firewire vs analog

[duff]

<font color='#000000'>I've been reading everywhere that there is no digital output for DVDA, and I've clearly seen it on the backs of DVDA players. *Now I'm seeing that there has been since September? *
http://www.audiorevolution.com/news/1202/13.firewire.shtml
Have I been under a rock while people have been talking about this? *Does it really help solve some of the DVDA issues? *Anyone have thoughts on this?</font>

<font color='#000000'>It is only a matter of time before IEEE-1394 (Firewire) interfaces will be the way we connect all of our audio and video hardware together. *Firewire has been used with DV Camcorders for several years now, and works perfectly with DV, which has both high-quality video plus two tracks of CD quality audio. *DV does not use the full bandwidth of the 1394 interface, so high quality high data rate audio is a walk in the park. *Firewire is even used for broadcast telivision and by the movie industry, so it's widely accepted, and pretty well sorted out.

I look forward to the day when I can replace all those analog and digital interconnects with a single 1394 cable for each component (and apparently that day is getting a lot closer).

Thanks for posting the link. *Interesting development.

Chuck</font>

[Clint DeBoer]

<font color='#000000'>Good scoop!

I wonder what impact 1394b will have?

See the next generation of FireWire here:

1394b FireWire 800 Specs (http://it-enquirer.com/storage/firewire.html)

I had been under the impression that it wasn't a technology issue holding back DVDA manufacturers - but a legal one. The technology (optical or coax) to send DVDA and SACD to the receiver has been there, but I was under the impression that lawsuits and legal mumbo jumbo was holding the manufacturers (and quality of sound) back.

Looks like a huge hurdle was over come...

[Edit: spelling]</font>

<font color='#000000'>To the best of my knowledge hawke is right. There are no plans that I know of to add a digital output for SACD or DVD A for &quot;fear&quot; of unauthorized duplication.
Quite frankly this is the last place I would really want to duplicate from. I would much rather dump the disc in a burner a copy it directly.</font>

<font color='#000000'>There is a bit of competition in the computer world, between USB and Firewire. *The 1394b appears to be a response to USB 2.0. *The entertainment industry seems to be leaning heavily toward Firewire, while the computer industry (so far) seems to be more focused on USB. *Ultimately, it will probably be the home automation community that defines the standards we'll all end up using. *That may well mean that we end up sending both control and data (audio, video, and all our other &quot;data&quot;) from one piece of gear to another through the power cord and house wiring. *Some day we may be able to plug in a source device, and plug in an amplifier, and not have to bother with any other interconnects at all. *However, there are a number of problems that need to be solved before that can actually happen. *Some major companies are now dumping lots of money into this aspect of the &quot;convergence.&quot;

While it's true that it is easier to drop an optical disk into a burner and make a copy than it would be to use any kind of interface to the audio gear, that entirely misses the point of the Firewire interfaces. *They are intended to transfer both data, and control signals, between components. *They will entirely replace analog interconnects and multiple digital interconnects in the foreseeable future. *At least that's the way the big entertainment companies think it's going to play out.

Legal issues have been involved, and it is hard to separate the facts from the propaganda. *Be that as it may, Firewire is a good interface, and quite capable of doing the tasks the industry has planned for its future.

Chuck</font>