MultiChannel Analog vs. Optical

[bobh33]

Thanks for the fantastic "keep it simple" thread!!! Is there that much of a difference between the too? I have the HT-S894 system so I had to use non-HDMI for audio from TV to AVR. I figured optical was the best. Would the MCA have made the Grammys sound better last night? I was expecting more crispness & punch. It seemed at time that some of the commercials even sounded better. Is this possible? Is it also true, that it depends on how the local stations broadcast the audio?
Mucho Mucho Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bob

[bobh33]

And is there a difference in quality in these connections??

[bobh33]

Sorry, one more question!! I'm not sure my CD's are sounding as good as they should. Maybe, the HTIB speakers aren't good enough for music CD's?
I am playing the CD's using the Video 6 connection that I use for DVD's using the HDMI connection. A different connection maybe, although I know HDMI is the best?
Thanks!!!!!!!!

[MouseRider]

With some formats you may not have a choice but for those that do, the answer lies in which device as a DA converter you think will do a better job.

Most HTIB speakers are entry level.

[Iceman_II]

Originally Posted by MouseRider

...Most HTIB speakers are entry level.

+1

There is an interesting snippet over on Engadget where they talk about Video being More important than audio, I personally think both are important, but they bring out a good point, people are more than willing to lay down $3k for a new TV, but balk at spending more than $500 for a pair of speakers.

I had a matched set of Sony speakers, and replaced them with a very nice set of Polk RTi12s in the front, and RTi8s in the rear... it is truly amazing what a difference good speakers can make, I am loving my stereo all over again.

[sptrout]

Originally Posted by bobh33

Thanks for the fantastic "keep it simple" thread!!! Is there that much of a difference between the too? I have the HT-S894 system so I had to use non-HDMI for audio from TV to AVR. I figured optical was the best. Would the MCA have made the Grammys sound better last night? I was expecting more crispness & punch. It seemed at time that some of the commercials even sounded better. Is this possible? Is it also true, that it depends on how the local stations broadcast the audio?
Mucho Mucho Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bob

I think optical is fine for standard DD & DTS sources. I do not see any advantage with using analog connections unless you have HD-audio capability (Blu-ray or HD-DVD, DVD-D or SACD). As for the Grammys, I thought the audio was poor also, but I have read comments from many that it was great. I know that it was at least 10dB lower in level than other OTA or DTV channels.

[WickyWoo]

For TV you can get up to Dolby Digital 5.1

As far as the sound, it's unpredictable, and totally depends on how the sources encodes it, and your local affiliate broadcasts it. For example cable may strip the 5.1 down to stereo and lower the video bitrate to save bandwidth

[dobyblue]

I didn't know that any cable/satellite boxes carried multi-channel analog outputs, but if any do I would be very surprised if they were better at decoding the 5.1 to analog than your receiver would be.

Go optical, digital coaxial or HDMI for your cable/satellite box.

[bobh33]

Thanks guys! Actually I have the cable coxial hooked direct into the TV. I found out that we could get 7 hd channels free just by auto programming digital channels on my DLP. On my AVR, on certain public TV shows it even shows DTS apparently coming in but below it it might say ProLogic II, etc. Any ideas on this? If you go with a dish, do you eliminate instances where the cable company reduces bandwith on certain broadcasts, etc?