Digital Audio Interconnects

[admin_exported]

I'm a tad confused (easily done in all fairness).

Whenever I have bought (not very often) a digital interconnect (or optical cable as I call them) I always thought there was only one type. The toslink type. However there is indeed another type. I don't know what the term is for the connectors at the end. But its the other one thats not the toslink.

So I currently have a toslink optical cable going from my sky box to my amp. I had a quick look at the back of both my sky box and my amp and for the life of me couldn't see where this cable (the one without the toslink end) might go.

I'm sure its all blindingly obvious but can someone enlighten me please?

 

[Dave_]

Does the connector look like this?

 

[Anonymous]

No. I discovered it when i went into the reviews section on whsv audio interconnects digital.

I was looking at the clearer audio copper line digital interconnect (as I am thinking about getting some power cables from there), and I thought that doesnt seem to have a toslink connection. Then i noticed most of them don't either.

 

[Dave_]

You mean like this then?

If so then they're not optical/toslink cable's.They're digital coaxial cables(which are an electrical connection as opposed to optical/light) and use RCA connector's same as standard stereo interconnect's!

 

[Anonymous]

Yes daveh, thats the one. Thanks.

So optical cables and coaxial cables are both classed digital audio interconnects? Ok I get it.

I had this impression that optical cables/toslink were superior to coaxial. Don't know why.

Are we saying that optical cables and coaxial cables are the same in terms of quality but with a different make up?

(for example if supplier x makes 2 cables one an optical cable and one a coaxial cable and they both cost the same could I reasonably assume they would both perform the same?)

I'll check again but I am sure the sky box has coaxial cable output but I'm not sure if my amp has a coaxial input marked "TV"

 

[professorhat]

Many different opinions and theories exist on this subject - there's the argument coaxial is better since it doesn't have to go through the conversion from electrical to optical and back to electrical again. On the other hand, optical is supposedly better over long lengths due to it less likely to have interference on the signal (assuming the optical cable is up to a decent standard). Of course, if you believe "digits is digits", any digital cable is equal to any other cable and the whole concept would be madness to you.

Personally, (having always used "well regarded" digital cables, be they optical or coaxial) I honestly have never been able to say one method is better than the other in any tests I've done.

 

[Anonymous]

Dave and professor - thanks.

In the past I've only ever used optical. If I get the chance I may borrow a good quality coaxial to see if I can hear any difference.

Oh and I found out I can rename input settings on the tv so the tv will recognise coax-1 as the audio input from sky rather than opt-1.

Makes more sense now.

Cheers guys.

 

[clearer_audio]

Hello

Coaxial offers better performance than optical since it allows direct transfer of the electrical digital signal. Optical systems have to convert the electrical digital signal: from output component the electrical digital signal is converted into light pulses, which is transferred by the optical cable, which then has to be converted back into an electrical digital signal at the input component. Optical also has a lower bandwidth than coaxial. However we have had customers who prefer optical so if you have the option you could try both to see which you prefer.

Sky HD only outputs stereo over HDMI. To get Dolby Digital from film and high definition channels you will need to use an optical cable (unless you have a new PACE or Samsung version which come with coaxial outputs).

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Darren

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Darren. When I changed/upgraded my system the only items that remained were my QED subwoofer cable and a cambridge audio optical cable (which I bought from Richer Sounds in Sheffield in 2003, for £30).

Its currently plugged in to my Amstrad sky box and into the amp so I can get dolby 5.1 from sky where possible. I must admit it sounds fine to me. But I always wonder whether for the sake of a bit more cash it could improve. Possibly greatly? Who knows?

Btw the Amstrad also has a coaxial audio out connection.

I'm going to leave it for now but thanks for the advice. As Arnie once said "I'll be back"

 

[Dave_]

barnsleydave:Btw the Amstrad also has a coaxial audio out connection.All the newer generation of Sky HD boxes have both optical and digital coaxial connections.The first genearation of boxes only had optical connections.

 

[Anonymous]

I believe that Coax is a better cable for this use ...... and although I must confess I have not scoured the earth for better optical cables, I believe there are more offerings of better coaxial leads and can be more costly (so hopefully better too....)

I use a Russ Andrews D-60 on my DVD which is FAR better than the optical lead on my Sky box......

 

[The_Lhc]

BigAir: I use a Russ Andrews D-60 on my DVD which is FAR better than the optical lead on my Sky box......

Are you comparing the DD5.1 sound from your DVD player over the DD5.1 sound from your Sky box? If so you're not likely to be comparing like for like. I've always felt that Sky's DD5.1 is more compressed than what you get off a DVD, although I've got no figures to back that up.