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Digital Optical OR Digital Coax???
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goose2000
Junior Member
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3. January 2005 @ 05:35 |
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I have been unsure of what the BEST type of cable to use for exchanging Digital signals, whether it be Coax or Optical. I am currently using both types on my Denon AVC-A1SRA Surround Amplifier. But cannot pick out the better sound.
So give your opinions on what you think is better...
Optical or Coax
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ghost640
Junior Member
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3. January 2005 @ 10:17 |
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Hi Goose, just noticed your thread, I've been looking at the same issue over on the Denon 2805 Setup thread.
http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/138419
I've found lots of discussion on the Home Theater and Sound and Vision sites. Bottom line seems to be that there is little acoustic difference between the two. Optical inputs seem to be more sensitive to damage than Coax, but Coax might be susceptible to electrical interference.
Most of the users seem to think that the extra layer of conversion to a light signal and back is a non-issue.
I'm still undecided, but leaning towards coax.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 3. January 2005 @ 10:25
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ghost640
Junior Member
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5. January 2005 @ 04:08 |
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I did finally pick up a digital coax cable, $16 for a 6 ft cable, compared with $26 for the optical version by the same company. It sounds great, and I've replaced 5 cables with one! Too cool.
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havingfun
Junior Member
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5. January 2005 @ 10:49 |
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I had a same dilemma for a very long time. Honestly though, I can't tell the difference between the two. When I tried to listen very carefully, I seemed to notice the very slight difference but not enough to prefer one over the other as far as sound quality wise in my ears and experience. All my digital hookups in my pre/pro is used up but if I have a choice, I tend to use coax more than optical due to its sturdiness and its cost especially long one. Several my other friends did tried to convince me one way or another but I still can't tell difference enough to prefer one sound over other, they just sound little different but not necessarily better.
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ghost640
Junior Member
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5. January 2005 @ 11:58 |
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When you think about it, the cable is just sending bits, 0s or 1s, into the DAC. There's really no issue of quality involved, and I doubt if the DAC can tell the difference. Hence, your ears can't either!
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d-rock
Account closed as per user's own request
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6. January 2005 @ 09:15 |
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I tend to agree with most on this thread: you can't tell the difference. I use mostly optical since my Sony amp has four of these and only one digital coax.
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d-rock
Account closed as per user's own request
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6. January 2005 @ 09:16 |
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I tend to agree with most on this thread: you can't tell the difference. I use mostly optical since my Sony amp has four of these and only one digital coax.
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Nixxter
Newbie
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22. January 2005 @ 03:43 |
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I'm running a Panasonic 6.1 that supports both. One of my DVD players has both types of outputs. Using high quality cables, I found optical to be slightly superior over coaxial - especially with the 3 rear speakers. I guess it depends on not only your "ear" but also the system and speakers you're using, as optical cables do cost more. I'm running high end, so the extra $10 is worth it to me. However, a less expensive system may not make a noticable difference worth the extra cost.
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Senior Member
1 product review
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30. January 2005 @ 23:23 |
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Optical is better. Coax is prone to interference. Just be careful with the optic cable because if you bend it too much, you'll ruin the fibers inside and not get a true signal if you even get one at all.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 30. January 2005 @ 23:23
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p5yco
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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24. February 2005 @ 11:36 |
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a good quality coaxial cable is best, try qed, ixos or van den hul. however the difference can be apparent more so on high end equipment only. hope this helps
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Razz1234
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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26. February 2005 @ 14:09 |
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I still fail to see how a "high-end" system is going to show any difference in how it recieves 1' and 0's. This is a "digital" transfer of 1's and 0's. This is not an analog input that can effect the way a sound waves are transfered.
I think the only way anyone could hear a difference is if they are using a faulty coax or optical cable.
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spongeman
Newbie
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16. March 2005 @ 08:04 |
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can i just say that whoever thinks quality isnt affected obviosly knows nothing about hifi and electronics. digital quality IS afffected by using different cables, as the transient response will change. in a coax cable if the impedance isnt correct or there is too much capacitance in the cable bits will be lost, or "late" in arriving. getting the impedance right is critical for decent quality and is what sets quality cables apart from the rest.
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Razz1234
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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17. March 2005 @ 21:08 |
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I have tried switching input signals on my Denon 3805 ($1,200) between a high end coax and a middle/low end optical cable. The signals were coming from my Yamaha CX-1 player ($1,200 now $450). This was sent out to my Paradigm Reference 80v.2 speakers......everything here is basicaly entry level high end and me and three other friends who love audio could not HONESTLY tell the difference. We could notice a slight decrease in volume when using the optical cable but nothing else. One of my friends is a true audiophile and owns a good $25,000 stereo setup. He also was pretty suprised when we put it to the test too.
I don't just say stuff here, I try it out before popping off!
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spongeman
Newbie
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18. March 2005 @ 05:35 |
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yes that is often the case, but it will depend on your speaker setup. if you can try listening with a pair of electrostatic headphones and see what you think!
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havingfun
Junior Member
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18. March 2005 @ 06:20 |
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I too own electrostatic headphone and tried out the optical and coaxial cable. And yes they do sound different to my ear but not enough difference to prefer one over the other. I believe it's matter of which sound you prefer.
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Razz1234
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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18. March 2005 @ 17:25 |
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i don't have electrostatics...but i do have a pair of Senheiser HD600, I too noticed a slight change, but couldn't tell witch one i like better.
IMO, not worth the $100 top line digital coax cable. Most systems could benifit far better buy using that 100 bucks elsewhere. Especially lots of the guys here who are newer to HT and don't really have much.
My STUFF:
Denon 3805
Yamaha CX-1 DVD Audio player
Paradigm Reference 80 v.2 (rosewood finish)
Paradigm Reference Servo 15 sub (rosewood finish)
Paradigm Reference center v.2
Paradigm Reference ADP surrounds v.2
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 18. March 2005 @ 17:36
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Member
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11. May 2005 @ 01:14 |
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Im quite new to this subject but I think the difference is mainly on how long the cable is that you need. Apparently Coaxial works better if you have longer wires and optical if you need it for shorter distances.
I read this sumwhere and Im not sure if this is 100% true.
PS2 V10 MC Xploit 250GB HDD
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spongeman
Newbie
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11. May 2005 @ 07:36 |
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how does the 3805 sound? i was considering getting one when they first came on the market but decided against it.
i have to say im a bit dubious about the auto-setup, dont know if i would trust it
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a-vman
Junior Member
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11. May 2005 @ 18:15 |
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The 3805 is the best receiver on the market in its price range. Probably outruns most in the $1500 -2000 range. Auto set up is great, but you should use a camera tripod for the mic. Don't just set it on the back of a soft sofa. Also remember the 3805 does not come with the mic.
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AfterDawn Addict
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13. May 2005 @ 17:03 |
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A lot of people spend a lot of time arguing over Coaxial and Optical. In a sense they are pretty similar. However, really, it is not a question of Optical or Coaxial digital cables, but of the quality in the cable used. I have used both Optical and Coaxial in my home cinema system (Marantz SR7500, Marantz DV8400, Pure DAB Tuner, Arcam CD player, Pani L700 Projector, Monitor Audio Silver 7.1) and have found equally good results with bith. I used Q.E.D. cables, which were pretty expensive.
Now we can get into the whole argument about more expensive cables being a waste of time. However, let me say this. I went from a £50 ($90 roughly) Component Video cable, to a £100 ($180 roughly) DVI cable to a £300 ($550) High Quality Component Cable. I have to say the difference in each stage was amazing. All you technies out there will prob wonder why i went from a DVI back to a Component cable, but trust me, the quality is evidently much better.
The Denon is a great system by the way...
Chris
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a-vman
Junior Member
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18. May 2005 @ 18:14 |
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cable quality makes a difference in the analog world but in the digital realm a toslink is a toslink and a coax is a coax. Some are just prettier than others. A digital signal either goes from point A to point B or it doesn't. By the way the fiber (toslink) and the coax signal are exactly the same. We custom installers like the coax signal better because we custom build our cables for looks.
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AfterDawn Addict
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19. May 2005 @ 03:20 |
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Quote:
A digital signal either goes from point A to point B or it doesn't.
Noise not a factor then??
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a-vman
Junior Member
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19. May 2005 @ 04:21 |
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orphius,
Occasionally you will encounter noise issues in the poorist of situations, like the power supply being shared by other equipment in the house containing an electrical motor. My point is from 8 years of installing equipment in homes. 99% of systems will not see any difference between a $20 digital audio cable and a $100 digital audio cable. Granted a large protion of our business is new construction and we have control over the electrical wiring.
By the way, digital equipment actually causes more noise problems for other equipment. If you are using X10 control in your house and are having problems, try puting a filter at your processor or receiver.
I see in your post that you went from a $90 cable to a higher end cable and saw results. I completely agree with you on analog cables, if your equipment is high end enough to give you top quality results in the first place.
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a-vman
Junior Member
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19. May 2005 @ 04:28 |
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Here's something else to ponder. Denon's Digi-link is a $7 or $8 Cat-5 patch cable.
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AfterDawn Addict
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19. May 2005 @ 05:16 |
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Yeah, i wasnt sure if noise was a factor on digital cables, especially if running near non-magnetically shielded speakers. With Analogue, as you mentioned, it is a factor. My Q.E.D. cable is awesome for my component Video signal, which i feel is better than the DVI link i had instead.
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