When exactly is a digital audio cable needed?

[lithnights]

OK, I have scoured countless posts on this topic and seem to get conflicting info.

I have read...
"To enjoy Dolby Digital or DTS surround sound, you'll need to run a coaxial, optical, or HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) digital cable from the player or recorder to your A/V receiver.."

But have also read..
"In order to enjoy 5.1 surround sound [non dolby digital], you need to run digital audio cable.."

So when exactly is a digital audio cable needed? Needed for dolby pro logic? Needed for dolby digital? etc. etc.

Thanks in advance,

 

[claudermilk]

It really depends on where you want the decoding done, and what connection options you want. When you use the digital cable, you are sending the digital signal to the receiver and letting it do the decoding, so all the fancy parameters available on the receiver can be used. If you use the analog cables, you are using your player's decoder with whatever options are available there; then you send the analog signals to the receiver, which just amplifies them and passes them along to the speakers.

If you want to listen to SACD, or some modes of DVD-A, you have to use analog.

 

[Buckle-meister]

If you want to listen to SACD, or some modes of DVD-A, you have to use analog.

Unless you have two i-link/d-link/(blah blah blah) compatible components. Then it can be passed digitally.

Regards

 

[mtrycrafts]

OK, I have scoured countless posts on this topic and seem to get conflicting info.

I have read...
"To enjoy Dolby Digital or DTS surround sound, you'll need to run a coaxial, optical, or HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) digital cable from the player or recorder to your A/V receiver.."

But have also read..
"In order to enjoy 5.1 surround sound [non dolby digital], you need to run digital audio cable.."

So when exactly is a digital audio cable needed? Needed for dolby pro logic? Needed for dolby digital? etc. etc.

Thanks in advance,

I would recommend it to pass the signal in the digital domain as long as you can. Less corruption to the signal. Well designed receivers have good DACs.

 

[lithnights]

I would recommend it to pass the signal in the digital domain as long as you can. Less corruption to the signal. Well designed receivers have good DACs.

OK.. I just bought a Pioneer 1015 and I know it has digital audio hookups. I was planning on using them but I was just curious what difference they really make... e.g. my current ProLogic receiver doesn't have them and I guess I was wondering how much difference it would be soundwise.

Thanks all..

 

[jaxvon]

You should definitely use a digital connection for your DVD player to take advantage of the superior bass management on the 1015. While it isn't anything like an Outlaw ICBM, I can guarantee that it's much better than most inexpensive DVD players (such as my Pioneer DV-578AS).

 

[agarwalro]

I would recommend it to pass the signal in the digital domain as long as you can. Less corruption to the signal. Well designed receivers have good DACs.

I second this recommendation.

Most mid range receivers will have better DAC's than the average CD player. Further, if you are going to use the digital output of the CD player, they are all equal. The sound quality from the digital out of a $1000.00 CD player is going to be no better than from the $100.00 one.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I believe the short answer is: You should always use digital connections to get the best possible audio. Just leave the 1015 set to 'auto' detection and it will use the best possible audio it can for your speakers.

I believe that Pro Logic II is the highest 'surround' mode that can be passed over analog audio connections and it isn't as good as digital 5.1.

Now, when do you need analog connections at all? About the only thing you need them for is SACD and DVD-A which don't provide the full quality audio output over the digital connection. I don't listen to either so I can't get to deep into that. If you don't listen to DVD-A or SACD, then don't worry about it.

The only other times you would connect analog is...
1. Your playback device doesn't have a digital connection (tape deck, record player, older analog cable box, etc.)
2. You want zone 2 audio as most receivers don't convert from digital to analog for zone 2. The 1015 doesn't have a zone 2, so no worries there.
3. The DACs (digital to analog converters) inside your playback device are significantly better than those in your A/V receiver. Very rare IMO to find this to be the case.

 

[mtrycrafts]

The sound quality from the digital out of a $1000.00 CD player is going to be no better than from the $100.00 one.

Then what does that $900 buys you? LOL

 

[mulester7]

Then what does that $900 buy you? LOL

.....well, I'm gonna' step out on a limb here and say a hard lesson.....

 

[bigpapa]

Hook both analogue and digital up

Hook up SACD (analogue 5.1) and coax/toslink for digital, ideally coax. You get the best of both worlds. Some SACD capable players only put out SACD signal on the analogue 5.1 input.

Then set your receiver to auto like somebody said.

I have a $300 dollar DVD/SACD/CD. They're probably cheaper than that now.

I'd recommend it, since it's really tiny (2 rack spaces) and has discretes.

 

[westcott]

Then what does that $900 buys you? LOL

Some of the really nice players like the Denon 3910 DVD player have a proprietary digital link that is compatible with their mid and upper range receivers.

If used together, you will be provided bass management while playing SACD and DVD Audio. Very important and not available on most players via analog outputs.

The digital audio connections on a lower priced receiver are the same as an expensive receiver, but the proprietary digital link I refer to is separate.

Now the sound generated by a more expensive player is usually better, with lower distortion, and more power. Generally, that is what you are paying for in a mid level to high end receiver over a low budget model. More power, lower THD, and input\output features.

Your speakers should really dictate what power you need and what receiver you think is capable of driving them satisfactorally. A separate amp may be necessary to get the most from your sound system, especially if your speaker design has a low sensitivity.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Some of the really nice players like the Denon 3910 DVD player have a proprietary digital link that is compatible with their mid and upper range receivers.
.

WOW, again. That is an expensive proprietary link, $900.

 

[mtrycrafts]

.....well, I'm gonna' step out on a limb here and say a hard lesson.....

That's not a limb, still the trunk