HDMI audio versus Digital Coax?

[Elvis1977]

I have the H/K 645 and cannot tell any audio difference between HDMI audio versus Digital coax or optic connections. Anybody else experience the same?

 

[schiesz]

I would think they would all be the same, since they are all digital connections, and rely on your receiver to decode the digital signal.

schiesz

 

[MDS]

They are the same except for the fact that HDMI can carry much higher bandwidth audio than S/PDIF. S/PDIF can carry a maximum of 16/48 digital audio; if using HDMI to play the same thing, there will be no audible difference.

 

[j_garcia]

The time when you will notice it is playing back Dolby TrueHD or Lossless PCM from a Blu-ray or HD-DVD movie. There is a noticeable difference between current formats and the new ones. As mentioned, with current formats, there will basically be no difference.

 

[schiesz]

Is it correct that while the S/PDIF is a lower bandwidth connection, the optical has the same capabilities as the HDMI? Or does the optical connection have the same bandwidth limitations as S/PDIF?

schiesz

 

[MDS]

Coax and Optical digital connections both use S/PDIF as the communication protocol - they are one and the same, except for the fact that one is electrical and the other is optical.

HDMI can transmit high bandwith digital audio, like 5.1/7.1 PCM whereas S/PDIF cannot because it would exceed the bandwith limitations.