Digital hookups

10-26-1999, 07:06 PM

What is the best way to use the digital hookup options. Should I use the RCA type coaxial cable or the optical cable? My local stereo dealer tells me that the coaxial works better than the optical but only if I get a very expensive wire. Does it make a difference if I use a good quality monster cable type or a "digital" cable at $65 or more? What about the optical option?

Taxi · 10-26-1999, 08:36 PM

For an excellent (if somewhat brief) discussion on this very topic, (and on our own forum even!) click here.

T42

Dominik Pfleghaar · 10-26-1999, 09:41 PM

Here's my advice: Get yourself an inexpensive 75 ohm coaxial cable or an inexpensive nylon optical cable and buy 2 DVD's for the money you just saved by not buying a monster.

------------------
Unca Dom, DDS-088
dominikpfleghaar@netscape.net
------------------
People have one thing in common: they're all different.

Blade · 10-26-1999, 11:29 PM

I'm with Dominik on this one.

This cable is passing along 1s and 0s (the language of any digital transfer) so all the cable has to do is get it there. If it doesn't work reliably, then the cable is broken. If the cable works then a more expensive cable won't get it there any differently.

I have heard that coax cables are more durable, but unless you're a tweaker or you plan on using them as toys for your cat I doubt that it makes much difference.

------------------
-David

Colin Dunn · 10-27-1999, 03:15 AM

I, too, am skeptical of claims about pros/cons of coaxial vs. optical digital wire. I've used both in my system.

Once, I hooked up my DVD player two ways -- with a Monster Cable optical connector ($40) and a cheap 75-ohm video cable (came in the box with the DVD player). I heard no difference, even on equipment that has pretty good 'resolving power' (see below).

Wires have never made a difference in my system (in its present and past incarnations). There are no differences between digital cables 'sound,' and any differences in sound from analog cables are infinitesimal.

System:

Pioneer DVL-700 DVD/LD
Classe SSP-50
Sunfire Cinema Grand
Magnepan MG1.6 (fronts), MCC1 (center), MMG (rear)
Velodyne FSR-15 (sub)

------------------
Colin Dunn
DDS-006

***Slider*** · 10-27-1999, 08:19 PM

There was this funny experiment that a guy did where he took a coat hanger and used that for the digital cable. He then hooked up an analyzer to it and found that the coathanger had a 100% sucess rate for transfering the signal

Anyone know where this URL is?

Slider

Blade · 10-28-1999, 04:56 AM

I thought the coat hanger story was for speaker connections.

------------------
-David

10-26-1999, 07:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Paul D	Digital hookups What is the best way to use the digital hookup options. Should I use the RCA type coaxial cable or the optical cable? My local stereo dealer tells me that the coaxial works better than the optical but only if I get a very expensive wire. Does it make a difference if I use a good quality monster cable type or a "digital" cable at $65 or more? What about the optical option?

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10-26-1999, 08:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Taxi Admin Emeritus Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Orygun	For an excellent (if somewhat brief) discussion on this very topic, (and on our own forum even!) click here. T42

10-26-1999, 09:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dominik Pfleghaar Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Elm Street 123	Here's my advice: Get yourself an inexpensive 75 ohm coaxial cable or an inexpensive nylon optical cable and buy 2 DVD's for the money you just saved by not buying a monster. ------------------ Unca Dom, DDS-088 dominikpfleghaar@netscape.net ------------------ People have one thing in common: they're all different.

10-26-1999, 11:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
Blade Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Oahu, Hawaii	I'm with Dominik on this one. This cable is passing along 1s and 0s (the language of any digital transfer) so all the cable has to do is get it there. If it doesn't work reliably, then the cable is broken. If the cable works then a more expensive cable won't get it there any differently. I have heard that coax cables are more durable, but unless you're a tweaker or you plan on using them as toys for your cat I doubt that it makes much difference. ------------------ -David

10-27-1999, 03:15 AM	#5 (permalink)
Colin Dunn Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Austin, TX	I, too, am skeptical of claims about pros/cons of coaxial vs. optical digital wire. I've used both in my system. Once, I hooked up my DVD player two ways -- with a Monster Cable optical connector ($40) and a cheap 75-ohm video cable (came in the box with the DVD player). I heard no difference, even on equipment that has pretty good 'resolving power' (see below). Wires have never made a difference in my system (in its present and past incarnations). There are no differences between digital cables 'sound,' and any differences in sound from analog cables are infinitesimal. System: Pioneer DVL-700 DVD/LD Classe SSP-50 Sunfire Cinema Grand Magnepan MG1.6 (fronts), MCC1 (center), MMG (rear) Velodyne FSR-15 (sub) ------------------ Colin Dunn DDS-006

10-27-1999, 08:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
*Slider* Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001	There was this funny experiment that a guy did where he took a coat hanger and used that for the digital cable. He then hooked up an analyzer to it and found that the coathanger had a 100% sucess rate for transfering the signal Anyone know where this URL is? Slider

10-28-1999, 04:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
Blade Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Oahu, Hawaii	I thought the coat hanger story was for speaker connections. ------------------ -David