Author Topic: Optical vs Coaxial connection (Read 27830 times)

Assassin101 · « **Reply #270 on:** Sep 27, 2008 at 12:53 AM »

i'm using optical as well to connect my dvd to the avr, but when i get back i'll try connecting using analog cables.

ninjababez® · « **Reply #271 on:** Oct 15, 2008 at 09:40 AM »

coax on my htpc, toslink on my ps3 .. makes sense to me .. (coffe-mate commercial tone)

migs26 · « **Reply #272 on:** May 20, 2009 at 06:16 PM »

may significant diffence ba between the two?

i was told na medyo rich in highs yung optical w/c is good daw sa HT while tamer daw yung coax
w/c is good naman in audio...

will use it primarily for HT eh...my concern is baka mas marami signal loss sa coax..dunno if my question
makes sense hehehhe

pabili · « **Reply #273 on:** May 20, 2009 at 11:56 PM »

Quote from: migs26 on May 20, 2009 at 06:16 PM

may significant diffence ba between the two?

i was told na medyo rich in highs yung optical w/c is good daw sa HT while tamer daw yung coax
w/c is good naman in audio...

will use it primarily for HT eh...my concern is baka mas marami signal loss sa coax..dunno if my question
makes sense hehehhe

If you study the anatomy of your player and receiver, you will conclude the (coax or fiber) cable has nothing to do with your sound from a CD/DVD software to the receiver. Both methods will transmit identical data. Whatever signal loss (mind you, for a 3-foot cable

) is a no brainer for the engineers of your equipment.

They are covered in their transmission mechanism.

If ever you hear differences in sound, blame the DACS of your receiver - they might have employed different DACS, one each for coax and for fiber (even though both data arrived the receiver identically). If the AVR processed both digital signal using the same DACS, then you (or the one who claimed difference) are just being unreasonably picky for nothing.

coax are tested to transmit data in computer up to 300 meters - fiber up to few kilometers. Both are in use 20+ years ago.

migs26 · « **Reply #274 on:** May 22, 2009 at 12:02 AM »

honga ano..its full digital transmission..its just stream of 1's and 0's...

inferno0270 · « **Reply #275 on:** Jun 24, 2009 at 08:33 AM »

san ba merong nabibili dito sa pinas na optical to coax converter?

wilcats · « **Reply #276 on:** Sep 15, 2009 at 09:48 AM »

Malaki ba and difference sa saound quality nun dalawa? sorry noob ako sa Audio setup

plannin to replace my old Samsung HT-X20 kase to a Samsung HT-Z220

streetsmart · « **Reply #277 on:** Sep 15, 2009 at 01:22 PM »

These are 2 different animals.

"Composite" is the single RCA cable used for video. Usually, yellow ang color. You might be referring to analog RCA connections, usually red and white.

Optical transmits audio signals in digital form. The other ways to transmit audio in digital is via coax cable and HDMI cable.

Normally, you want to transmit audio signals digitally because the receiver can then do some processing on the signal. Also, usually, the DAC (digital to analog converter) of the receiver is superior to the player.

wilcats · « **Reply #278 on:** Sep 16, 2009 at 07:58 AM »

oops RCA pala.

thanks for the info sir!

Will I hear a difference ba in sound quality?

streetsmart · « **Reply #279 on:** Sep 16, 2009 at 11:09 AM »

Quote from: wilcats on Sep 16, 2009 at 07:58 AM

Will I hear a difference ba in sound quality?

Quote from: streetsmart on Sep 15, 2009 at 01:22 PM

Optical transmits audio signals in digital form. The other ways to transmit audio in digital is via coax cable and HDMI cable.

Normally, you want to transmit audio signals digitally because the receiver can then do some processing on the signal. Also, usually, the DAC (digital to analog converter) of the receiver is superior to the player.

You should hear a difference if you have a good receiver which can do some digital processing to the signal. So it really depends on your receiver, but normally, its much better to use digital.

ProtegeManiac · « **Reply #280 on:** Sep 17, 2009 at 05:46 PM »

If your source is a DVD player, use optical. If you decide to buy a separate CDP, depending on what model it is, better buy an amp to go with it, because if it's a good CDP you'll end up skipping the DAC by using digital or doubling the D/A and A/D processes and negating the analog output circuit also if you connect it to an A/V receiver via analog. Unless your receiver has a pure direct mode that feeds the signal from hte CD input direct to the preamp section of the receiver, instead of converting back to digital to pass it through the receiver's DAC and DSP.

iiinas · « **Reply #281 on:** Sep 17, 2009 at 10:20 PM »

merging to relevant thread.

wilcats · « **Reply #282 on:** Sep 22, 2009 at 12:57 PM »

I'll just use it for the PS3.

where can I get a decent Optical cable? around 500 lang sana

kase the ones I see in some stores eh pinaka mura 1.2k

ninjababez® · « **Reply #283 on:** Sep 22, 2009 at 01:05 PM »

Quote from: wilcats on Sep 22, 2009 at 12:57 PM

I'll just use it for the PS3. where can I get a decent Optical cable? around 500 lang sana kase the ones I see in some stores eh pinaka mura 1.2k

try ace hardware

anchit · « **Reply #284 on:** Sep 22, 2009 at 01:13 PM »

Quote from: wilcats on Sep 22, 2009 at 12:57 PM

I'll just use it for the PS3. where can I get a decent Optical cable? around 500 lang sana kase the ones I see in some stores eh pinaka mura 1.2k

you can also try Electronix boutique, Audio Pro, around 600pesos.

ProtegeManiac · « **Reply #285 on:** Sep 22, 2009 at 01:44 PM »

Comparing these can't be done. A bad cable for either kind is just less susceptible to showing signal losses or distortions than analog connections, BUT, there is a difference from one cable to the next. My hardware brand optical has less than ideal PRAT compared to a used Ixos that I got cheap (only reason why I actually have a branded one

). Also listened to a set-up and various coax cables have different effects with different analog cables. Maybe some manufacturers lied about the impedance? One thing I noted though is he never talked about brands or prices, making it as blind as possible on my end. By the time he mentioned those details I already picked a combo with the coax on hte middle range of price range and the analog ICs on the higher end of the spectrum. Take note though I wouldn't be willing to spend that much myself.

One good point for comparison though would be reliability. Since I got a MiniDisc I've busted around 3 optical cables, the one that came with my MD, a Sony brand replacement that cost me P1.5k back in 2001 (no AudioPro back then, dammit), and then the stock one on my bro's MP3 MD. I have a bunch of coax cables, including the ones SkyCable installed more than 10yrs ago, and all of them still work, despite the deterioration of the plugs.

wilcats · « **Reply #286 on:** Sep 22, 2009 at 09:38 PM »

where can I find AudioPro?

dips15 · « **Reply #287 on:** Sep 22, 2009 at 09:49 PM »

I was able to buy an Audio Pro (or DS... not sure eh) optical cable for around 249 pesos from Electronics Botique. They have lots of branches in malls around the metro. I think they have branches in Robinsons Galleria, Robinson's Metroeast and Eastwood Cybermall.

wilcats · « **Reply #288 on:** Sep 23, 2009 at 04:36 PM »

I got one na kanina sa Ace Hardware. 249 pesos for the DS Optical cable.

dips15 · « **Reply #289 on:** Sep 23, 2009 at 05:01 PM »

Quote from: wilcats on Sep 23, 2009 at 04:36 PM

I got one na kanina sa Ace Hardware. 249 pesos for the DS Optical cable.

Baka nga yun rin ang nabili ko.

ProtegeManiac · « **Reply #290 on:** Sep 23, 2009 at 07:03 PM »

Yes I think that's DS. Personally the AudioPro just looks sturdier, so if you're confident that the cable won't move once installed, that's good enough. My cousin hated that one though but he tends to plug and unplug often (used it for an MD player).