Which is the prefered (best) way to hook up DVD & CD to A/V Recvr for SOUND: optical/digital, supervhs cable?
As in I understand Component Video cables direct to the Monitor are the best way for Video.
Thanks
Dougofthenorth (Douglesshesouth)

This message was edited by Dougofthenorth on 12/15/01 22:18.24.

Some people would say using the TV as the switcher is better because it elimanates another switcher in the path...but I disagree for this reason. Why spend all that money on a pre-pro/receiver just to let it sit there. I've done a little testing and cannot notice a difference in video quality with the direct or the more 'indirect' method of using a receiver or other type of quality switcher.

And if you have enough optical/coaxial digital inputs to use them for both CD and DVD go for it!!! Otherwise, if you have only one, you HAVE to use it for DVD otherwise you will not get digital surround sound! Or if your question was simply 'which one is better, optical or coaxial digital' It simply dosen't matter, it's a digital bitstream of ones and zeros and however you get it there is fine. Funny how you can actually buy 'High end' optical cables...that makes me laugh.

Doug,

I think your question comes down to what's better, analog (left channel/ right channel RCA interconnects) or digital cables (which can either be fiber optic or coaxial).

With the DVD player the answer is simple - analog cables cannot pass a 5.1 channel bitstream (for dolby digital or DTS) so go with a digital cable.

If you have a separate CD player which only has two channel output the choice is less clear, but I would go with digital as well. (I have tried it both ways on several CD players, and I always seem to prefer the digital interconnect. If you are playing CDs through your DVD player that makes it even simpler get 1 digital cable and it will work for everything.

As far as which digital cable is better fiber optic or coax, it seems to be a matter of personal preference. As Matt says, it is simply passing ones and zeros, but I have seen different levels of quality in fiber optic cables though. I have seen some that are as thin as a strand of spaghetti, which probably does the same job as a thicker cable, but it seems to me to be much more fragile and there for easier to break.

Don

Gentlemen; Once again thanks. I decided on a decent Optical cable. Great improvement!
Dougofthenorth (glad the Yam at least allowed the upgrade to digital cables)

This message was edited by Dougofthenorth on 12/15/01 22:14.36.

About optical "cables", which are actually optic fibers. There is no advantage to a fiber being thicker. The transmission of light from one end to the other depends chiefly on the smoothness of the fiber surface, because the light actually reflects off of the inside of the surface as it travels along the interior.

Another thing that affects transmission quality is the squareness of the cut and polishing of the fiber ends where they are fitted to the 'plugs' that terminate the fiber and lock it into the SPDIF (Sony-Philips Digital InterFace) connectors.

If some fibers are thicker than others, the difference is most likely the jacket, which protects the fiber from nicks, which seroiusly reduce the transmission quality, and, of course, being snapped in two, which usually renders the fiber useless.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com