Optical vs Coaxial

limashaynut

Up to now I have always used a optical digital hookup for components over coaxial when given a choice. This is based on my ASSUMPTION that the optical was the higher quality hookup. I saw a sugestion in the owners manual of a Sony ES AVR recently that sugested using the coaxial over the optical, and was just wondering if my previous assumption was correct. So how about it, which is the better of the two? Is it six of one, half a dozen of the other? Which hookup would most of you guys use? If one is better than the other, then why?

BTW, I did a search to see if this topic was covered in a previous thread, and did not get any hits.

aaharvel

no difference between the two, UNLESS you're making extremely long cable runs that might be susceptible to electronic interference. That's a big unless but in that case- go with the optical.

danger boy

either is fine.. go with what you have already. don't ponder this at all. it's not worth even thinking about it.. coax or optical.. both are digital. does the same thing basically. some people prefer chocolate milk, other people prefer white milk. same thing.. both are milk right?

aaharvel

oh come on... :rolleyes:
Chocolate milk is SOOOO much better

beardog03

I use the digital optical ..
It seems to be better to me on what I`m running...
I swapped to coax and it seemed duller to me at the time, so I never took the time to experiment again after that...

Ferres

The only drawback I find with optical is that their very easy to get loose. Doesn't take much to accidentally dislodge it.

Personally, I did not find much of a significant difference between the two.

TheReaper

The main differance between optical and coaxial cables. Is that optical cables don't make an electrical connection between the devices.

Frank Z

As with all cable/wire debates, there is no clear winner. The difference between the two may be nonexistant to some and quite obvious to others. The only opinion that matters is yours. Both cables are inexpensive, so get one of each and try them with a piece of music you are very familiar with, you might be surprised at what you hear.

Report back with your findings so we can flame ya, or call you an Audio God!!

If your a history buff, here's some light reading on the subject....

Search Results

doggie750

aaharvel wrote:

oh come on... :rolleyes:
Chocolate milk is SOOOO much better

I think otherwise.............WHITE milk...........

LINK is below
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32586&highlight=optical+digital+coax

bpadget

I like the RG6 because I can make a pretty, custom length cable, down to a foot long, with solid connections, in about 2 minutes.

limashaynut

Thanks for the feedback, kind of what I thought, pick your flavor!

BTW, between the white or chocolate, I like both, depends on my mood or what I am eating with it! :rolleyes:

I think I will stick with the optical, that way if I want to upgrade my mutant seabass with feakin laser beams on their heads, I can do it!