Connecting S/PDIF to Vintage Receiver

Nightfall

I want to start this post by saying I'm new to these connections. I know the standard 2.5mm, 3.5mm, RCA's, etc but I'm pretty clueless when it comes to anything beyond.

Question concerns connecting an Xbox 360's S/PDIF (or is it TOSLINK?) to a Yamaha CA-1010. I see that there are S/PDIF to RCA converters, is this what I would want to be looking at? Is there going to be a large difference in sound quality depending on how much I spend on this converter? Are there any other ways to achieve connecting these together? My TV doesn't have audio out so I can't rely on using HDMI to the TV with RCA's from the TV to the receiver.

I'm currently using one of these to get the RCA's to the receiver.



along with HDMI going to the TV for picture. It's not that I'm not happy with how it's all hooked up right now it's that the new Xbox One is right around the corner which will no longer have this option. It will be HDMI and S/PDIF only, so I would rather be ready for it now.

Thanks for any input!

TurboGTU

Nevermind, guess I didn't read your post good enough. It's the xbox one that your worried about. I guess you would be forced to try a converter. Wish I could say I have used one, but I haven't, but you won't really have much choice without changing to a different receiver...

EndersShadow

DSkip wrote: »

Get a dac with optical input, plain and simple. You can spend as much or as little as you want on one.

Skip, edited your post with what you meant to say.

To the OP, just make sure you get a DAC with an optical input and RCA outs. Like Skip said, spend as much or as little as you want as long as its got Optical in.

Polkie2009

Nightfall, what tv are you running in the system? It has no audio out?

Nightfall

It doesn't have audio out in the form of RCA's. It has a headphone jack and I tried a 3.5mm to RCA's but it sounds awful, the sound is distorted during loud moments and no amount of messing with the options and settings in the sound section of the TV fixes it.

tonyb

What your running up against is connectivity issues many have trying to use old gear with new. While many work arounds exist, most will sound like garbage. Time to upgrade that AVR and maybe the tv too. All depends on if you just want to use everything for music or movies too.

Most all AVR's these days have decent dacs in them with optical inputs and HDMI along with a host of other connection options.

Nightfall

I literally just bought the CA-1010. I still have a RX-V667 (has everything you're talking about) but I prefer vintage equipment. How much sound degradation would be involved with a converter? Keep in mind that though I can tell the difference in SQ difference in crap equipment and good, to my ear there is no difference in a decent interconnect and a crazy expensive set. Would I tell a difference in SQ if I added an optical to RCA converter?

Is this what I'm looking for?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10423&cs_id=1042302&p_id=6884&seq=1&format=2

Or does somebody have a suggestion for a better/different one?

What about if I used the RX-V667 as a preamp? Space is a concern but I think I could squeeze it in. Would there be a major difference in SQ between using this mid end AV receiver to do the job vs using the converter I linked?

EndersShadow

Nightfall wrote: »

Is this what I'm looking for?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10423&cs_id=1042302&p_id=6884&seq=1&format=2

That wont work. See the quote from the spec's

IMPORTANT NOTE! This device will NOT decode 5.1-channel signals. It will ONLY convert 2-channel digital stereo (PCM) input signals to analog stereo output. This will not work with TVs that only output 5.1-channel digital signals!

The Xbox One will send out the signal no doubt in 5.1 so this wont work for ya at all I dont believe. This is based on my assumption it wont let you set your settings to stereo in the dashboard of course, which could well be off base.

Using the 667 as a pre-amp would work, but it adds another piece of gear to the mix.

Nightfall

Thanks Shadow. I'm ready to start hitting my head against the wall ;p

I truly appreciate all the advice.

Nightfall

I just checked the dashboard of my 360 and digital output has the following settings:

Digital Stereo
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dolby Digital with WMA Pro

I'm not going to assume that the Xbox One will have these settings, just adding some more info to the thread.

EndersShadow

Nightfall wrote: »

I just checked the dashboard of my 360 and digital output has the following settings:

Digital Stereo
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dolby Digital with WMA Pro

I'm not going to assume that the Xbox One will have these settings, just adding some more info to the thread.

Yup, if it has the Dolby Stereo, then your golden and can use that converter I think......

pitdogg2

I have used a toslink to coax converter from parts express and it worked very well but they do need power from a wall wort.
I have not used anything like the link you provided.

nguyendot

^^Digital stereo, not Dolby STereo (pro logic?)

Nightfall

Well, I kind of feel like an idiot. I'm not sure if this changes anything but my TV has a coax digital out. It looked like part of the component video inputs. Carry on with insulting me

tonyb

Maybe it's best if you share what you want to use your Playstation for. Just movies....music.....gaming.....all of it. You won't get the audio and video benefit of a newer PS using analog RCA connections or converter boxes.

Polkie2009

Nightfall wrote: »

Well, I kind of feel like an idiot. I'm not sure if this changes anything but my TV has a coax digital out. It looked like part of the component video inputs. Carry on with insulting me

Ok, now we are getting somewhere, this is why I asked you what tv you were running in the system,lol. I'm still using a 20" Toshiba CRT unit in one room that's about 15 years old and it only have stereo analog audio outputs. Ok, is the coax digital out (RCA)on your tv an orange color? If so, this will send up to a 5.1 digital audio signal. The Yammy 667 is a decent avr, I still use it's older cousin the 663 as my 7.1 HT rig. Even if you were to feed a 2 channel signal to the 667, the avr can synthesize it to do multichannel in your room(as long as you have the speakers etc. connected). Sometimes we all have to get a newer tv, I'm still in that boat myself, although I do__ use a Vizeo 22"LCD in the HT room.

Nightfall

The TV is a 46" Philips Smart LED TV. Not sure if the coax connection is orange I can check later. I'd rather not use the 667 at all but if I have no other choice I want to use it as a preamp to the CA-1010.

Polkie2009

I can kinda see your point Nightfall, that yammy is a sweet amp,even has Class A mode.:cheesygrin: Also has great_ preamp specs. too. I thought you had a much older tv, lol. Being it's an LED, I figured it would have HDMI out ,plus coax, and optical digital outputs.

Nightfall

Only coax. There is a setting in the TV to turn it to PCM which I'm guessing means 2 channel? I think I'm just going to try one of the converters. It might be a bit before I get it but I will be sure to report back in this thread so that anyone that googles "s/pdif to vintage receiver" will have a conclusion.

Polkie2009

PCM is pulse code modulation is__ the digital signal. The menu is giving you the choice to send the audio signal either through the stereo analog(RCA) output or PCM(digitally, multichannel) through the coax output Does this tv have a built in dvd player?

Nightfall

No DVD player, just a TV. There is no analog outs just the coax. The menu options are PCM, Dolby 5.1, and another I can't remember off the top of my head.

Polkie2009

Ok, lol, it's just so strange that it has no 2 channel rca analog audio output , I forgot you memtioned this before,sorry. I was wondering how much longer tv manufacturers were going to continue having stereo analog audio outputs in this digital day and age. By the way what model is your Philips?

Nightfall

46pfl3608

Nightfall

Okay so the more reviews I read on these $50 DAC's the more I don't want to go that route.

Can somebody explain to a newb how to connect and use the 667 as a preamp and the CA-1010 as the amp? I know how dumb I sound right now but I don't know what to hook up to what and I don't want to hurt anything learning.

I have a few questions regarding this setup too:

I read a guy saying, using this 667 as a preamp, that using zone 2 out gave him better SQ?

Does this mean I will no longer be able to use the fantastic phono inputs on the CA-1010 and also will have to buy a phono preamp to connect a turntable to the 667?

If, in the future, I got some surround speakers would I be able to power the main front 2 speakers with the CA-1010 and the surrounds with the 667 at the same time?

I sincerely appreciate you guys helping me through this. Who decided that analog connections are no longer needed?! I understand wanting to carry a bagillion channels through a single cable but there ARE still 2 channel people out there.

Nightfall

This is extremely crude, and you're welcome for the laugh, but is this what I'm looking at? If so then I gather that I can still use the phono input on the CA.



Edit: Now I'm just confusing myself. I shouldn't have labeled Aux In as Aux in on the CA but instead Main In

ZLTFUL

Your diagram above is correct.

Nightfall

I just ordered all the necessary cables I need to do this.

I have something to add to the million other questions above:
What will be the difference between connecting the pre outs to an aux input opposed to the main in?

Sorry for asking so many questions and thanks to anyone that takes the time to read all this crap and help me out. This is my first experience with a pre amp and amp type setup, I've only ever had integrated and receivers.

Nightfall

I used what cables I have, which is just enough to connect the 667 and 1010 to a single analog source. It works fine but the sound is nothing close to the 1010 by itself. A little disappointing.