DVD audio-out...Coaxial or Optical?

[MichaelD]

Buying a new DVD player today...old one is dying fast. Currently, I'm using a Coaxial Digital Cable to make the connection b/t the DVD and the receiver. Thinking about moving over to an Optical Digital cable.

Digital is digital is digital...but is there a better digital? Please explain your rationale. Thanks.

 

[nord1899]

I'd say coax just for the sake that its cheaper. From what I've read, unless you have super high end equipment and/or really sensitive ears you won't notice the difference.

Here is my setup at home.

DVD player and CD Changer use COAX digital to receiver.
Sat Receiver and PS2 uses Optical to receiver.

 

[atrowe]

I don't think it matters much in terms of sound quality. They're both digital. I've got digital coax going from my CD player, and digital optical going from the DVD player. They both sound the same to me. I think coax is more suceptible to RF interference, but again, with a digital signal, it shouldn't matter. You're either going to get perfect sound or nothing.

 

[ICantAffordIt]

I agree with you, digital is digital. I think (though I may be wrong) that the optical cable is capable of a higher transfer rate, but I'd still go with a coax because optical connections are easier to mess up. If the connection isn't good, the little lights won't make it across and it's easier to have a bad optical connection then a bad coax one. Also, it's easier to mess up an optical cable... if you kink it, it will most likely break fibers inside.

 

[sohcrates]

i use optical for my dvd player, and have used coaxial just for fun, but don't really suggest optical it because it's more expensive.

i only use it because it's *kinda* cool to talk about how you have optical interconnects in your setup

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the input. AFA interconnects go, I use only "good stuff." Monster cable all the way. The currently Digital Coax is a Monster Cable...really thick shielding, etc. I currently have no complaints about it's performance.

I do use an optical cable (toslink) from my CD changer to the receiver...no real reason, I guess.

Thanks again. I'll just stick with the coaxial that I already have and save a few bucks...put it towards a fancier DVD. Have a nice day.

 

[madthumbs]

Depends on the lenght of the cord. Optical for long, coax for short. I've picked up opticals cheap, I think the price is going down. I'm just using optical now because that's how the xbox connects, and it gives me more connections to use it.

 

[ATLien247]

Monster Cable != "Good Stuff"

Monster Cable : Interconnects :: Bose : Loud Speakers

Anyhow, optical versus coaxial arguments aside, what DVD player are you going to buy?

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: ATLien247
Monster Cable != "Good Stuff"

Moster Cable : Interconnects :: Bose : Loud Speakers

Anyhow, optical versus coaxial arguments aside, what DVD player are you going to buy?

I realize that Monster Cable isn't the $40/foot cable that you're used to using.

It has served me very well, that's why I buy it. And yes; I DO hear and see a difference b/t Monster Cable and the $4 Radio Shack interconnects. To each his own, YMMV and all that good stuff.

I bought it already...went at lunch, it's sitting in my truck. Bought this one. I have no need for Audio DVD decoding and all that. I have a very nice Sony CD Changer for music. I bought progressive scan b/c my next TV will be HDTV-capable. This player got excellent reviews on more than one site.

 

[TNTrulez]

So you would pay the extra $$$ per foot for the just for the Monster on the plastic huh?
Granted, Radioshack stuff isn't all that good but there are other places where you can get equivalent to Monster for much cheaper.

 

[thomsbrain]

people buy monster because they know it's going to be a good cable, and they won't risk wasting their money on something that is total junk. but yeah, for the money there are better cables for whatever application you're doing. for guitar, i bought a monster cable and it sounded good but i destroyed it in a week of high energy guitar playing, whereas even the cheapo brands lasted longer.

 

[MichaelD]

Who said I paid full retail for Monster?

Anyway, another review of this DVD player here.


My old DVD is a Hitachi DVDP-505 (the nomenclature is something like that...model number is correct) and after a few years it has developed the infamous "skipping and pausing" problem. 99% of everyone who bought this player got stuck w/this problem. Mine did it a few times when new and has been perfect ever since....until last night when the stupid thing hard-locked, then get all jittery. Pawn shop is it's next destination. Whatever they will give me for it, they give me. *shrug*

Can't wait to get my new toy home!!!

 

[nord1899]

Monster Cable is okay. It is overpriced, but not nearly as much as Bose is. There are other cables out there which are just as good as MC, but a heck of a lot cheaper. And no, I am not talking about Radio Shack cables.

Check out OneCall.com's selection of audio cables. They have much more selection than BB does.

EDIT: I use MC for my speaker wire because I was able to get a good deal on it for bulk at the local home theater store. But for interconnects, I use Audio Quest.

 

[spidey07]

Just to clear up some misinformation...

Coax does indeed sound better. But you generally have to have a nice stereo to hear the difference.

Digital is not digital. It is an anlog waveform interpreted to represent 1s and 0s.

Coax is better for longer runs. You really don't want to have a toslink cable greater than 5m.

Coax can handle higher bandwidth.

Toslink optical connections are horrible, so are the transceivers in consumer electronics.

So after all that will you be able to tell a difference between the two? Probably not.

Keep in mind I'm talking about consumer digital products here. I also work and spec out fiber optic cable plants. These have a heck of a lot of advantages over coax. But we're not talking telecom, we're talking stereos. and the "fiber" and connectors in stereo land are absolutely abysmal.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Just to clear up some misinformation...

Coax does indeed sound better. But you generally have to have a nice stereo to hear the difference.

Digital is not digital. It is an anlog waveform interpreted to represent 1s and 0s.

Coax is better for longer runs. You really don't want to have a toslink cable greater than 5m.

Coax can handle higher bandwidth.

Toslink optical connections are horrible, so are the transceivers in consumer electronics.

So after all that will you be able to tell a difference between the two? Probably not.

Keep in mind I'm talking about consumer digital products here. I also work and spec out fiber optic cable plants. These have a heck of a lot of advantages over coax. But we're not talking telecom, we're talking stereos. and the "fiber" and connectors in stereo land are absolutely abysmal.

Hiya Spidey07,
Interesting facts there. *nods head* Thanks!

My DVD player sits 3 feet away from my receiver, so, the 5-foot (or is it 6? ) Coax that connects it is just dandy.

 

[Phil21]

If you can get cost on Monster from a specialty store (i.e. get a friend that works there) that sells a lot of it, it's nearly as, or cheaper than a lot of the good cable that is comparable.

markup on monster on the retail side is INSANE because then the sales guys get more commission, and they push it harder, thus driving more sales. I'm talking at LEAST 50% off, more likely 60-80% depending on the cable.

My 3 foot (haha) coax cable bought forever ago was $69.99 retail, and I got it for like $14.99 + tax because of mad hookupz.

-Phil

 

[Mday]

how much money you got?

you wont notice the difference between optical and coax.

 

[Maverick]

I've heard coax is better..most audiophiles seem to prefer it to optical because of the higher probability of signal interference in optical. At least thats what the guy at Soundtrack said