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Optical or Co-Ax?


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Old 20-08-2004, 14:53
Filthy the Dog
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At the moment I've hooked up my DVD player to my amp with the co-ax digital connection.

The sound's great, my amp recognises DTS, Dolby 5:1, etc. from the source but...

...both also have the option to connect via optical output/input.

Would this mean an improvement?
Any big differences between the two soundqualitywise?
Is one better than the other?
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Old 20-08-2004, 17:25
Chparmar
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Originally Posted by Filthy the Dog

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.
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Old 20-08-2004, 22:08
engaged
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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.
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Old 21-08-2004, 02:37
Tim.C
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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
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Old 21-08-2004, 03:42
TrevorPH
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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.
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Old 21-08-2004, 09:36
engaged
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Originally Posted by Tim.C
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.
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Old 21-08-2004, 09:57
bronx2282
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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 .
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Old 22-08-2004, 22:20
Jim Rae
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On a day to day basis, you won't hear any difference...
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Old 27-08-2004, 20:17
cyberdog
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agree with Mr Rae...
you won't hear any difference, so use whichever is most convenient.
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