noob...optical vs. coax?

gordong11 · 01-01-07, 03:10 PM

I'm curious which is better?

I'm buying an HD DVD player, and I'm curious which would be best, if any to to be hooked into a Yamaha YSP-800 DSP.

I love this Yamaha, and currently I'm using both optical and coax, but my ear isn't trained well enough to notice a difference, but for the new player I thought I'd try to do it right.

So a Monster THX optical cable vs. a Monster THX 4ft. Digital coaxial cable...which is better in theory?

Targus · 01-01-07, 03:38 PM

Quote:

which is better in theory?

neither.

ekb · 01-01-07, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Targus

neither.

Just to elaborate - neither will work (properly).

Ed

gordong11 · 01-01-07, 05:20 PM

??? neither? please explain...are you saying analog will be better?

bassbone57 · 01-01-07, 05:55 PM

Try the search feature. There are TONS of past threads covering this in detail. They all have the same information since this is such a common question. Check one of those out and you will have all of the info you could ever want.

-K

ChrisWiggles · 01-01-07, 06:49 PM

Quote:

So a Monster THX optical cable vs. a Monster THX 4ft. Digital coaxial cable...which is better in theory?

Neither. They're both SPDIF interfaces and in theory they do exactly the same thing. In reality this holds true basically too, it's not a very complicated interface and is quite robust. Also, you probably overpaid for those particular cables.

ekb · 01-01-07, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gordong11

??? neither? please explain...are you saying analog will be better?

The new audio formats are not passed at all over the coax and optical connections. They are only passed over HDMI as multichannel PCM once decoded in the player or multichannel analog after decoding and D to A conversion in the player.

Ed

louthewiz · 01-01-07, 08:10 PM

http://www.monoprice.com/products/su...d=10229&style=

Targus · 01-01-07, 08:16 PM

Quote:

noob...optical vs. coax?

I'm curious which is better?

Neither one is 'better' then the other, they both deliver the signal.

ekb · 01-01-07, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Targus

Neither one is 'better' then the other, they both deliver the signal.

What we're all trying to tell him is that niether deliver the signal.

Ed

ChrisWiggles · 01-01-07, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ekb

What we're all trying to tell him is that niether deliver the signal.

Ed

Sure they deliver the signal, just not full high-res.

ekb · 01-01-07, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisWiggles

Sure they deliver the signal, just not full high-res.

That's what the "(properly)" meant in my post #3.

Ed

MichaelJHuman · 01-04-07, 01:53 PM

To clarify...

1) Both work for passing Dolby Digital or DTS; Assuming the cables are competent, neither should deliver a a "better" signal*
2) For best audio from high def players, you need analog outs, or HDMI; If you choose HDMI, you need a RX that does 5.1-7.1 over HDMI via PCM

* Both cables should pass a bit identical stream. Some people claim a better cable reduces jitter. Others claim most jitter is inaudible. There are countless threads online devoted to this sort of debate if you are bored.

thedingo13 · 01-04-07, 02:22 PM

Question...if you go the analog route...do you then need a special receiver that will do 5.1 or 7.1 from an analog signal...or will any 7.1 receiver do this?

MichaelJHuman · 01-04-07, 04:13 PM

Its as simple as checking the RX's specs for presence and number of analog inputs.

thedingo13 · 01-04-07, 04:16 PM

Ah..so if each analog input has only a red and white connection, then my receiver only supports two-channel analog input.

vinay60 · 01-06-07, 03:28 PM

Hello,

I thought I have setup my system in the best possible way until I read this post.

I have connected the Oppo DVD player to HK AVR240 via an optical cable for a 5.1 setup. Does it mean that it would be better if I were to connect 5.1 output from the DVD player to the HK receiver 5.1 input? I always thought that 'digital' will be better than 'analog'. Or is it true only when I am using it with the HDMI interface and the RX does not support HDMI audio?

FYI, I am not using HDMI cable from Oppo yet as my TV does not support HDMI input. For now it's just component video out to the TV from the Oppo. Thanks.

trekguy · 01-06-07, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinay60

I have connected the Oppo DVD player to HK AVR240 via an optical cable for a 5.1 setup. Does it mean that it would be better if I were to connect 5.1 output from the DVD player to the HK receiver 5.1 input? I always thought that 'digital' will be better than 'analog'. Or is it true only when I am using it with the HDMI interface and the RX does not support HDMI audio?
.

Maybe or maybe not. If the DVD player has better DACs or surround effect processors than the AVR, then using the discrete 5.1 audio outs may make a difference you can hear. If the player has some processing option not on your AVR that you like, such as re-eq you may want to use the 5.1 analog outs.

If the AVR has better DACs or sound field processors you may be able to hear the difference and will want to a digital coax or optical connection to the AVR.

Most people vote for using the AVR's processors via a digital connection on the assumption that the AVR is going to be better or to avoid extra cables, or because they can hear a difference. I've never tried it myself -always digital to the AVR.

Sonic icons · 01-07-07, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinay60

Hello,

I thought I have setup my system in the best possible way until I read this post.

I have connected the Oppo DVD player to HK AVR240 via an optical cable for a 5.1 setup. Does it mean that it would be better if I were to connect 5.1 output from the DVD player to the HK receiver 5.1 input? I always thought that 'digital' will be better than 'analog'.

The digital connection that you have now - making use of surround sound processing and D/A convertors in the HK receiver, rather than the Oppo (970 or 981) player - is most likely best for listening to CDs and standard DVDs (DVD-Video, usually with Dolby Digital or DTS surround sound).

However, there are some types of discs with "higher-resolution" audio that cannot be sent over the optical digital connection. These include DVD-Audio and SACD, that can play on your existing Oppo 970 or 981 player. As well as the audio tracks of many (most?) HD-DVD and Blu-Ray discs (of course, you would need a new player for either of those). To listen to the high-resolution audio with your existing receiver, you would need to use the 5.1 analog inputs.

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gordong11 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 431	noob...optical vs. coax? I'm curious which is better? I'm buying an HD DVD player, and I'm curious which would be best, if any to to be hooked into a Yamaha YSP-800 DSP. I love this Yamaha, and currently I'm using both optical and coax, but my ear isn't trained well enough to notice a difference, but for the new player I thought I'd try to do it right. So a Monster THX optical cable vs. a Monster THX 4ft. Digital coaxial cable...which is better in theory?

01-01-07, 05:55 PM	#5 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
bassbone57 Advanced Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Huskerland Posts: 716	Try the search feature. There are TONS of past threads covering this in detail. They all have the same information since this is such a common question. Check one of those out and you will have all of the info you could ever want. -K __________________ ISF Calibrator Audyssey Pro Installer Go Big Red!!!

01-01-07, 08:10 PM	#8 \| Link
louthewiz Resident Enforcer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Brooklyn U.S.A. Posts: 4,081	http://www.monoprice.com/products/su...d=10229&style= __________________ De-interlacing explained: http://www.hqv.com/technology/index1...TOKEN=92875981 Rainbow effect? : http://www.dietforum.net/balagee/projected/rainbow.html Lou

01-04-07, 04:13 PM	#15 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
MichaelJHuman AVS Special Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 9,452	Its as simple as checking the RX's specs for presence and number of analog inputs.

01-01-07, 05:20 PM	#4 \| Link
gordong11 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 431	??? neither? please explain...are you saying analog will be better?

01-04-07, 01:53 PM	#13 \| Link
MichaelJHuman AVS Special Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 9,452	To clarify... 1) Both work for passing Dolby Digital or DTS; Assuming the cables are competent, neither should deliver a a "better" signal* 2) For best audio from high def players, you need analog outs, or HDMI; If you choose HDMI, you need a RX that does 5.1-7.1 over HDMI via PCM * Both cables should pass a bit identical stream. Some people claim a better cable reduces jitter. Others claim most jitter is inaudible. There are countless threads online devoted to this sort of debate if you are bored.

01-04-07, 02:22 PM	#14 \| Link
thedingo13 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 140	Question...if you go the analog route...do you then need a special receiver that will do 5.1 or 7.1 from an analog signal...or will any 7.1 receiver do this?

01-04-07, 04:16 PM	#16 \| Link
thedingo13 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 140	Ah..so if each analog input has only a red and white connection, then my receiver only supports two-channel analog input.

01-06-07, 03:28 PM	#17 \| Link
vinay60 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 35	Hello, I thought I have setup my system in the best possible way until I read this post. I have connected the Oppo DVD player to HK AVR240 via an optical cable for a 5.1 setup. Does it mean that it would be better if I were to connect 5.1 output from the DVD player to the HK receiver 5.1 input? I always thought that 'digital' will be better than 'analog'. Or is it true only when I am using it with the HDMI interface and the RX does not support HDMI audio? FYI, I am not using HDMI cable from Oppo yet as my TV does not support HDMI input. For now it's just component video out to the TV from the Oppo. Thanks.