6 ch out or coax?

michael_w · November 2003

is hooking up a dvd using the 6 ch out better than using the coax out?

Loud & Clear · November 2003

I'm guessing the people who run analog outs from their DVD players are doing so for DVD-A and SACD.

I guess I have a question, too: Do those people also run a digital out (opti or coax) and let their receivers handle the DD and DTS conversions? I guess they would have to unless their DVD players had onboard DD and DTS decoders.

What if you don't want your DVD player to do the decoding, assuming it has built in decoders, but you're running analog outs to your receiver because of the DVD-A and SACD capabilities of your DVD player? Can you tell the DVD player to send the DD and DTS signals via digital out, even though you're running analog outs?

michael_w · November 2003

I'm not quite sure lol. But I think that if it has a 6 ch out it decodes them first so I guess they would use the 6 ch for letting their dvd do the decoding and digital for when they want their amp to do it. So i'm guessing that you can't tell your dvd to not decode the signal if you're using an analog out. Although I could be completely wrong since I don't even have a 6 ch dvd or even a good dvd lol (I have some piece electrohome dvd player - got it with our sofas for $30)

howie777 · November 2003

I use both Digital coax and my 6 analog outs on my DVD player. My receiver has a button to switch the audio to the7.1 channel inputs. So if I am listening to a DVD movie it uses the audio from the digital coax (just use the DVD source button on the receiver). If I am listening to a DVD-A I need to hit my 7.1 audio input button and the receiver will use the DVD video input but use the 7.1 audio input not the digital coax input.

Works well but a lot of cables..

Howie

danger boy · November 2003

same for me.... for DVD-audio. i use 6 analog outs to the receiver.. but i also use a digi coax. the receiver can decode DD or DTS.. so can the DVD player.

for me.. it's kind of confusing.. when i want to listen to a DVD-a disc.. i have to hit the button the receiver or remote to set it to 6ch analog inputs... then on the toshiba dvd-audio player. i have to go into the menu and select analog outputs... or else if I don't. it'll use the digi coax. and i willl not get true hi res dvd-a. it's not to much trouble.. but it's what i gotta do.

polkatese · November 2003

the 5.1 analog out is mainly used for DVD-A/SACD hirez output. For movies, DD/DTS will use digi/coax connection. The reason you have to select analog in on your receiver is to use 5.1 analog RCA direct pass thru. Otherwise, it will output stereo through your digi/coax connection. There is no way in today's schema to utilise digi/coax for hirez 5.1, unless you are using proprietary Sony iLink or Denon D-Link, which are firewire type connection. Yes, lots of analog rca cables, especially if you have one for each format (DVD-A/SACD) plus a switch (since most pre/receivers) have only one set of 5.1 input (9 pairs of RCA in total)....

Gringo · December 2003

What kind of cables do you guys use for your sacd/dvd-a to connect player to receiver? Are you guys using high quality rca's or are you using single interconnects? I guess it doesnt really matter but I was thinking of getting a sacd/dvd-a player and i was wondering some good brand interconnects i should look into for my analog connection.

Thanks

P.S. I dont want to spend an arm and a leg, just looking for some high quality, good value cables.

danger boy · December 2003

IXOS cables makes one specificly for high resolution audio. it's basically 6 RCA cables bundled together in one thick cable.. so they don't get all messed up. But using three pairs of cables would also work. just very messy. 1 meter length i think ran me about $99 a few years back. good high quality and nice color coded RCA connectors.

try www.ixoscable.com

Gringo · December 2003

Thanks danger boy, Those are very nice cables and i believe a store in my area stocks them so ill have to check it out...I didn't see the 6 rca bundle that you were talking about on their website but i may have overlooked it...Anyhow, ill have to check out my local store, but i guess first i should buy a sacd player

hehe its next on my list.

danger boy · December 2003

Gringo,

go to the IXOS web site... then to audio and home theater, then click on home theater link picture... and scroll to the bottom of the list.. it's the HT503 surround sound interconnect.

Are you set on getting a SACD player only.. or maybe are you interested in a multiformat player? which would also play DVD-audio?

let us know which player you get..

Al

Dr. Spec · December 2003

Denon 2900 does both DVD-A and SACD.

I use one set of six analog cables, and one digital coax cable, connected all the time.

The 2900 outputs a signal to both cable sets at all times, except for DVD-A and SACD, where it only outputs to the analog cables.

I only have to hit a button on the 3803 remote to switch inputs - easy as pie.

I use the 3803 for DVD-V because its DD/DTS decoder is more advanced that the one in the 2900.

For all other music (SACD, DVD-A, redbook, DTS-A) I use the analog outputs.

Doc

Gringo · December 2003

Dangerboy,

Thanks for finding where those cables where on that site. Sorry i mentioned that i was getting a Sacd player, i was being lazy. Im actually getting a multiformat SAcd/dvd-a player. I was thinking about the denon 2200. I posted on another thread for recommedations for a good progressive scan dvd player that plays both formats in the 500 dollar price range give or take a hundred. That one was suggested to me and so far it looks like the best one ive seen. Any thoughts please respond,

Thanks again
Mike

Loud & Clear · December 2003

Originally posted by Gringo
Dangerboy,

Thanks for finding where those cables where on that site. Sorry i mentioned that i was getting a Sacd player, i was being lazy. Im actually getting a multiformat SAcd/dvd-a player. I was thinking about the denon 2200. I posted on another thread for recommedations for a good progressive scan dvd player that plays both formats in the 500 dollar price range give or take a hundred. That one was suggested to me and so far it looks like the best one ive seen. Any thoughts please respond,

Thanks again
Mike

Just ordered the 2200 myself, hope it's as good as we've been reading that it is.

Gringo · December 2003

Awesome Loud & Clear,
You'll have to let me know what you think about the player as soon as you get it all hooked up and give it a few tests. It looks like a great unit and I'm dying to hear dvd-a/sacd on my home theater setup. Im torn between buying a new sub since my sucks, or upgrading my sony dvd player to a denon 2200. I was gonna save up and get a svs 20-39 to replace my junky kenwood, but my friend recently bought a hdtv, and hes looking for a progressive scan dvd player and i was planning on getting rid of mine anyways. So i might as well sell it to someone i know and the money will go towards that 2200

Oh well, ill eventually buy a new sub anyways, just a matter of time and money...well actually more so money, cause as soon as i have enough its gone anyways. Welp let me know how that goes loud, hopefully its everything we planned for :cool:

Mike

Gringo · December 2003

Oh god,

How long am i stuck being a Polkie

I better keep posting to get my status up, hehe this one will help :cool:

michael_w · December 2003

An off topic question lol ---- does your "polk rating" go by how many posts you have made or on your average posts per day?

Gringo · December 2003

LoL, i dunno, as you can see im also a Polkie...so i cant help you out, im guessing its total number of posts though cause ive been posting a lot in the last couple of days and just recently i started posting on these forums.

Mike

Loud & Clear · December 2003

Gringo, I'm also replacing a Sony DVD player; mine doesn't even play DTS, only does DD. The Denon should arrive on Monday.

As for subs, same boat, I'm going to upgrade that position next.

I'll let you know what I think of DVD-A & SACD when I get it set up. I've got Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" DVD-A arriving Friday in preparation for Monday's DVD player delivery.

Doc, if you happen to see this, what did you do in regards to your analog cabling for your 2900? I thought I may have remembered you picking up Signal cables for that duty. True? Could you tell me which ones you went with? Thanks.

KyPeN · December 2003

What effect would using 6-ch out have on movie DVDs?

Gringo · December 2003

Loud,

I bet that Fleetwood Mac Cd is gonna sound amazing, the first one im trying out to test my system once i get my dvd-a/sacd player is def going to be Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon. Sit back with an ice cold beer and listen to that amazing album straight through from start to finish :cool:

Dr. Spec · December 2003

L&C, it's in my equipment signature - Signal Cable Analog 2. I did a quick write up on them and I think dorok is doing the same.

In short they sound just fine! A little different that the digital coax going through the 3803, but that is to be expected as there are different DACs in the loop too, as well as different interconnects.

Rumors is fabulous, as well as DSOTM. Donald Fagan Nightfly and Kamakiriad are just amazing. He's such a stickler for good studio recordings.

Loud & Clear · December 2003

Originally posted by Dr. Spec
L&C, it's in my equipment signature - Signal Cable Analog 2. I did a quick write up on them and I think dorok is doing the same.

Thanks Doc, I've been ogling that site for some time now. Need both ICs and would also like to re-wire my front three with some of their bi-wire runs.

Gringo · December 2003

Hey Doc.

You were saying you use your receivers decoder for dts and dd. I have an onkyo tx-sr700 and i just order a denon 2200 dvd-a/sacd player.

Which decoder do you think i should use for dts and dd now? Will my receivers decoder still be more advanced? Right now the cables I am gonna use to do sacd/dvd-a are nicer than my coaxial cable currently connecting my dvd player. Any suggestions on a high quality coaxial and component cable? Right now I think they are both ixos but was thinking of upgrading to bettercables. Looking to spend around 100 bucks or under for each cable. Let me know what ya think. THanks doc.

Loud & Clear · December 2003

Good question, Gringo, I'm in the same boat. Got the 2200 but have yet to experience the DVD-A or SACD because my Signal Cable (Frank's) haven't arrived yet; the fact that I forgot to order them is likely the cause. Doing that right now.

Yeah, which DAC is best, the DVD 2200's or my Denon 2802's? Me can't figure out.

Dr. Spec · December 2003

I don't know which DAC is "best". I'l leave that to H-Bomb and F1, et al. Or you can use your ears decide for yourself. My 2900 through the SCA2 sounds different than through the 3803, that's for sure.

What I do know is my 2900 is incapable of decoding DD-EX, DTS-ES, and DTS-ES 6.1 Discrete signals. Furthermore, the 3803 is capable of "force matrixing" any 5.1 signal. So I always use the 3803 for movies.

For DTS-audio, SACD, DVD-A, and CD, I always use the 2900.

walk · December 2003

The Onk 700 has 192 kHz/24-Bit DACs (x2) for the L/R Front channels and 96 kHz/24-Bit for the rest (x5).

I'm not familiar with SACD - is more than 2 channels? Certainly the Denon isn't going to have anything better than 192 kHz/24-Bit for the L/R since there is nothing better. But theoretically if SACD is more than 2 channels -and- the Denon has 192 kHz/24-Bit for 5/6/7 channels, then it would be better I guess. Depending on the quality of your analog cables

I would always just run digital-in to the reciever unless you had a damn good reason to use analog.

Analog is teh suk!*

*Unless your source is analog. My vinyl collection sounds schaa-weet on the Onk700 in "pure audio" mode

polkatese · December 2003

walk,
if you have SACD/DVD-A 5.1 setup, you still need to use analog 5.1 output to experience multichannel, at least for the time being, that is. Perhaps the only exception would be DTS 5.1 recording, that can pass thru coax/optical link. I know something is in the work to standardise the connectivity (beyond proprietary Denon Link or Pioneer Elite link) with HDMI. The main concern was copyright protection around making a exact replica of hirez recording (and movies for that matter.) Until then, analog RCA is part of life in the multichannel SACD/DVD-A world.

walk · December 2003

Huh? That's terrible. I would never buy SACDs then.. Once again the record industry bites itself in the ****...

I have a DVD-A that someone gave me, but it's just a regular DVD with screensaver-like stuff on the video portion - "The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots". It plays in Dolby Digital 5.1 thru the coax connection.

Dr. Spec · December 2003

Walk - the DVD-A and SACD decoders are in the DVD player. That's why you must use an analog output for each channel; the AVR or pre/pro simply isn't capable of decoding the signal.

For DTS-A - yes - you can use either since the AVR also has a DTS decoder.

And SACD is up to 5.1 channels, just like DVD-A.

I used six separate SCA2 and it wasn't a bad tangle at all - the connection still looked clean and decent.

6 ch out or coax?

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