HDMI, Co-axial, Optical or RCA

[varthurravi]

Given a choice, what would be the most desirable medium of connecting BDP/DVD Player with the Receiver?

Is HDMI better than everything else when it comes to audio? I mean, HDMI over co-axial/optical cable, RCA? Please suggest what is better for audio (I am not too concerned about video).

Thanks
Ravi

 

[Deleted member 17547]

I would prefer HDMI but if i dont have any option of HDMI then Optical to carry out the audio and will connect video directly to TV set. That also depends what available inputs you have in ur AVR.

Thanks

 

[prankey]

I would prefer HDMI but if i dont have any option of HDMI then Optical to carry out the audio and will connect video directly to TV set. That also depends what available inputs you have in ur AVR.

Thanks

Optical is the WORST and most UNRELIABLE and FRAGILE connection to carry Digital Audio!

We should use HDMI as much as possible followed by coaxial by connecting any CHEAP RCA cable to it.

 

[venkatcr]

Is HDMI better than everything else when it comes to audio? I mean, HDMI over co-axial/optical cable, RCA? Please suggest what is better for audio (I am not too concerned about video).

The answer depends upon a number of things.

For example, if you use a CD Player that has a good DAC, I would use only a simple analogue connection pair and use the receiver in pure direct/stereo mode.

If you use a Blu-Ray disc, I would use only HDMI as no other connection has the bandwidth necessary to carry HD Audio.

If you are using DVD, you will find no difference between HDMI, coaxial digital, or optical.

Cheers

 

[elangoas]

Optical is the WORST and most UNRELIABLE and FRAGILE connection to carry Digital Audio!

I don't think so.

 

[elangoas]

The answer depends upon a number of things.

For example, if you use a CD Player that has a good DAC, I would use only a simple analogue connection pair and use the receiver in pure direct/stereo mode.

Hi Venkat,

What happens if we use an Optical connection from a CD player to the receiver. Would it improve over the analogue connection ?

 

[oyeindia]

Hi Venkat,

What happens if we use an Optical connection from a CD player to the receiver. Would it improve over the analogue connection ?

In general, any digital connection (HDMI, coaxial, optical) would be better than an analogue connection, EXCEPT in the uncommon instance that your source (CD Player, DVD Player, Blu Ray Player) has a better DAC than your receiver.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Optical is the WORST and most UNRELIABLE and FRAGILE connection to carry Digital Audio!

We should use HDMI as much as possible followed by coaxial by connecting any CHEAP RCA cable to it.

Why? It carries data around the world, though I'll admit that the components used are probably very different to those used on domestic equipment.

It does not take well to being bent. In this way, it is certainly more fragile than most cables would be.

I used to run two optical connections between my PC and my hifi. They passed under a carpet and across the room. As the kitchen was on the other side of the room, it was a "high-traffic" area. I never had any trouble with the fibres.

 

[spirovious]

HDMI can be a true digital form as it supports Bitstream without conversion.
Optical/Coaxial supports PCM out which can be partially converted form of Digital signal.
http://www.hifivision.com/cd-players/15136-cd-player-really-better-than-dvdp-stereo-music-7.html
Analoge if source(DVDP/BDP)has better DAC.

 

[prankey]

There is nothing as "partial" digital output, but yes any SPDIF connection (Coax, Optical) can carry limited number of audio output.

I said Optical is more fragile and should be the last on the list of digital connection outputs because ANY copper connect provides more RELIABLE and CONSISTENT digital audio output than these Optical connection which DO NOT OFFER any benefit over their copper cousins. Converting digital signals to optical and passing through fibre connection is unnecessary for short run copper cables.

Gist - If you don't have any other option (for digital connection) than to use optical, use it. However if you have other option like HDMI, Coaxial - they should be used instead and they are usually the CHEAPEST MODE of carrying the SAME digital audio (while HDMI being most capable of transporting streams like DTS MA).

 

[venkatcr]

What happens if we use an Optical connection from a CD player to the receiver. Would it improve over the analogue connection ?

OyeIndia has already given you the answer.

Cheers

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Prankey, comments re fibre noted, thanks.

Turning my brain back a few years, I think that my reasons for using fibre, at the time, were not only that it was available on all the items I needed to connect, but also that its very thinness made it ideal for under-carpet running.

 

[prankey]

Prankey, comments re fibre noted, thanks.

Turning my brain back a few years, I think that my reasons for using fibre, at the time, were not only that it was available on all the items I needed to connect, but also that its very thinness made it ideal for under-carpet running.

And that thinness do not apply on SPDIF Optical cables which are usually thick like a RF cable!

Optical fiber cables are best for HIGH SPEED connections where copper can not compete with the speed of LIGHT.

Optical outputs were introduced on CD Players to avoid "common ground" humming noise between equipments which is not an issue on the current state of the art power supplies on these equipment which also filters out any humming noise or spikes.

 

[varthurravi]

I have connected BDP LCD TV and the Onkyo 3300 AVR as below:

BDP --> HDMI --> Onkyo 3300 (HDMI in of BD/DVD)
3300 (HDMI Out) --> HDMI --> LCD TV

This configuration works fine, but the problem is, if I want to play only audio CDs on my BDP, no audio is output from my AVR if the TV is not turned on.
I am not sure why, but 3300 expects TV to be on. Once I turn the TV on, then everything works fine.
What is causing this and how can I resolve it, without having to have turn on the TV to listen to the audio CDs.
I didn't have this issue when I was using RCA cables to connect my BDP to the AVR, but now I prefer to use HDMI cables to connect all the 3 equipment.

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 17547]

This problem is also there with my Yamaha AVR but it do not goes off completely, just for few secs as soon as i switch off my TV. I guess this problem is there when we use HDMI connection. Try optical cable from BDP to AVR, i have not tried that but it may solve your problem. I generally listen music from my PC using RCA cables so it doesnt matter whether monitor is on or not, i get uninterrupted audio..

Thanks,
Vikram

 

[deba]

I have been using Optical Connectors in my Sony DAT and MD Recorders for long and it has no problem.......

 

[venkatcr]

This configuration works fine, but the problem is, if I want to play only audio CDs on my BDP, no audio is output from my AVR if the TV is not turned on. I am not sure why, but 3300 expects TV to be on. Once I turn the TV on, then everything works fine.

I just tried this on a Yamaha 667/Dune combination. I inserted a CD and as soon as the song started playing, I switched off the TV, and the song continued unabated.

In HDMI, the audio and video is carried together. Maybe there is a limitation in your 3300. Try the technique I adopted and see what happens.

Cheers

 

[varthurravi]

Thanks Venkat,
But my speakers go blank if I switch off the TV even after audio CD plays. Whatever I try with this connection, it just goes mute. The only way I can have this working is to unplug the HDMI from TV while playing audio CDs or reverting back to my previous set-up of using RCA cables.

 

[venkatcr]

Thanks Venkat, But my speakers go blank if I switch off the TV even after audio CD plays. Whatever I try with this connection, it just goes mute. The only way I can have this working is to unplug the HDMI from TV while playing audio CDs or reverting back to my previous set-up of using RCA cables.

This could be a limitation with the 3300. What you could do (if not done already), is to use the BDP as two sources for the 3300. Set one for HDMI, and another as CD. In the second source use the Analogue is (RCA) as your input connection. Instead of removing cables, you can switch between the two using the 3300 remote, depending upon whether you use a BR/DVD or a CD. I have used the same technique for the connection between my Oppo 983 and the Onkyo 875. The HDMI and analogue cables are both connected.

Cheers

 

[spirovious]

Try coaxial connection OR even analoge if BDp has better DAC.Else keeping TV in standby mode may help.