Digital Signals
bobman1235
Posts: 10,822
I have two questions that are kind of related.
First, I've been browsing these forums a bit over the past month or so, and I notice a lot of debate over "optical vs. coax digital" cables, and how coax "sounds" better. So my question with that would be, how is that possible? If it's truly a digital signal, the same ones and zeroes get to the other end regardless of which medium they pass through. It's not like an analog signal where things can be lost - you're assuming an exact transmission of the signal, correct?
A question in the same vein would be what makes a good "source" (most interestingly, a CD player) ? Again, if you're just taking the actual bits from teh CD, transmitting them to a good receiver that does the DSP, wouldn't that be the same no matter who is passing the digital information on?
Sorry if this is a stupid question, I'm a computer guy so I tend to think in more of 1s and 0s, so I'm trying to wrap my head around how things in the home theater world relate.
Thanks for the help / info (in advance)
Bob
First, I've been browsing these forums a bit over the past month or so, and I notice a lot of debate over "optical vs. coax digital" cables, and how coax "sounds" better. So my question with that would be, how is that possible? If it's truly a digital signal, the same ones and zeroes get to the other end regardless of which medium they pass through. It's not like an analog signal where things can be lost - you're assuming an exact transmission of the signal, correct?
A question in the same vein would be what makes a good "source" (most interestingly, a CD player) ? Again, if you're just taking the actual bits from teh CD, transmitting them to a good receiver that does the DSP, wouldn't that be the same no matter who is passing the digital information on?
Sorry if this is a stupid question, I'm a computer guy so I tend to think in more of 1s and 0s, so I'm trying to wrap my head around how things in the home theater world relate.
Thanks for the help / info (in advance)
Bob
If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
Post edited by bobman1235 on
Comments
-
If it's truly a digital signal, the same ones and zeroes get to the other end regardless of which medium they pass through. It's not like an analog signal where things can be lost - you're assuming an exact transmission of the signal, correct?
Hi Bob...
I think the difference that is debated between the two is that optical actually uses light to transmit the signal where coax does not. Some feel the light aspect of optical connections can slightly change the sound. And many people (not all) swear that coax transmits a better two channel analog signal. Others say you can't hear a difference. Overall, the two have different methods of signal transmission.
I'm sure others can elaborate on this. This site has a lot of really good, knowledgeable people.
Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
Mains: polk R30
Center: polk CSi3
Rear Surrounds: polk R20
Subwoofer: polk PSW404
DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29 -
Digital uses 1s and 0s, but the problem is jitter caused by the clock being unstable.
jitter:
A tendency towards lack of synchronization caused by electrical changes. Technically the unexpected (and unwanted) phase shift of digital pulses over a transmission medium. Time skew; a discrepancy between when a digital edge transition is supposed to occur and when it actually does occur - think of it as nervous digital, or maybe a digital analogy to wow and flutter.
jitter timing error:
Short-term deviations of the transitions of a digital signal from their ideal positions in time.
