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Does digital optical out really make a difference

1997 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by GregLee, Feb 10, 2010

livingaboard

Discussion Starter · Feb 9, 2010

So if I have an xbox 360, and a bluray player with digital optical out and one optical in on the receiver, is it really going to make a difference if I just use the HDMI cables and bypass the optical?

I am not an audiophile and my speakers won't be high end when I get them.

If I do use optical inputs how do I get two or more outputs to adapt to a single input? Is there an adapter?

thanks for any help. I asked for some advice on speakers a few days ago and nobody has offered any advice over there.

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ChrisWiggles

· #2 · Feb 9, 2010

Does your receiver have HDMI inputs and does it accept audio via HDMI?

If so, then that's likely the preferred route to go. You cannot get high-resolution audio via SPDIF (optical).

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livingaboard

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 9, 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisWiggles /forum/post/18102898

Does your receiver have HDMI inputs and does it accept audio via HDMI?

If so, then that's likely the preferred route to go. You cannot get high-resolution audio via SPDIF (optical).

I am still trying to figure out which receiver to get but it will have a minimum of 4 hdmi inputs.

Thanks for the response. I will just stick to HDMI

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sivadselim

· #4 · Feb 9, 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by livingaboard /forum/post/18102836

...............is it really going to make a difference if I just use the HDMI cables and bypass the optical?

I do not really understand what you are asking. HDMI will do everything that an optical connection can do and more.

Quote:
Originally Posted by livingaboard /forum/post/18102836

If I do use optical inputs how do I get two or more outputs to adapt to a single input? Is there an adapter?

What receiver are you (or will you be) using that features only one optical input? Doies, it (or will it) have a digital coax input and if so will any of your devices have a digital coax output? If your only connection option is a single optical input, yes, there are adapters that will allow you to connect two (or more) devices to a single optical input.

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m_vanmeter

· #5 · Feb 10, 2010

some entry level receivers with 4 HDMI inputs and full audio processing over HDMI to consider: Onkyo SR507, Yamaha V565, Denon 790 or 1910, Pioneer 1019

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livingaboard

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 10, 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by sivadselim /forum/post/18103220

I do not really understand what you are asking. HDMI will do everything that an optical connection can do and more.

What receiver are you (or will you be) using that features only one optical input? Doies, it (or will it) have a digital coax input and if so will any of your devices have a digital coax output? If your only connection option is a single optical input, yes, there are adapters that will allow you to connect two (or more) devices to a single optical input.

I didn't have a particular receiver in mind. All the ones I had looked at had one optical input. I don't know anything about digital coax input/output. I thought that the optical was the **** as far as quality but I am learning that it must be the old school way and that HDMI is the way to go. No big deal, sounds good to me and easier

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livingaboard

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 10, 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by m_vanmeter /forum/post/18106779

some entry level receivers with 4 HDMI inputs and full audio processing over HDMI to consider: Onkyo SR507, Yamaha V565, Denon 790 or 1910, Pioneer 1019

Thanks, I will research those.

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Tulpa

· #8 · Feb 10, 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by livingaboard /forum/post/18108673

I didn't have a particular receiver in mind. All the ones I had looked at had one optical input. I don't know anything about digital coax input/output. I thought that the optical was the **** as far as quality but I am learning that it must be the old school way and that HDMI is the way to go. No big deal, sounds good to me and easier

If you just play DVDs and older games, then optical and HDMI both will net you the same sound. HDMI combines the video and audio cables in one.

If you play Blu-Rays, and don't want to use legacy Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1 but want to use TrueHD and DTS-MA, then you want to use HDMI. (There is also multi-channel analog audio but that's another can of worms.)

It depends on what you want to do, but if HDMI audio is available on the receiver, I say use it.

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livingaboard

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 10, 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tulpa /forum/post/18108719

If you just play DVDs and older games, then optical and HDMI both will net you the same sound. HDMI combines the video and audio cables in one.

If you play Blu-Rays, and don't want to use legacy Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1 but want to use TrueHD and DTS-MA, then you want to use HDMI. (There is also multi-channel analog audio but that's another can of worms.)

It depends on what you want to do, but if HDMI audio is available on the receiver, I say use it.

I'll be dumping the 65 inch projection for 65 inch plasma, getting a bluray player, using my xbox and dish network for tv and buying a new receiver. Sounds like HDMI is for me.

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GregLee

· #10 · Feb 10, 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by livingaboard /forum/post/18108830

Sounds like HDMI is for me.

Probably. But as several replies have suggested, your receiver needs to be capable of processing HDMI audio. My Pioneer 1017 does have HDMI inputs, but it doesn't process audio from them.

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