optical audio out... what happened to it?
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Micah Cohen
Posts: 2,022
I won't go into my whole bluray vs SD-DVD thing here. But I've just noticed that there's not one SD-DVD player on the shelves that has the OPTICAL AUDIO OUT jack no more. (Even non-HDMI players don't have this jack no more.)
Why is this? Where did this output go?
MC
Why is this? Where did this output go?
MC
Post edited by Micah Cohen on
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Face it, you're getting old. I said the same thing when transistors came out. Where's the tubes?>
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>This message has been scanned by the NSA and found to be free of harmful intent.< -
the newer hi res formats will onl have analog out or hdmi, they do this to stop piracy
where have you been for ummmm like 6 years lol
it started with SACDDodd - Battery Preamp
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Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!
"I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..." -
If you blink things will change. Just remember....
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WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR -
Coax is still available on most DVD players.
As for why, high-res formats = analog out or HDMI.polkaudio RT35 Bookshelves
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Front projection, 2 channel, car audio... life is good! -
Polkersince85 wrote: »Face it, you're getting old. I said the same thing when transistors came out. Where's the tubes?~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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I think even analog is slated to be removed in the near future for hi-res output.Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
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Uh-huh. Analog has way to many aspects of the video and HI-FI outlay for the manufactures to completely abolish. I call Shenanigan's.~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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I know that SACD isn't supported through a digital coaxial. It it because of piracy issues or it can't handle the flow of data?
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I believe it can't handle the data flow..TNRabbit
NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
Sunfire TG-IV
Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
Carver AL-III Speakers
Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer -
where have you been for ummmm like 6 years lol
Is Optical a "bad" technology? I can't believe that a coax is a better audio carrier. Is it?
MC -
I think coax is just easier for the manufacturer, and 99% of people don't know or care about the difference.
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Micah Cohen wrote: »Perfectly happy sitting in the dark watching a perfectly calibrated Pio SD-DVD player from the stone age that has an optical audio out.
Is Optical a "bad" technology? I can't believe that a coax is a better audio carrier. Is it?
MCDARE TO SOAR:
Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life -
Micah Cohen wrote: »Perfectly happy sitting in the dark watching a perfectly calibrated Pio SD-DVD player from the stone age that has an optical audio out.
Is Optical a "bad" technology? I can't believe that a coax is a better audio carrier. Is it?
MC
Actually, many do believe that digital coax is a better connection than optical. It typically has lower jitter and provides a more secure connection ( toslink does pull out too easy IMO)
Of course, if your trying to isolate electrical noise or a ground hum, then its a different story.
BTW, many of the manufacturers are completely dropping SD-DVD players and are only producing BluRay players. I have seen some of those with optical connections (the Oppo 80 has it, as does the Panny 60)For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore... -
Micah Cohen wrote: »Is Optical a "bad" technology? I can't believe that a coax is a better audio carrier. Is it?
With optical, in my experience, you are limited to one [as I would put it] digitally edged sound. As with most things, there are attributes and there are deficiencies. Run with what you like but I will never again have an optical cable for sound.~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
With newer DAC's and quality optical and coax cables, the difference is minimal or none at all."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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The strongest argument of toslink to me is electrical isolation which is why I run it on my PC music system. However, it can also theoretically run as far as you want without signal degradation also.
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I would imagine that Toshiba (link) products might feature their toslink cable hook ups for as long as they can? As said above, Panasonic also, seems to still like them?
But the future is HDMI.
cnhCurrently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!
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But the future is HDMI.
cnh"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche -
Optical was capped at 96k I wonder if this is what killed it. I know for a fact optical could go as fast as we could push it But saying this I wonder what we consumers would do if they upgraded optical speed making the old no workie. Look how we began to feel about all the HDMI variations they seem to come out every so often to mess with us.
Speakers
Carver Amazing Fronts
CS400i Center
RT800i's Rears
Sub Paradigm Servo 15
Electronics
Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
Parasound Halo A23
Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
Pioneer 79Avi DVD
Sony CX400 CD changer
Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR -
Without a receiver with HDMI-in capabilities, there'd be no way to run component video out to the TV (for unprocessed video) and HDMI (for audio only) to the receiver for audio processing, correct? (Could I do something like that?)
I think HDMI is really getting on my nerves.
MC -
The strongest argument of toslink to me is electrical isolation which is why I run it on my PC music system.
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I can't go so far as to say that it's bad technology but from experience? RCA [not coax] is the way to go. Why? The end result in sound as to what hits your ears and the ability to tweak your "soundscape", if you will.
With optical, in my experience, you are limited to one [as I would put it] digitally edged sound. As with most things, there are attributes and there are deficiencies. Run with what you like but I will never again have an optical cable for sound.Optical isn't a bad technology at all. I don't have any definitive answer on the topic. All I can do is 'guess' that the reason is two fold. 1) HDMI has largely replaced Optical cables. 2) Its cheaper for a manufacturer to produce a piece that uses one type of digital output. Optical introduces yet another circuit that must take a digital signal, convert that to light, then the other component must reconvert that signal back to digital, until finally converting it back to analog.
Dunno, thats my lamens guess.I would imagine that Toshiba (link) products might feature their toslink cable hook ups for as long as they can? As said above, Panasonic also, seems to still like them?
But the future is HDMI.
cnh
If toslink was using good quality connector for home product, IMHO there is no doubt of its effectiveness and reliability.
Below is a quality connector I remember when fiber was introduced in the military.Obsolete Connectors
SMA
Amphenol developed the SMA from the "Subminiature A" hence SMA, microwave connector. The model 905 had a machined ferrule exactly 1/8 inch in diameter that mated in a machined adapter. When the adapters were not precise enough for better fibers, a necked-down ferrule that mated with a Delrin adapter for better insertion loss performance. These connectors are still in use on some military and industrial systems.DARE TO SOAR:
Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life -
First let me clarify a few things for you. The optical output is capable of carrying at least 5.1 audio channels (the .1 is your subwoofer in the reality of his 6-channel audio, actually). The same goes for digital coaxial cable capable of carrying at least 6-channel audio. The difference between the two is that coaxial digital signal carries a digital electronics (two voltage levels - 1 or 0) to multi-channel receiver. With optical, it does not carry an electronic signal or analog of any transaction, or digital instead it carries a laser light beam of high freqency intensity trends as a function of the sound wave. Once you receive the multichannel optical signal, then converts it into a cable box signal.your electronic obtained optical audio output to connect directly to the receiver multi-channel, cable TV is not going your video cable (DVI, HDMI , Component, S-Video, Composite, Coaxial). If you connect HDMI make sure you turn the TV speakers turn your TV volume to a minimum since the HDMI carries sound as I said well.What above applies to all sources 5.1 output even your DVD player with speakers or television optical digital.Your not give your Dolby Surround Sound, so its useless to include the TV for audio. Hopefully it disappears.
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Odd, from what I've read and IMHO RCA was the worse, most unreliable connector of its time. The only reason it was chosen is simply because it was cheap.
Do you have any actual experience to back that up?~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Ha...Micah bailed on this thread allready and you guys are still pissin' in the wind over RCA's.
Tom...school that boy will ya please.HT SYSTEM-
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BNC is a far superior connection to a RCA - it goes in and twist lock - no pressure needed to keep it in and just reverse it to release.
Just like NL4 is far superior to a standard 1/4 jack
Optical out DVD player? Ever heard of a XBOX 360?- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
BNC and XLR are both vastly superior than RCA."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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Hold on. Stop right there....What? Are you kidding me? Please tell me you are kidding.
Do you have any actual experience to back that up?
Tom, I agree with him.
BNC should have been THE connector of choice.
TNRabbit
NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
Sunfire TG-IV
Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
Carver AL-III Speakers
Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer