They're not contradictory terms.

Dead == That means it sounds very very flat across the whole range of frequencies.

Analytical/Harshness == An incredible amount of detail. Details in the music are represented so clearly, so precisely, that it (potentially) ruins the experience.

Vinyl recordings tend to be noisy, but there is something in the midrange that I can not duplicate that creates a sense of presence and warmth. When you hear a good vinyl recording on very good equipment, it sounds rich, not so much like you are there, but it sounds like music. You can crank up the volume on the empeg and not duplicate this. I tried using the EQ to warm the music up and can not duplicate this.

Some people of course, like an analytical sound. But it is less enjoyable to listen to.

The toslink cables don't have a clock signal. The receiving end makes intelligent guesses. ;-) Not a big deal really. -- The point I'm putting forth is it is possible to interfere with a digtal signal on a metal cable, while it is not easy to mess up the same signal on an optical medium.

As for the value of $8000 cables--like I said, there is a point of diminishing returns. Psychology aside, below the point of diminishing returns the quality, features and construction differences can be discerned.

Calvin