What is the difference between Monster Cable, Optical - Interlink Lightspeed 200 (ILS200) versus the

What are the differences in specs? Which one is higher/lesser grade? What makes the higher grade cable better?

I agree (because they're 100% right) with the guys who said it shouldn't matter. With optical digital, the signal gets through or it doesn't. Any decent optical cable should be capable of transmitting a signal a few feet without having any ill effects on it.

Things that can have an effect:

Ends that are precisely shaped and polished.

Connectors that fit tightly.

Some may argue this... but I've heard an improvement in glass and plastic cables that are made up of many tiny strands over the basic wide plastic cables. May be some sort of "ghosting" effect caused by light reflecting off of bends on a single, wide fiber optic cable that causes problems between some lower cost, less than perfect optical transmitters / sensors.

Some of the higher-priced Monster Cable offerings may offer improvements in these areas. I'm sure some don't as well!!!

I prefer the glass cables because they are made up of many thin strands and the ends are usually glass also. Ends will not cloud, lose their shape or lose their polish over time. Can find good deals on some decent quality glass cables on eBay. Every bit as good as any of the offerings from Monster Cable IMO.

I prefer to use a coax digital cable whenever possible. Always sounds better to me. Might be that the optical sending / receiving sections built into my mid-fi level gear are less than perfect. Take a look at their website... The differences in each cable line should be explained. As with virtually all manufacturers, the more expensive the model, either the more you get or the better it is in some way. Cable mfrs all compete for business by having a niche. There is no absolutely correct answer without knowing the spec of each piece of equipment to be used. Unless you are willing to do a lot of research and engineering I recommend, professionally, that you choose your cable by budget which should be based on the cost and quality of your equipment. The entire system is as good as the weakest link. Optical cable is just fiber optics. The only diff amone ALL the different brands is: is the fiber glass (better + more expensive) or is it plastic (not as good but less expensive).

It doesn't matter a dam bit really. Buy a $10 optical cable from Radio Shack, it will work every bit as well as Monster. Digital cables are not like analog. With digital, you either have a signal or you don't. A more epensive/better manufactured cable will not sound one bit better. Just get the cheapest cable that works and that's as good as the sound can be.

Sorry my answer isn't quite technical but your question doesn't require a technical answer.

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