HDMI vs Optical/Coaxial for CDP

math wizard
math wizard Posts: 106
edited May 2009 in Electronics
I have a Yamaha DVD-C950 CD/DVD player. Currently it is connected to my receiver via a HDMI cable. Since this player is used to play CD's only, is there any advantage/disadvantage to using HDMI over coaxial/optical cables?

Thanks!!!
Processor - Emotiva UMC-200
Pre-Amp (2 Ch) - Emotiva USP-1
DSP Minidsp nanoAVR DL
DAC (2 Ch) - Emotiva XDA-2
Amp (Fronts) - Emotiva XPA-2
Amp (Center/Surrounds) - Emotiva XPA-3
CD - Emotiva ERC-1
Fronts - Polk Audio RTi 12
Center - Polk Audio CSi5
Rears - Polk Audio RTiA1
Sub - Epik Knight
Sub EQ - Velodyne SMS-1
Monitor - Sony XBR65X850C
Blu-Ray - OPPO BDP-203
Network Media Player - Chromecast Ultra
Power Conditioner - APC H15
Power Conditioner - Emotiva CMX-2
PVR - DirecTV C61k
Remote - Harmony Touch w/Hub
Post edited by math wizard on
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Comments

  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited May 2009
    The yamaha looks like a nice univeral player with a good upscaling chip....and you only use it for CDs?

    The spec sheet shows it has 24-bit/192Khz audio DACs.

    So, you may want to check to see if you can send this data rate out via HDMI to your AVR.

    Not sure if TOSLINK/SPDIF connections will support this rate or not - that might be the only advantage I can think of for staying with HDMI.

    And you may also want to consider using analog connections from the CDP to your AVR if all you use it for is CDs....just to compare the sound you get from the CDP DACs vs the AVR DACs.

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • math wizard
    math wizard Posts: 106
    edited May 2009
    Erik Tracy wrote: »
    The yamaha looks like a nice univeral player with a good upscaling chip....and you only use it for CDs?

    The spec sheet shows it has 24-bit/192Khz audio DACs.

    So, you may want to check to see if you can send this data rate out via HDMI to your AVR.

    Not sure if TOSLINK/SPDIF connections will support this rate or not - that might be the only advantage I can think of for staying with HDMI.

    And you may also want to consider using analog connections from the CDP to your AVR if all you use it for is CDs....just to compare the sound you get from the CDP DACs vs the AVR DACs.


    I use this for CD's only because I have a BluRay player and a HD DVD player which up converts DVD very good (the Yamaha does a great jog up converting also). I have an Onkyo 806 as an AVR, but don't know if it has better DAC's then the Yamaha (I don't know what the Yamaha has - Burr Browns?).
    Processor - Emotiva UMC-200
    Pre-Amp (2 Ch) - Emotiva USP-1
    DSP Minidsp nanoAVR DL
    DAC (2 Ch) - Emotiva XDA-2
    Amp (Fronts) - Emotiva XPA-2
    Amp (Center/Surrounds) - Emotiva XPA-3
    CD - Emotiva ERC-1
    Fronts - Polk Audio RTi 12
    Center - Polk Audio CSi5
    Rears - Polk Audio RTiA1
    Sub - Epik Knight
    Sub EQ - Velodyne SMS-1
    Monitor - Sony XBR65X850C
    Blu-Ray - OPPO BDP-203
    Network Media Player - Chromecast Ultra
    Power Conditioner - APC H15
    Power Conditioner - Emotiva CMX-2
    PVR - DirecTV C61k
    Remote - Harmony Touch w/Hub
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  • Mike21
    Mike21 Posts: 252
    edited May 2009
    I may be wrong, but I think the BB DACs in the Yamaha are the same as those in the Onk 806.

    I don't think you will hear any difference between HDMI, optical or coax digital cables. If you want to experiment, buy 1 inexspensive optical and 1 coax from Monoprice and see if you hear a difference.

    Mike
    ____________________________________________
    Home Theater 32"LG LCD; Comcast; 7.1 Onkyo 805; Fronts: Polk M50s; Center: Polk CS2; Sides: Polk M40s; Rear: B&W LM1s; Subs: (2) Sony 12" x 100w; Samsung 1500BDP; Toshiba A-2 HD-DVDP.
    PC stereo: Viper custom PC: Windows XP; ASIO4ALL; JRiver Jukebox> Pop Pulse USB to S/PDIF conv> Monarchy DIP > Musiland MD10 DAC > Parasound 2100 pre> Aragon 4004 MKII amp> Dali Ikon6 towers; Sunfire True Sub; PSA Duet, Ultimate outlet and Noise Harvestors.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,250
    edited May 2009
    One point about HDMI is it can support anti-jitter technology. Sony calls this HATS, and Pioneer has another name. I do not know if the Yamaha has it, but if the CD player and AVR both support it then it will (most likely) give better sound if it is turned on.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
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    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,872
    edited May 2009
    Why noy try the analog outputs of the Yamaha.Using the coax or HDMI will bypass the Yammy's DAC's and analog output stage, both of which may be better than those in the AVR.



    edit.ooops Eric already suggested this.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,808
    edited May 2009
    Do you use the sub when listening to CD's? If so, you will want to avoid the analog outputs, as the Onkyo will run the signal through it's A/D converter, apply bass management, and then run it back through it's D/A converter.

    Of course if you have any SACD's you will need to hook up the analog connections to hear the SACD layer of the disc, it doesn't do SACD over HDMI, coax, or optical.
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