PDA

View Full Version : Optical Wire for Audio?

lolibra
Apr 6th, 2006, 10:25 PM
I've recently bought a Yamaha reciever with Athena Micra 6. I'm wondering if I should be getting optic cables to connect my FTA receiver and Karaoke player. Would it have a noticable improvement in the audio quality?
adcench
Apr 6th, 2006, 10:28 PM
well for your dvd's, you need a coaxial or optical to obtain digital sounds. So yes you would hear a difference. But you probably wont hear a difference between coaxial and optical.

-I suggest you buy yourself and nice set of Analog Audio wires. use one as a coaxial and the other as a subwoofer cable. and your set. Heres a link of a fs im sure you can find much cheaper
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10017044&catid=
JimG
Apr 6th, 2006, 10:35 PM
I got a 12' optical cable for $0.99 + $4 shipping (heh) on eBay. There's really no reason that someone should have to pay the ridiculous prices charged by electronics stores.
Jon Lai
Apr 6th, 2006, 10:48 PM
I got a 12' optical cable for $0.99 + $4 shipping (heh) on eBay. There's really no reason that someone should have to pay the ridiculous prices charged by electronics stores.

Or you could buy off Monoprice, same thing. Monoprice is usually better if you have 3+ cables to order, and you know you're dealing with a trustable seller unlike eBay.
ShadowVlican
Apr 7th, 2006, 12:25 AM
depending on your sound card

believe it or not, go headhifi for more info


i'm currently using av710's optical out into my newly bought pioneer vsx-1015tx
Jon Lai
Apr 7th, 2006, 09:35 AM
Just wondering, are there any 5.1 sound cards that have optical and coaxial output? Wonder if I could power an amp with a computer..!?
skategoat
Apr 7th, 2006, 09:37 AM
I got a 12' optical cable for $0.99 + $4 shipping (heh) on eBay. There's really no reason that someone should have to pay the ridiculous prices charged by electronics stores.

Wow, great deal. I bought one at The Source CC for $39.99. I thought that was a pretty good deal compared to $79.99 at BestBuy. What a rip off that is.
lolibra
Apr 7th, 2006, 11:39 AM
Just wondering, are there any 5.1 sound cards that have optical and coaxial output? Wonder if I could power an amp with a computer..!?
Well, ShadowVlican's Chaintech AV710 has optical out. LOL

depending on your sound card

believe it or not, go headhifi for more info


i'm currently using av710's optical out into my newly bought pioneer vsx-1015tx

But for me, I don't plan to connect my computer to the amp. Just my DVD players and FTA reciver.
sonick
Apr 7th, 2006, 12:29 PM
I've recently bought a Yamaha reciever with Athena Micra 6. I'm wondering if I should be getting optic cables to connect my FTA receiver and Karaoke player. Would it have a noticable improvement in the audio quality?With a basic set up like that, not much.

The main thing you'd use optical for was to get 5.1 digital surround sound, but if the sources don't support it, there really is no point.
seftonm
Apr 7th, 2006, 01:05 PM
I prefer digital coax over optical, the coax seems a bit more robust than optical cables. If you want some good RCA cables let me know as I assemble affordable, high quality cables for people.
Jon Lai
Apr 7th, 2006, 01:07 PM
Well, ShadowVlican's Chaintech AV710 has optical out. LOL


...and how much does it cost?
WalnutCrunch
Apr 7th, 2006, 01:31 PM
I got a 12' optical cable for $0.99 + $4 shipping (heh) on eBay. There's really no reason that someone should have to pay the ridiculous prices charged by electronics stores.

I agree. For normal distances, a cheapo optical cable is good enough. I have never had a cheap optical cable not work. As long as it transmits light, you're good to go. The signal is digital so you won't get better sound quality if you buy a "better" cable.
luthair
Apr 7th, 2006, 01:39 PM
Toys R Us is/was clearing 6' optical cables branded for the Xbox @ $9.91, they're just standard cables however.
ShadowVlican
Apr 7th, 2006, 04:01 PM
...and how much does it cost?
around $30 at TD.. not many stores carry this brand

but a simple google will show you this card is great value
sonick
Apr 7th, 2006, 04:04 PM
around $30 at TD.. not many stores carry this brand

but a simple google will show you this card is great value
Yup, i got mine for just under $20 when NCIX had it as a weekly special.

Just wondering, are there any 5.1 sound cards that have optical and coaxial output? Wonder if I could power an amp with a computer..!? What do you mean by this? The amp powers the speakers. You can connect your computer to your receiver via optical/coaxial to get surround sound out of the receiver. but you can't POWER an amp with a computer (why would you???)
Jon Lai
Apr 7th, 2006, 04:16 PM
around $30 at TD.. not many stores carry this brand

but a simple google will show you this card is great value

That's around a price of a normal sound card! I don't need to google to see that it's great value then! I never expected that sound cards that support optical out will be so cheap.

But does it do coaxial output as well?
ShadowVlican
Apr 7th, 2006, 04:39 PM
afaik only optical

i may have overlooked it because it DID come with optical cable so i didn't bother checking in detail

i mainly bought it for it's superior stereo output for the price, but now that i purcahse a receiver, i'm using it's optical out
KorruptioN
Apr 7th, 2006, 05:12 PM
The AV-710 only has an optical output. I use the high-definition analog output with my 2.1 setup. This is where the AV-710 shines.
adcench
Apr 7th, 2006, 06:36 PM
afaik only optical

i may have overlooked it because it DID come with optical cable so i didn't bother checking in detail

i mainly bought it for it's superior stereo output for the price, but now that i purcahse a receiver, i'm using it's optical out


yes the chaintech sound card did come with an optical cable,although i think it was a short one, 3 feet, maybe 6 feet.

So you get a sound card with optical out and produces great analog sound
optical cable included
for the price, nothing touches it ($19,99 at ncix)