Stupid question re: audio connection

xj4094dg

Should digital coax be used over rca interconnects? Please explain.

Thanks.

tcrossma

Digital can carry an un-decoded signal. If you're talking 2-channel, it means that the receiver/processor's DAC will decode the signal instead of the CD player.

If you have a good CD player you'll probably want to use analog. If you have a so-so CD player and a good receiver, then go for digital.

If you're talking HT, then why don't you provide a list of your components and what you're trying to achieve so that others can help with specifics.

xj4094dg

I was talking about 2 channel.

McLoki

Not sure what your question is, but here goes.... (much has been answered already - just if you did not understand it for some reason - I will give it a shot as well)

Digial coax is used to carry a digital signal (much like an optical cable).
RCA cables are used to carry an analog signal.

Since you did not mention your senario - I will make one up and maybe its close...

If you had a CD player and wanted to hook it up to your reciever and wanted to know what to hook it up with... Your CD player has digital coax and RCA outputs - your reciever (as most recievers) will hook up damn near anything you want to plug in.

If you use digital coax - your CD player will read the disk and pass the digital information on to your reciever where it will be decoded, (perhaps) processed with bass management, and sent to the amplifier and speakers.

If you use the RCA cables - your CD player will read the disk and decode the bits into an analog stream. It will send this analog stream to your reciever where it will be trimmed (via the volume control) and if you use a pure direct mode - will go to the amplifier and speakers. If you choose to use the bass management built into your reciever - it will convert the signal back to digital, apply the bass management, convert it back to analog, and then send it to the amps and the speakers.

In general I would rate it something like this:

Do you want to use bass management?
yes - use digital connection
no - ask next question

Do you want to use an external DAC (digital to audio converter)?
yes - use digital connection
No - ask next question

what has the better DAC in it - your reciever or your CD player?
Reciever - use digital connection
CD Player - use analog connection.


Not true in all cases, but I bet it passes the 80/20 rule....

Michael

Conradicles

Excellent Michael!!!

xj4094dg

Great response.

kp1706

If I want to hook up my AVR's pre-outs to an amplifier, should I use an analog audio interconnect or a digital audio interconnect? I am guessing analog since the AVR has already processed the digital signal and is outputting it as an analog signal?

McLoki

For the connection between your receiver and your amp, you want to use standard RCA cables. (analog)