Optical or Co-Ax?

Comments

• Chparmar Posts: 6,367

  Forum Member

  ✭

  20/08/04 - 17:25 #2

  Filthy the Dog wrote:

  
  Would this mean an improvement?
  Any big differences between the two soundqualitywise?
  Is one better than the other?

  
  The differences cancel each other out.
  What matters the most really is the type of cable you use.
  
  I use always use IXOS for my cabling needs.

  0
• [Deleted User] Posts: 503

  Forum Member

  ✭✭

  20/08/04 - 22:08 #3

  Actually, there is a large difference between the two.
  
  With an optical signal, the digital signal must be converted from electrical to optical at the source, then sent optically along the optical cable, then converted back again from an optical to an electrical signal at the amplifier end. It undergoes conversion twice.
  
  Using co-ax, the signal is simply sent along the cable with no need for the conversion that the optical requires; hence reduced error, jitter, etc. Also, there is more of a length limit using the optical.

  0
• [Deleted User] Posts: 577

  Forum Member

  ✭✭

  21/08/04 - 02:37 #4

  Actually, co-ax also has conversions.
  
  The co-ax has different impedence to the 'wiring' inside the box. It also goes through lossy electrical connectors.
  
  I reckon it's not such a big differene as you suggest.
  
  And then add in that the co-ax is vunerable to electrical noise, and cross talk from other nearby leads - with optical isn't - my money is on it's not so simple to distinguish a clear winner.
  
  Also, normally optical can cover greater distances than electrical - one of the reasons it's used for netwrok backbones !
  
  Hmmmmm
  
  I'm intrigued now............
  
  
  Tim.C

  0
• [Deleted User] Posts: 1,562

  Forum Member

  ✭✭✭

  21/08/04 - 03:42 #5

  I couldn't use an optical connection from my old Meridian 200 CD player to the 208 DAC because every time the central heating turned on, it made a load pop. Didn't do this when changing it to use the coax connection while leaving everything else identical. Never managed to work out what this meant but it's another piece of data.

  0
• [Deleted User] Posts: 503

  Forum Member

  ✭✭

  21/08/04 - 09:36 #6

  Tim.C wrote:

  Actually, co-ax also has conversions.
  
  The co-ax has different impedence to the 'wiring' inside the box. It also goes through lossy electrical connectors.
  
  I reckon it's not such a big differene as you suggest.
  
  And then add in that the co-ax is vunerable to electrical noise, and cross talk from other nearby leads - with optical isn't - my money is on it's not so simple to distinguish a clear winner.
  
  Also, normally optical can cover greater distances than electrical - one of the reasons it's used for netwrok backbones !
  
  Hmmmmm
  
  I'm intrigued now............
  
  
  Tim.C

  Fair point(s). Must admit that I was only reiterating what I've come across at more hifi focused forums - at Hi-Fi Choice and AV Forums. I get the impression there that coax is the preferred flavour, due mainly to the reduced risk of jitter and error in the signal.

  0
• bronx2282 Posts: 1,024

  Forum Member

  ✭✭✭

  21/08/04 - 09:57 #7

  The guy at my local hi-fi shop (Practical Hi-Fi) told me that optical had the 'edge' over coaxial.
  
  I did have a really good argument about using optical a while ago but I've forgotton it now .

  0
• [Deleted User] Posts: 4,170

  Forum Member

  ✭✭✭

  22/08/04 - 22:20 #8

  On a day to day basis, you won't hear any difference...

  0
• [Deleted User] Posts: 324

  Forum Member

  ✭

  27/08/04 - 20:17 #9

  agree with Mr Rae...
  you won't hear any difference, so use whichever is most convenient.

  0