Digital Coax or Optical?

[Alaskankaijudude]

I have a Blu Ray player connected via Digital Coax. I also have a DVD player that I want to hook up via Digital Coax (currently Analog). Is there any downside to hooking up the Blu Ray via Optical. I dont have that option with the DVD player, it's either Analog or Digital Coax and my receiver only has one Digital Coax input. My Blu Ray is my primary player and if Optical is a step down from Digital Coax, I'm not gonna mess with it. Thanx.

[un4gvn94538]

you should get the same quality sound from either

[mmdeleon2001]

i find that optical seems to have a better hmmmmm how do i say this..... not crackly when loud thang goin!!

[Alaskankaijudude]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

you should get the same quality sound from either

Would an Optical cable be a significant improvement over Analog when used with a CD player? I pretty much just listen to everything straight Stereo so I'm thinkin' Analog is fine in that case? Thanx.

[GreenMotion]

There really isn't much difference between optical digital or coax digital. Some groups claim optical is better; other groups claim coax is a tad better. Either way; both have enough bandwidth to carry the dolby digital or dts signal.

Now, if you want to be able to carry the newer lossless or hd streams, it's a totally different story ofcourse. In that case neither one will be sufficient and will require HDMI instead.

And oh, to answer the other question. I have my CD player hooked up via analog and optical, and I really can't tell a difference between the two.

[musicman1999]

If you use optical there is an extra layer of conversion when the electrical signal is converted to light and then back again at the other end. That said i have compared the 2 on my system and found the coax to be slightly better but the big advantage i find is in the connector, coax is much more solid and the cables are better built. The only time optical would be chosen over coax is in the case of RF interference, optical is more resistant than coax.

bill

[Clark Kent]

In the average home installation there should be no significant sound quality differences. But they do have their differences. Optical for one doesn't suffer from electrical interference issues like coax can. If cost is a consideration go with Digital Coax. Cheaper optical cords are made very poorly and can negatively impact the sound quality. At the higher end things like jitter come into play for each type of cable.

[siamus]

Originally Posted by musicman1999

"That said i have compared the 2 on my system and found the coax to be slightly better but the big advantage i find is in the connector, coax is much more solid and the cables are better built. The only time optical would be chosen over coax is in the case of RF interference, optical is more resistant than coax.

I agree with that statement completely.

The old fashioned looking connectors for the coax cables are much more solid. I have broken at least one Optical cord but never the coax or any older RCA wires.

[cxbeailueuc]

At the higher end things like jitter come into play for each type of cable.