in my VERY limited understanding. . .
coax transmits soundbits via electrical energy (electrons bombarding one another) along this 'wire' at 'certain speed' and subject to contaminations...
glass optic transmits sound bits that have been converted from electrical signals into 'light beam' so it travels fasssster, and though subject to contamination, could not be as much as that of ordinary wires. . .
simple thought: if wires are better, then why are data transmission changing over to optics?
now - your IC is merely 1m long (or even less); and i don't believe you'd want your DAC 10m away or installed in another room - for ANY/WHATEVER reason (defeats the psychoanalytic & visual impact
). Will the sound-quality be REALLY different (other than a flee's whisper, assuming you really could here the difference)? I could not answer this with much confidence. . . if EVER there is a
discernable difference, it is 'usually' in the brigther side (you like that?). WHY? because it is clearer? because it is cleaner? Probably. But I really don't know - technical is different from practical and what YOU can actually hear.
simple thought 2: if the cost of 'improvement/upgrade' takes an arm and a leg, but does not include your in-law, then it's not worth it
greets!
egay