Optical/Toslink Question

jay27
jay27 Posts: 105
edited July 2009 in Car Audio & Electronics
I am pretty new to doing my own installs, so this question will probably be a dumb one. What does an optical connection do? I have been searching, and could not find an answer for someone who has no idea where to start. If a head unit has one optical connection, does mean it is only used for an outgoing processor or disc changer? Is optical used instead of rca connections for speaker inputs? Looking at a DSP6 for example, it has 3 optical connections. How would these connect to a head unit, for example?
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  • cadenceclipse
    cadenceclipse Posts: 459
    edited July 2009
    it has 1, not 3. it connects to rca via analog inputs not digital ore optical the 1 optical is for changer, or other external device
    Polk MM6501 kick panels, Eclipse cd7200mkll and SW9122 Bomb Box, Cadence A4, A7, CAP5, JL8W3V3
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  • jay27
    jay27 Posts: 105
    edited July 2009
    Thanks. The manual shows that it has 3 optical inputs for some reasons, so I was a bit confused.
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  • cadenceclipse
    cadenceclipse Posts: 459
    edited July 2009
    well 2 b honest w/ u it very well may have 3 for all i know, but i'm willing 2 bet 1..
    Polk MM6501 kick panels, Eclipse cd7200mkll and SW9122 Bomb Box, Cadence A4, A7, CAP5, JL8W3V3
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited July 2009
    You have to be using a head unit with an optical output which most head units dont have. The benefit to an optical output is that it keeps the signal pure digital all the way to the processor. That means zero signal noise.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • arun1963
    arun1963 Posts: 1,797
    edited July 2009
    ya, some high end dvd units have optical pre outs. How come the top end cdr's don't have them? Ok, they would be more expensive, but I think the brands could hit break even numbers in sales volume.

    Enough nuts out there.
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  • jay27
    jay27 Posts: 105
    edited July 2009
    MacLeod wrote: »
    You have to be using a head unit with an optical output which most head units dont have. The benefit to an optical output is that it keeps the signal pure digital all the way to the processor. That means zero signal noise.

    So, if you have a head unit with 1 optical out and you connect it to your processor's 1 optical connection, would you still need to connect rca cables from the head unit to the processor?
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited July 2009
    No. The audio is in the optical. The processor has RCA's out to the amps.

    With the Alpine you use the Ai-Net cable from the head unit to the processor so you can use the head units volume and fader controls. Otherwise youd have to use the volume and such from the processor.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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