Digital Audio Out Optical vs. Coaxial

[kingdavid]

What is the difference. My guess would be that optical is better, but why?

I just bought a DVD player that was not advertised well. I thought it had optical and it does not. It has the coaxial. I am thinking of returning, but if it is a moot point I will not.

I have a good receiver and 7.1 surround.

[billfitzmaurice]

There are those who claim optical is less susceptible to noise, but since all digital transmission is immune to noise those claims are rather suspect to say the least. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it one way or the other.

[dickwest]

> What is the difference. My guess would be
> that optical is better, but why?

> I just bought a DVD player that was not
> advertised well. I thought it had optical
> and it does not. It has the coaxial. I am
> thinking of returning, but if it is a moot
> point I will not.

> I have a good receiver and 7.1 surround.

Because there is no metal to metal contact with a toslink cable there is less chance of ground loops, hum, or errant amounts of current differential between two devices. My computer runs a sound card with a toslink output that goes to the optical input on the Outlaw pre/pro. I can play a CD on the computer through my HT amps and speakers and it sounds just great.

[jerryexner]

I recently solved a ground loop problem with my subwoofer plate amp (PE240) by switching to the optical cable. The metallic contact in the coax was causing the ground loop.

[franka]

> What is the difference. My guess would be
> that optical is better, but why?

> I just bought a DVD player that was not
> advertised well. I thought it had optical
> and it does not. It has the coaxial. I am
> thinking of returning, but if it is a moot
> point I will not.

> I have a good receiver and 7.1 surround.

I have always read that there was little, if any, difference in sound from the two (at least that we can hear). The main disadvantage with the optical is that it can/will not bend sharply (thus possibly breaking?). I have not had that problem personally, though.

Frank

[rp]

Technically, there is no difference in sound or signal loss. It is either a 1 or 0. But, I never thought about the ground loop possibilities. Something to add to the memory.

> I recently solved a ground loop problem with
> my subwoofer plate amp (PE240) by switching
> to the optical cable. The metallic contact
> in the coax was causing the ground loop.