digital audio output

[rh71]

The "digital audio output" slot on my digital cable settop box looks like an RCA plug... why is that? I thought digital audio was only through TosLink/Optical ?

The installer today used L and R channel RCA cables going directly from the settop box to my tv set, but I would like to switch it to digital out through my Home Theatre receiver... is TosLink the only way to get digital audio and if so, why is the output slot RCA-type ?

Actually, I don't care what the terms are as long as I can get Dolby Digital 5.1 / Surround Sound...

 

[Heisenberg]

Digital can either be through optical or coaxial cable.

 

[Aves]

It's called digital coax.

If you're cable box has a digtal coax output and the home theater reciever has a digital coax input then you're in business.

 

[rh71]

So right now with the L/R channel RCAs even going into my home theatre receiver, I won't get true surround sound ?

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: rh71
So right now with the L/R channel RCAs even going into my home theatre receiver, I won't get true surround sound ?

Not DD or DTS, just Dolby Prologic.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: rh71
So right now with the L/R channel RCAs even going into my home theatre receiver, I won't get true surround sound ?

You'll get Dolby Pro Logic, but not 5.1 digital surround. Your receiver doesn't have any coaxial digital inputs? Most have at least one optical and one coaxial.

 

[EvilYoda]

Yep...feel free to stick a regular RCA-ended cable that you have right now into the digital output and see what your receiver sees. It'll be great. (Seriously)

 

[rh71]

Hey EvilYoda... are you seriously serious - can I really do that ? You wouldn't want me to blame you for fvcking up my system.

I do have a digital coax INPUT on my receiver... (woohoo)

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: rh71
Hey EvilYoda... are you seriously serious - can I really do that ? You wouldn't want me to blame you for fvcking up my system.

I do have a digital coax INPUT on my receiver... (woohoo)

You can do it and not hurt anything. I'd eventually get a real coaxial cable though as they tend to be shielded better and so cut down on noise.

 

[rh71]

You guys rule.. even at midnight I can get good help within 15 minutes.

One last question I guess... what would be a use for the digital OUTPUT (TosLink slot) from my receiver ?

 

[bastula]

miniDisc recordings of audio - as long as it is PCM audio...?

 

[EvilYoda]

hehe...I thought it'd sound sarcastic, that's why I said "(seriously)"...but yeah, get a more appropriate cable for future use. As for the optical out, it's usually for recording purposes, yeah.

 

[ScottMac]

Now, whether your cable provider is actually SENDING DD5.1 is a completely different matter....

Keep in mind that all shows are not DD, frequently just the movie channels, and frequently, just some of the feature movies. If the digital audio output is active, you'll still get digital audio of whatever quality the provider decides to put on the wire (generally better than analog, cleaner, and better resolution in Pro-Logic.

FWIW

Scott