Comments, suggestions?

This just my opinion, but I think that optical cables give a slightly cleaner natural sound. At the same time they are also a lot more vulnerable to damage as they are more delecate. I think if you get a good quality coax cable with gold plating then you should be OK.

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"The earth does not belong to people; people belong to the earth. Everything that happens to the earth happens also to the sons and daughters of the earth." -Chief Seattle.

There is no bloody differene, unless you have a really cheap and/or long coax cable, as it is a digital signal. The signal either gets there or it doesn't. The end. So, the only way optical could sound better than coax is if you have a real cheap coax cable that has a short in it, or is pickin up exteral signals, thus causing drop-outs.

There is absolutely NO difference between a new Coax cable, and a new Optical Cable... If they are both in good working condition, there is NO difference... Some people CLAIM they hear a difference.
Yeah, and some people can tell butter from 'i can't believe its not butter'...
Yeah, real butter has a mellower, yet sweeter flavour, yet not too overpowering. The texture is smoother than 'I Cant Believe'...

You could be right, it could just be my imagination. But then again I have compared a cheap coax to a cheap optical and also a good coax (monster) to a good optical (monster) and in both cases I noticed the optical gave a slightly better sound. Of course it was not very significant and the durability of the coax probably more then makes up for it.

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MY GETTING LONGER BUT SLOWLY EXPANDING DVD LIST

"The earth does not belong to people; people belong to the earth. Everything that happens to the earth happens also to the sons and daughters of the earth." -Chief Seattle.

Hi, I have optical cables and I think they sound excellent. I really can't give a comparison because I've never use coax, but with the price difference, not that much in my opinion, I just figured since optical is the best, why not just do it right from the beginning!! I know I've heard that they're sensitive to breakage and such, but I'm not going to be taking my system apart every day, so?????? Just be careful when you do!!!!! Have a good one. Peace SteveF

quote:<HR>Originally posted by stevef:
I just figured since optical is the best, why not just do it right from the beginning!!
<HR>

Why is it the best? Just because it costs four times as much? There are no difference between the two other then the optical is much more expensive and fragile. If anyone has some facts to back up why one is better then the other in sound quality then I would sure like to them.

There is a VERY simple answer to this question.

Go to your local Best Buy, CC, or R-shack (anyone with a liberal return policy) buy BOTH cables. Put them both on your system and switch between them and see what you like.

ONLY YOU CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION!!


(personally I like the COAX, but test it yourself)

quote:<HR>Originally posted by 4KRG:


(personally I like the COAX, but test it yourself)[/B]<HR>

Do you notice better bass reproduction with the coax connection??? I have which is why I do not use my optical cable anymore...at least until I received my PS2 system!!! The optical cable I was using was an expensive Monster cable.....and the cable I am using for my coax connection is a Monster Video Cable.

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"You know Andy...I never thought it would come to this....Mayberry....Gateway to danger."

Barney Fife

djones6746

I would really rather not get into it. I have no desire to start another pissing contest in this forum, sorry.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by 4KRG:
djones6746

I would really rather not get into it. I have no desire to start another pissing contest in this forum, sorry. <HR>

Believe me, I understand!!!

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"You know Andy...I never thought it would come to this....Mayberry....Gateway to danger."

Barney Fife

If I am not mistaken, even a cheap (new, undamaged, clean) optical cable will transmit a near perfect digital signal, whereas many coax cables are prone to interference. Other than that, I have heard that any perceived difference between the two stems from the fact that sometimes the loss or distortion of the signal actually sounds better to some - if it bumps up an aspect of the sound that sounds pleasing to the particular listener. If anyone has a disagreement with this theory, please don't expect me to defend it - it's just something I read in a magazine somewhere, and it seems plausible to me.

I don't want to open a can of worms here. But isn't the typical optical cable prone to jitter due to the cheap medium that is usually used? Unless the receiver reclocks the received data there is the potential for distortion caused by that jitter. Perhaps that accounts for the perceived differences.

Is that true? Is there such a thing as a reciever that reclocks the received data?

I know some who swear by one or the other. I am unconvinced that the differences are anything but connection problems or other sources of interference. However i will tell you the same thing i would say to someone who thinks that a generic drug and a name brand drug with the same chemicals are different with the generic just not working right. buy the expensive one if it seems to work better for you the more expensive the better .

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Other Bargains Coupon Pet Thread

quote:<HR>Originally posted by gcribbs:
the more expensive the better .

<HR>

LOL - You are just mean

Any DD or DTS decoder available today does error checking and *eliminates* (or should) any inconsistencies in the digital bitstream.

There is a test floating around somewhere on the net that shows a standard wire coat hanger can pass the bitstream just fine on today's equipment. I think it has to be a certified digital coat hanger though

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Mister Beefhead:
Is that true? Is there such a thing as a reciever that reclocks the received data?<HR>

Computer, DAT recorders, etc. reclock the data. I don't know any receiver that does, I'm not an expert, but some might.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by 4KRG:

Any DD or DTS decoder available today does error checking and *eliminates* (or should) any inconsistencies in the digital bitstream.
<HR>

I think jitter is a problem because it looks like valid data, but it's "reflected" data coming in at the wrong time. That's the problem. It isn't errors in the bitstream. If the receiver of the data relies on the bitstream to provide the clocking, the jitter will be reproduced as distortion.

Worth a read...
http://www.digido.com/jitteressay.html

quote:<HR>Originally posted by 4KRG:
There is a test floating around somewhere on the net that shows a standard wire coat hanger can pass the bitstream just fine on today's equipment. I think it has to be a certified digital coat hanger though
[/B]<HR>

So, where can I buy a Monster THX Certified coat hanger?

quote:<HR>Originally posted by 4KRG:
Worth a read...
http://www.digido.com/jitteressay.html
<HR>

Great explanation! I wish he had also got into a discussion of coax vs optical though.

[This message has been edited by X (edited November 12, 2000).]

quote:<HR>Originally posted by dev-null:
So, where can I buy a Monster THX Certified coat hanger? <HR>

Well...being that it is a Monster THX Certified coat hanger and not just any ordinary hanger....

I will cut you a deal but do not tell anyone...it could hurt my business!!!
For you, the special price of $89.99!!

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"You know Andy...I never thought it would come to this....Mayberry....Gateway to danger."

Barney Fife

quote:<HR>Originally posted by dev-null:
So, where can I buy a Monster THX Certified coat hanger? <HR>

I can tell you how to make one, but the plans will cost you $50, I take pay pal.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by X:
Great explanation! I wish he had also got into a discussion of coax vs optical though.

<HR>

Yeah, I had one that did a great job of optical vs coax, but I can not find the link in my thousands of links on 4 computers.

Maybe one day I will get my act together.... naw, will never happen.

Again, I am not going to get into a big debate over this, take my thoughts and ignore them or embrace them.

Optical cables are not worth a damn unless they have a real glass core. Trust me, most of them you see out there are plastic cores. You start to get glass at $100 on up prices. The only REAL benefit is 0% percent chance of outside interference. Todays DVD players and todays DD/DTS decoders can compensate for anything (even the low end ones), even jitter. IMHO save some money and buy a sheilded video cable to send your digital signal through. $6 at radio shack. I would also like to add I use a $6 cable and my home theater is over $10,000. I may be deaf, but I can not hear a difference...

flame away - if it gets too hot you won't see me post here anymore (like other threads, I just don't care that much what others think)

quote:<HR>Originally posted by 4KRG:
Optical cables are not worth a damn unless they have a real glass core. Trust me, most of them you see out there are plastic cores. You start to get glass at $100 on up prices. The only REAL benefit is 0% percent chance of outside interference.
<HR>

I agree. Optical has great potential, just too expensive to buy the stuff that lives up to it. Why do so many manufacturers only provide Toslink interfaces? Is it cool or something?