[FXDWG]

Right now I have an optical cable connecting my digital receiver to my digital cable box to get 5.1 sound during TV broadcasts such as the WS.

I feel it sounds fine, but in talking with one of the guys at my local HT store, he indicated that I should be using a digital coax cable instead, and wanted to sell me a $70 Monster coax. He said this would make the sound "better"


Would I actually notice any difference at all switching to the coax?

And in this case would "better" simply be a relative term since we are only dealing with broadcast TV sound?


What do you guys think?

 

[Joxer]

No I doubt you would hear a difference. The salesman however would notice a big difference in his profit!

 

[AkaStp]

There are numerous threads about this in this and other forums (such as DVD Players). Some people will claim that one sounds better than the other, some will claim that coaxial cables are more robust than optical, and so on and so with no clear outcome. At the end of the day there is little to choose between the two so pick the one that works best for you at a $$$ level you feel comfortable with. If the Monsters are too expensive (there is a less expensive THX line available now) you can get Acoustic Research ditial coax and optical cables for half the price at BB or CC. Probably no harm in sticking with the optical cable you already have. Also, consider if you have enough of the appropriate digital coax and/or optical inputs at your receiver. If you are still curious and need your curiosity satisfied, purchase a digital coax cable from BB or CC where you can return it in 30 days if you can't hear a difference (I doubt that you will ;-)

 

[Rick_R]

These are digital connections. If there was any loss in the connection it would result in lost bits which would result in completely lost sound or poping. I assume you are not hearing this so switching cables would result in no difference in sound quality. Me? I use Target optical cables.


Rick R

 

[mudder]

I have both types of inputs being used right now, coax for the 6ch DVD and optical for Satellite and I can't really hear any difference. I think if you were going a long way (50' or more) you might hear something more noticeable. I'm using the $3 optical from partsexpress and made my own coax. Both sound great.

 

[greywolf]

The only question is whether the salesman was honestly ignorant and mistaken, or he knew better and was lying to make a sale. Also, the cheapest, rattiest piece of coax with RCA ends that isn't physically broken or shorted out will do just as well for digital audio as that $70 Monster cable.


Digital audio or video in typical lengths regardless of cable cost or type will have either a perfect signal or short to perpertual times of no signal at all. With video that would vary from occasional blocking to blackness and with audio that would vary from occasional popping to total silence.