HDMI audio quality difference?

[Snappycracky]

Hi. I'm a newbie at this forum. I was reading a review of the Oppo DV-981HD SACD/DVD-A/DVD player which uses an HDMI cable for multichannel audio. The reviewer had this to say about interconnects:

"I’d recommend not skimping on the interconnects you use with the DV-981HD. The better they are, the better sound you'll hear from the DV-981HD. The inexpensive interconnects that come packaged with the DV-981HD will not allow it to come close to strutting its sonic stuff. Don’t be surprised if the interconnects you end up using cost more than the player itself. Once you’ve heard the improvement that top-quality interconnects can bring, you won’t regret spending the money. I promise."

I assume he's talking about the HDMI (he could be referring to the typical RCA cables included). I know the consensus is that at short distances there's little difference between HDMI cables for video quality, but what about audio?

Thanks, Snappy

 

[The Chukker]

Yes and no

HDMI will invariably sound better than the pack-in RCA cables, however you do not need to spend an exorbitant amount of money on cables to get crystal clear audio. HDMI is a purely digital interface that travels pretty well without any signal degradation; try:
www.bluejeanscable.com/
They make outstanding HDMI cables to order for very reasonable prices.

 

[samNOISE]

A/v Hdmi

.
Audio signals are a piece of cake compared to the much higher frequency video signal. Have a look at this video clip from the Canadian Broadcasting Company's 'Marketplace' for an eye-opening HDMI experience:

http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2008/02/20/packing_the_deal

Andrew D.
www.cdnav.com

.

 

[TLS Guy]

"I’d recommend not skimping on the interconnects you use with the DV-981HD. The better they are, the better sound you'll hear from the DV-981HD. The inexpensive interconnects that come packaged with the DV-981HD will not allow it to come close to strutting its sonic stuff. Don’t be surprised if the interconnects you end up using cost more than the player itself. Once you’ve heard the improvement that top-quality interconnects can bring, you won’t regret spending the money. I promise."

Thanks, Snappy[/QUOTE]

Pull the other one! (Leg that is).

 

[MinusTheBear]

I can vouch with chukker about blue jeans cable, they make quality cables at affordable prices. I bought some interconnects a month ago and i am very happy with them, i am thinking right now about ordering a 10 foot digital coax cable and 100 feet of 10 awg speakers wire from them.

 

[obscbyclouds]

I use the HDMI cable that came with my DV-981. I really doubt I'm missing anything, as it works flawlessly. The only reason I can see for buying another cable is if the supplied one is too short, or defective in some way (In which case I bet Oppo would replace it for free).

If you are using analog multichannel interconnects, you could possibly hear a slight change in sound when using superior cables (not those fancy $100/ft. cables either), but when using HDMI, no way.

 

[Pyrrho]

Hi. I'm a newbie at this forum. I was reading a review of the Oppo DV-981HD SACD/DVD-A/DVD player which uses an HDMI cable for multichannel audio. The reviewer had this to say about interconnects:

"I’d recommend not skimping on the interconnects you use with the DV-981HD. The better they are, the better sound you'll hear from the DV-981HD. The inexpensive interconnects that come packaged with the DV-981HD will not allow it to come close to strutting its sonic stuff. Don’t be surprised if the interconnects you end up using cost more than the player itself. Once you’ve heard the improvement that top-quality interconnects can bring, you won’t regret spending the money. I promise."

I assume he's talking about the HDMI (he could be referring to the typical RCA cables included). I know the consensus is that at short distances there's little difference between HDMI cables for video quality, but what about audio?

Thanks, Snappy

There are lots of suckers who believe that one needs magic wires, blessed by the pope, in order to get good performance. "obscbyclouds" is right; just use the HDMI cable that comes with it, unless it is not long enough or defective. If you needed to use analog for the audio because of the equipment you have, you still do not need magic expensive wires. Just do a little searching, and you will find that not everyone is a sucker for expensive wires.