digital coax vs digital optical

[5.1 DTS guy]

Hi, I was wondering if i'm really missing out since my dvd player (panasonic s29) only has a coax audio out (no optical). Is the difference between coax and optical worth it for me to somehow exchange my dvd player (although probably too late)? Also, is there any difference when manufactures call it fiber optic oppose to optical? Thanks for any help.

 

[sublime1]

Digital is digital

Hi, I was wondering if i'm really missing out since my dvd player (panasonic s29) only has a coax audio out (no optical). Is the difference between coax and optical worth it for me to somehow exchange my dvd player (although probably too late)? Also, is there any difference when manufactures call it fiber optic oppose to optical? Thanks for any help.

(Well, I am new here, so maybe one of the experts can correct or clarify, but I think the following is correct).
When you say "coax", I assume you mean digital coax (with an RCA-like connector and an orange center). Optical and fiber optic are the same -- they beam pulses of light down thin glass fibers to transmit a signal. Coax or optical, both are digital, so assuming the full signal from the device makes it from one end to the other, they are identical. Theoretically, the coax being copper could lose some signal during transmission, but unless you're making a 20 foot run or something, I can't believe th4ere's a real difference between the two.

 

[zumbo]

Hi, I was wondering if i'm really missing out since my dvd player (panasonic s29) only has a coax audio out (no optical). Is the difference between coax and optical worth it for me to somehow exchange my dvd player (although probably too late)? Also, is there any difference when manufactures call it fiber optic oppose to optical? Thanks for any help.

NO to both. You are in good shape.

 

[racquetman]

You won't notice any difference between coax and optical. They are both doing the exact same thing, just 2 different ways of accomplishing it. They are both S/PDIF interfaces. A cheap optical cable is usually made from plastic, while the better ones are glass. Optical cables are therefore more fragile than a coax cable. That might be the only consideration for normal home theater setups.

 

[AudioSeer]

If anything, coax is better because it doesn't have to go through the additional optical/electrical conversion on each end.

 

[nibhaz]

If anything, coax is better because it doesn't have to go through the additional optical/electrical conversion on each end.

Or one could counter by saying optical is better since it is completely immune to RFI and EMI. But seriously, this is one of those questions that you need not trouble your mind with since they are practically one in the same. You're not missing anything.