Digital audio - optical or wire?
Oldwriter
Posts: 248
Well, here we go again. I've got my DVD/CD player hooked to my Onkyo 701 with a toslink, or optical, digital cable. But since many of you have strongly urged me to use a wire instead of the lightwave, I've ordered one - and will try to see which one is better - IF I can tell the differnce. Any thoughts on the subject, good Polk Folk? Need all the help I can get. Larry R
Post edited by Oldwriter on
Comments
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Hi Larry,
I've always preferred analog outs over digital. The digital outs going to a receiver always sounded sterile and cold to me. The analog outs always have more bass and warmth IME. But when you're talking about external DAC's, it's a different story.
Let us know how your comparison goes.
Maurice -
Hey O-W,
Are you refering to dig.coax or analog cables ? -
Yo - thanks - but don't I have to have digital outputs to play the DVDs? Don't think analog would work for those.
Yes, digital has always sounded rather sterile to me - ever since I did the first news story on the first CD players - way back in the early 80s. Since then, engineers at the stations I used to work for quietly tell folks to turn down the treble by 2 or 3 db, to cut down the shrillness. Works for me! Thanx - Larry R -
you could use dig for DVD and analog for cd only
edit: how's the system these days ?? -
Yeah, Like Willow said. You can connect the digital out for DVD's and use the analog for 2ch.
I find that cd's sound just fine but using digital connection to the receiver's DAC gives a sterile sound. I did hear about bad sound back in the 80's where the problem was with bad DAC's and ADC's.
Maurice -
Yo - Willow et al - the system is getting there, slowly. I'm still using the 12-awg to the mains - but have been doing a LOT of reading - and am going to try yet another run. I'm sure that youze guyz all know about Blue Jeans Cable? Well, been reading their site reports, and I'm going to try the Belden 10-awg wire, to see if it makes a difference - a cheap alternative, at least!
Also have on order a digital coax cable - to see if my admittedly less-than-expensive optical cable (AR - about $30) is another weak link.
Sorry to **** many balloons, but after talking with engineers at the stations I once worked for - well, they claim that Belden cable for all audio use is as good as it gets. Their view, anyway.
So - here we go again. Meanwhile, some new CDs recommended by John K. and others are spinning out absolutely beautiful sounds! Getting there. . . THANKS larry R. -
Yes, though I'm not technically genius, I did enough reports on the CD evolution to know that early microphones, as well as equipment in general, were simply not adequate. After doing literally hundreds of LP-vs-CD tests, I came to the conclusion long ago that the LP "sound" was much more natural. Thus, my new interest in the SACDs - from what I've heard in the stores, they are "the" current answer to:"how can I reproduce sound accurately?" Thanks for all the info - - Larry R
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No slight intended against them but the audio engineers have a different way of looking at things than audio enthusiasts do.
To an audio engineer if the applicable equation says it's better then it is.
To an audio enthusiast if it sounds better then it is.
These SHOULD result in one and the same answer ... but they don't always ... even when the listening tests being performed by the audio enthusiast are totally objective -
Yo - Rick - as usual, you are most correct. And were it not for the fact that some of those "engineers" work at what is one of THE best FM stations in the country - WFMT, CHIcago - I'd sorta say, well, OK. But I take great stock in their opinions, as they are, generally, both engineers and audiophiles of the highest order. (yeah, they probably get the gear wholesale! GRIN)
OK - with that in mind - I'm all ears, as usual. Thanks. LR -
if not wholesale then they are able to write it off !! shoot makes me wanna open up an A/V store
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I realize I'm a "minority listener," with classical and opera topping my lists - but in reviewing my really old CDs - those that came out in the early 80s, well they sound tinny and flat. Maybe that's more pronounced in my kind of music? Anyway, newer CDs DO sound better - not great, but better! LR
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OW look for remastered versions of your "old early 80's CDs". Lots of the early CDs just sounded like CRAP. I'm giving my oldest son (16 yrs) a session on LPs vs. CDs this weekend. He wants to knows what's the difference? I'll also play some SACDs with the same titles (i.e. Toto IV LP/CD/SACD; Pink Floyd DOSTM LP/CD [not CD layer of SACD]/SACD and Dave Brubeck "Time Out" LP/CD/SACD).
Here's my stereo system . -
Am definitely buying the remastered "Time Out." Had the extreme pleasure of interviewing Dave B. years ago - and was amazed at his musical knowledge - he's classically-trained - and always simply kneeled at the feet of his saxophonist, Paul Desmond. (I, too, played sax) Time Out in SACD - at least three copies for me! Thanks - LR
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thats a great CD My bro bought it for me....and WOW !!
that remindes me of when I met Wyton Marsalis -
If any of you are interested in music of an opera-oriented nature, may I humbly - HUMBLY - suggest that you get ANY CD of the soprano Natalie Dessay. How can I say "perfect?" She's the example of what Sarah Brightman might sound like if she were classically trained. Absolutely hair-raising! Sigh. LR
