivery for next working day may not be possible where non-standard cable lengths are ordered. If this is the case, the item will be shipped via The Royal Mail Special Delivery service as soon as the cable is custom made.
For orders weighing over 2KG, we reserve the right to ship items using Next Day Pre-Noon Courier Services where Royal Mail Special Delivery option has been selected.
3. Channel Islands & Northern Ireland
We accept orders from all Channel Islands including Alderney, Jersey, Guernsey and Sark. Unless you select a premium service, Items weighing under 2KG are delivered using our standard UK delivery option above. For items weighing over 2KG, a surcharge may be applied for all deliveries to the Channel Islands as well as Northern Ireland.
European Countries
Deliveries to EU member states are subject to 20% VAT. We offer the following shipping services:
- Royal Mail First Class International Untracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 10 working days.
- Royal Mail First Class International Tracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 3 to 7 working days.
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Economy - Item are usually delivered within 48 to 72 hours
Worldwide - Excluding UK & Europe
Deliveries outside of the EU are not subject to 20% VAT and so the 20% tax on items is automatically deducted when you login or register.
We offer the following shipping services:
- Royal Mail First Class International Untracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 15 working days.
- Royal Mail First Class International Tracked Airmail - Items are usually delivered within 10-15 working days.
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm in order to ship items the same day, subject to stock availability.
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm in order to ship items the same day, subject to stock availability.
Where the actual weight of the package significantly exceeds the shipping cost charged on orders, we may write to you for an additional shipping charge. For larger orders, items may be shipped in multiple packets.
Customer Reviews
5 /5.0 of 22 Reviews
Not all optical cables are the same!
ygarth
7 Jun 2024
Verified Buyer
With a new setup, I've been using a 30-year-old optical link.
The piano didn't sound good with it (plunk), and I kind of wondered where the rest of the music was.
However, with this new AudioQuest cable, the sound is full-on, with loads of detail, and the piano sounds great!
Such a great buy.
The piano didn't sound good with it (plunk), and I kind of wondered where the rest of the music was.
However, with this new AudioQuest cable, the sound is full-on, with loads of detail, and the piano sounds great!
Such a great buy.
Does the job perfectly.
Grant Waller
21 Sep 2023
Verified Buyer
After reading the info on this and other comparable cables, I learnt that this particular one can give up to 145 picoseconds jitter. I then checked the picosecond and confirmed it was a trillionth of a second. The blurb surrounding audiophile-quality optical cable says that all's well if it's better than about 40 millionths of a second.
Well, it's almost a million times better, so that'll do me.
Works great the first time.
Well, it's almost a million times better, so that'll do me.
Works great the first time.
Execellent quality optical cable
Simon Hague
25 Nov 2022
Verified Buyer
I use to pipe audio from a TV through a DAC unit (Blustream DAC12AU) to an amp via the RCA connectors. Very pleased and impressed with the results. As with any cable (optical or electrical), the quality of the connectors is a crucial aspect of good cable performance. This optical cable is very well made and attaches and holds to the connection ports firmly, with no play.
It is highly recommended. Also, recommend AudioQuest Pearl HDMI cables too.
It is highly recommended. Also, recommend AudioQuest Pearl HDMI cables too.
It pays to buy the best
Mike
9 Aug 2022
Verified Buyer
My TV is connected to a pair of QAcoustics M20 active speakers via a Toslink cable.
I have tried various "cheap" optical cables (including Amazon basics which came highly recommended) and was very unsatisfied with the sound. Eventually, I bit the bullet and decided to try the Audioquest Pearl and "wow", the speakers came to life.
Gone was the sibilant muddy sound to be replaced with crystal clear speech and tuneful music. The lesson: Cheap is not always the best.
I have tried various "cheap" optical cables (including Amazon basics which came highly recommended) and was very unsatisfied with the sound. Eventually, I bit the bullet and decided to try the Audioquest Pearl and "wow", the speakers came to life.
Gone was the sibilant muddy sound to be replaced with crystal clear speech and tuneful music. The lesson: Cheap is not always the best.
A superb little cable that delivers the goods!
Bob K
18 Feb 2022
Verified Buyer
I am so glad I contacted Future Shop in the hope that I would be able to get advice on a problem I was having with my hi-fi set-up.
My sincerest gratitude to Adam Senior for recommending the AudioQuest Pearl optical cable and a Blustream DAC12AU to go with it: both have proved their worth in every sense of the word. I'd never heard of Future Shop until a friend recommended them, but if I ever have any cabling/connection issues in future, I'll certainly know where to come - the best of advice and service in one neat package. Truly delighted!
My sincerest gratitude to Adam Senior for recommending the AudioQuest Pearl optical cable and a Blustream DAC12AU to go with it: both have proved their worth in every sense of the word. I'd never heard of Future Shop until a friend recommended them, but if I ever have any cabling/connection issues in future, I'll certainly know where to come - the best of advice and service in one neat package. Truly delighted!
Good and light cable
Julien Passelac
25 Apr 2021
Verified Buyer
I needed a longer cable due to changing my setup. This one is very light in comparison which I prefer. Good cable for the price.
First time using Futureshop, order processed and delivered very quickly
First time using Futureshop, order processed and delivered very quickly
Solved a problem
Tom r
19 Nov 2020
Verified Buyer
I own a bluesound powernode 2i which has two optical / analogue inputs.
Using analogue from TV to powernode caused terrible lip sync issues, and bluesound support are not interested in dealing with artificial delay (prioritising multi device grouping over AV).
I bought a optical cable to see if that would improve things from TV to powernode. Low and behold it has!
Delay is now negligible, considering cost of all other equipment, this cable is worth it to solve the problem.
Using analogue from TV to powernode caused terrible lip sync issues, and bluesound support are not interested in dealing with artificial delay (prioritising multi device grouping over AV).
I bought a optical cable to see if that would improve things from TV to powernode. Low and behold it has!
Delay is now negligible, considering cost of all other equipment, this cable is worth it to solve the problem.