Optical or Coaxial?????

[admin_exported]

Hi All,

I've just had my SKY HD box replaced yesterday, and the replacement box has both Optical and Coaxial Digital connections.

My question is which is the best one to use in terms of sound quality?

It will be connected to an Arcam AVR400.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Dave_]

You won't hear any difference between the two. Use whichever is convenient.

 

[d4v3pum4]

Whilst I agree that there is no audible difference, whenever I am presented the option between the two, I go for digi-coax as it's a more robust connection. Profigold at £12 gets my vote for a good quality coax cable btw.

 

[fayeanddavid]

Just to add to the mire of confusion, my Sky box has both, tried it with both and my preference is coaxial in terms of my ears.

A little more bottom end and all round presence in my view

However, you will probably have to invest in both (or borrow) to be absolutely sure for yourself

 

[Anonymous]

Whilst I agree that there is no audible difference, whenever I am presented the option between the two, I go for digi-coax as it's a more robust connection. Profigold at £12 gets my vote for a good quality coax cable btw.

Same here. Coax doesn't break as easily as fibre and a small speck of dust on a fibre connection can wreak havoc with the data.

 

[Anonymous]

with out a doubt coaxial

 

[CustomCable]

Agreed Coaxial definately. Optical normally adds an extra degree of jitter on transfer over and above that added by Coaxial.

 

[Anonymous]

There is only one reason to prefer optical cable. If you live in a neighbourhood where there is lots of RF pollution, such as antenae from multiple cell phone operators nearby and an abundance of Wi-Fi equipement. Optical cable will not be affected by that even if other electronic equipment may be affected by such an amount of RF in the air.

 

[Dave_]

There is only one reason to prefer optical cable.

Optical is better over long runs, and it offers galvanic isolation, so no chance of ground loops etc, which can be an issue with an electrical connection...So there's more than one reason to 'prefer optical cable'.

 

[Anonymous]

Optical is better over long runs, and it offers galvanic isolation, so no chance of ground loops etc, which can be an issue with an electrical connection...So there's more than one reason to 'prefer optical cable'.

True, didn't really consider distance a factor, although optical cables also lose strenght over distance.

 

[fayeanddavid]

Optical is better over long runs, and it offers galvanic isolation, so no chance of ground loops etc, which can be an issue with an electrical connection...So there's more than one reason to 'prefer optical cable'.

True, didn't really consider distance a factor, although optical cables also lose strenght over distance.

Hmm

Not really over domestic distances of a 1 to 5 metres, more than 100m I might agree!