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Thread: Question on digital coax & optical audio cables |
    
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Sunday, January 09, 2005 - 11:03 pm: |
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Hi there, i was wondering if any one could help me. i was wondering if an optical cable kinda hub existed becasue i have both my xbox and ps2 with opticl cables for the surround sound but only 1 slot in my amp and its too fiddely to keep changing, so is there anything like a hub that i can put both cables from xbox and ps2 in and then 1 to my amp and switch between them?
Many Thanks  |
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Relevant Product Info
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Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 12:47 am: |
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What is a digital coaxial cable, is it the same as an RCA cable???!!! i am confused.
BTW: awesome page i stumbled on, thanx guys! |
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| Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 03:05 am: |
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Coax and RCA can handle any electrical signal whether analog or digital.
RCA and Coax are basically equivalent, with the term RCA actually referrring to the standardized plugs at the end, and the term COAX is a generic term that refers to the cable design, one conducter down the middle and one wrapped around the inner- and all shielded, and using adaptors etc are interchangeable.
Better quality RCA's in fact are nearly identical (on the wire part) in design to Coax
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Bronze Member Username: Hobbitfeet
Manchester
UK
Post Number: 21
Registered: Nov-04
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| Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 06:19 am: |
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Helpless Boarder,
Switches are available for optical connections. You want something like this: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35241&TabID=1&source=15&WorldID=&do y=7m1
To be honest, if you aren't using the PS2 as a DVD player, it really doesn't need a digital connection. I've not seen a single game claim to have discrete sound effects. They generally either come in stereo or ProLogic (or PL II).
Therefore, you just need a cable from the PS2 AV connector that has L & R RCA outs. Here's an example: http://www.whitedog.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3_59&products_id=131
I found this by searching for "PS2 av leads" on google.
This should be the cheapest way to achieve your ends.
HTH :D |
Helpless boarder8686 Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 09:21 pm: |
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Many Thanks Sir Chambers , gadgets like this rock - Cheers |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 09:59 pm: |
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Posted earlier.."Coax and RCA can handle any electrical signal whether analog or digital.Better quality RCA's in fact are nearly identical (on the wire part) in design to Coax."
Can anyone say if using an rca cable is acceptable in place of a digital coaxial cable?
Any limitations on the length of the rca cable as far as signal quality? I am using a rca cable now & it works...i would like to know if i am actually wasting time...should i expect more with the 'correct' digital coaxial cable..help! |
deaf in Boston Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - 02:55 pm: |
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OK, I'll apologize first... I suspect this is only marginally related to this particular forum, and please direct me to a better place if there is such a beast.
I've used this forum as a "lurker/reader" for a couple of months now while I set up my home theater system (success!! Digital Cable/Monitor/DVD Player/PS2/CD/and Front/Back/Subwoofer...next stop, Logitech Remote!)
Anyhow I also would like to route my Ipod through the system but it annoys me to use RCA connections through the headphone output of the Ipod. Does a docking station take care of that? Is there a digital cable available, or necessary?
Thank you! <Mark> |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 04:13 pm: |
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ill try to make this as simple as possible...
i have a:
-digital cable box with optical audio out
-dvd player with optical audio out
-ps2 with optical audio out
i would like to plug these three into a device that that will play back the audio on surround sound speakers, (that are plugged into the device.)
so my question is, what device will let me do this? and i have three sources, so i will need to be able to switch from different inputs.
email: ericfromlq@msn.com
aim: ericfromlq
thank you |
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| Posted on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 09:25 pm: |
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help needed,
I have a Dell plasma HDTV. I connected normal cable to the TV via COAX connection (no cable box usign the TV tuner). Now I just got a Sony DREAM HTIB system. The DELL has a optical audio out and the sony has an optical audio in. I connected both of them with the appropriate cable. Can even see the red light coming out from the cable BUT NO SOUND. Does the sound have to be digital as coming in from an HDTV signal or DVD or can you get normal sound such as what is provided by cable TV passed via this optical cable, PLEASE HELP.... |
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Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 08:57 am: |
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help have two ps2,s model no scph-5ooo3 and scph-7ooo3 so no i-link ports how can i link the two together |
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| Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 05:37 am: |
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I am a new entrant to this forum. So pls bear with my innocence !
I just bought a DVD player, which shows one digital optical audio "output". I wish to connect it to a 5 year old Sony HiFi audio system - in which I see again another optical audio "output" only. How do I connect the DVD player to the sony system ?
Please explain. |
Silver Member Username: Arnold_layne
Madrid
Spain
Post Number: 351
Registered: Jun-04
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| Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 06:00 am: |
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If your HiFi does not have optical nor coaxial digital input, you will have to use the analogue input. Could be marked "line in" or something similar. Check specs (mV) before connecting.
Cheers
AL |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Sunday, April 17, 2005 - 04:28 pm: |
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Ok, I bought a portable dvd player with a digital coax output but the output is not the standard rca plug, it is a 1/8" stero plug or a pin connector. Where can I find a digital coax cable or adapter with the pin connector on one end? please get back to me at iocomdoe@yahoo.com
thanks in advance |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Sunday, April 17, 2005 - 04:28 pm: |
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Ok, I bought a portable dvd player with a digital coax output but the output is not the standard rca plug, it is a 1/8" stero plug or a pin connector. Where can I find a digital coax cable or adapter with the pin connector on one end? please get back to me at iocomdoe@yahoo.com
thanks in advance |
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| Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 10:56 pm: |
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I have a Sony HDTV, a DVD player, and a surround sound system. What audio should I use to connect the TV to the surround sound? I was thinking optical. I am using component connection to connect the DVD to the TV.
Thank You,
DD114@cox.net |
New member Username: Bobbydigital
Winnpeg,
Mb
Canada
Post Number: 7
Registered: Apr-05
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| Posted on Friday, April 22, 2005 - 02:08 am: |
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i have my playre settings as large because the frequecy cutoff is very high 120hz and my speakers are as follows:
Energy xl-250 mains 150w 42hz-20khz
Energy xl-150 surrounds 100 w 60hz-20khz
Energy c100 center 100w 60hz-20khz
Paradigm ps1000 sub 200w 20hz-150hz
my recievers settings are allset to small as
the cutoff in the reciever is 80 hz but i do not know if this is bypassed when it is playing the 6ch analog input. Do you?how does this setup sound to you? it seems to sound the best but i am still experimenting with the sacd/dvd-a settings. my sub crossover is set to 80 hz the cutoff in the reciever but i have read that it should be set higher in an attempt to blend better with the speakers but i think that is for more bass capabel speakers. my energy mains have only 2 X 5.5 in. woofers |
New member Username: Bobbydigital
Winnpeg,
Mb
Canada
Post Number: 9
Registered: Apr-05
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| Posted on Friday, April 22, 2005 - 02:13 am: |
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oops,wrong thread, i hate this computer |
New member Username: Mykle
Carolina,
Puerto Rico
Post Number: 1
Registered: May-05
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| Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 08:33 am: |
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2 situations (novice here)
1. My digital cable box has an audio out labeled "digital audio out" and my receiver's audio, in is labeled "Coax in". I was wondering if i needed the digital coax cable for this? Since the digital cable box doesn't say "coax out".
2. my audio receiver has optical and coax audio in, can I connect both, the coax for my cable box and the optical for my dvd?
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Silver Member Username: Joe_c
Oakwood,
Ga
Post Number: 286
Registered: Mar-05
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| Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 02:51 pm: |
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1. yes
2. yes |
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| Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 12:03 am: |
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i find that playing a dvd using coax sounds fine. but when listening to music through the same coax it sounds only half as good. my reciever has dts and what not new.
why would the dvd sound better then a music cd on the same coax?
i would blame my speakers/settings but they come to life with dvd.
hopefully someone can give me some advice on making that better.
sorry about other post i found this to be a better thread |
eknee1417 Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 02:03 pm: |
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I have an 5.1 surrond sound system for my computer (which I use as my stereo), is the optical connection better for sound or the component? |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, June 01, 2005 - 06:25 am: |
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i recently bought the logitech z-5500 speaker system and i currently have an onboard sound card which supplies me with a 5.1 output. Currently i use the digital connection to the control center of the z-5500 but it also accommodates an optical and a coaxial input which my sound card cannot do. Currently i can hear a slight hiss from my speakers and i hope to elimninate this. Would it be better for me to buy a generally cheap 5.1 channel sound card and use an optical output to my speakers? How much of an improvement in terms of audio quality will it have?
thanks |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, June 01, 2005 - 06:27 am: |
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i recently bought the logitech z-5500 speaker system and i currently have an onboard sound card which supplies me with a 5.1 output. Currently i use the digital/direct connection to the control center of the z-5500 but it also accommodates an optical and a coaxial input which my sound card cannot do. Currently i can hear a slight hiss from my speakers and i hope to elimninate this. Would it be better for me to buy a generally cheap 5.1 channel sound card and use an optical output to my speakers? How much of an improvement in terms of audio quality will it have?
thanks |
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| Posted on Saturday, June 04, 2005 - 05:41 am: |
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Are composite cables and component cables the same physically? I heard I can use the yellow for Y, red for Pr, and white for Pb. Is this true? |
BDigital Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 11:19 pm: |
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I have a satellite receiver with an SPDIF coaxial digital audio rca output and a dvd recorder with an I.LINK aka 4-pin Firewire, IEEE 1394 audio input. Are these compatible or will I have to use the RCA analog output jacks? |
Mark Rud Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 03:13 pm: |
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Hello. This looks like a very useful thread especially for novices like myself. I have a DVD-player (Roadstar) with coax digital out, and a SKY+ box with optical digital out. However, my Philips TV only has one coax digital input. Therefore, how can I connect them so that I do not need to manually switch from DVD to SKY+ input (I guess I need something like a splitter that takes one coax and one optical input, with at least one coax output). Any help much appreciated. |
Silver Member Username: Arnold_layne
Madrid
Spain
Post Number: 413
Registered: Jun-04
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| Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 11:24 am: |
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Maybe getting into Home Theater would be the solution? I think an A/V receivers could work as a switch by now. And eventually you might get a 5.1 speaker system, to really enjoy movie watching.
Cheers
AL
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Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2005 - 03:35 pm: |
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Very useful site, thanks for all the info by all that contribute. I have a question, which I hope isn't too dumb...
I'm trying to finagle my audio wiring to fit in limited receiver inputs. I believe we have the expanded analog cable service (i.e. we don't get any of those special additional digital channels). It's Cox service if that matters.
My question is this: If I connect the cable box digital audio out to my receiver digital audio in, will I be able to listen to the analog cable channels' sound through my receiver/speaker set-up, and not have to use the t.v. speakers? Also, would this signal be converted via prologic or something into surround, or just play through the front speakers (which would be fine)?
Lastly, is would DirecTV operate in the same fashion? |
happy now Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Saturday, July 30, 2005 - 12:34 pm: |
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We cancelled sky quite a while ago but have recently been told we can use the sky box as afreeview digi box can anyone tell me if this is true |
reggie1 Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Monday, September 19, 2005 - 08:00 am: |
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I think someone asked a while back - "Are composite cables and component cables the same physically? I heard I can use the yellow for Y, red for Pr, and white for Pb. Is this true?"
Hi there. Basically the answer is no. Component and composite video cables are not the same. A composite cable carries not only video but also audio signals - it usually has three phono plugs or a scart plug as a connector. Two of the three plugs are used for stereo audio signals (left & right) and only one is used for the video which means that all that video info is compressed (sort of) down into one signal - not so good!
A (superior) component cable has the abitlity to carry three different (purely) video signals - as you mentioned - and so when used with a digital video source (i.e. DVD) and a receiver that takes a component cable (i.e. projector / plasma TV) then it caters for much better picture quality. The component cable just deals with the different video components and ignores the audio so you obviously need to consider using a different cable for the audio. However remember that there's little point in getting one of these cable's for a TV that doesn't have a component input. In this case it's best to use S-Video. Hope this helps. |
New member Username: D_singh
Post Number: 4
Registered: Sep-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 12:55 am: |
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Physically, no they are not the same. Reggie is on the right track, but failed to answer the question. The internal copper conductor may be striated in regular composite cables and solid in component cables as they are in digital coaxial cables to achieve a certain impendance load. Basically, REAL component cables will give you far less signal degredation than regular composite video, and especially RCA audio cables. |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 05:51 pm: |
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Does optical audio cable conform to the same standards as fiber optic network cable? If it does is it single mode, multimode or mode? |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, October 05, 2005 - 06:34 am: |
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Found this an extremely informative and helpful site.
Would be grateful if anyone out there could clarify what may well be a dumb question.
Cant I send the video signal from my dvd player direct to my tv using the composite cable instead of to the receiver and then from receiver to tv. would i lose any fidelity and is there any processing in the receiver?
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Al Anon Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, October 05, 2005 - 09:20 pm: |
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To scarborough: You could, you'd just have to make sure you have a video delay function on your DVD player because the video will get transferred faster to the source than the audio because of the by-pass connection.
Processing video wise, I don't think that's a problem as the DVD player and the source monitor are the ones that should have the technology to up or downscale. |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Sunday, October 09, 2005 - 09:25 am: |
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I have a Thomson DTI1500HD set top box connected to my Yamaha RX-V995 A/V receiver via optical cable for sound. I can't get digital sound out of the reveiver even though the information regarding the tv channel says it is a digital signal. Can anyone offer any suggestions ?
Bill |
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 1714
Registered: Jul-04
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| Posted on Sunday, October 09, 2005 - 11:25 am: |
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Are there audio menus on the Thompson? You may need to change the audio settings. |
srfabuloso Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Sunday, October 09, 2005 - 09:51 pm: |
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My satellite receiver has a Digital Coax Output and my Audio system has a Optical input. How can I make this connection? |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 - 02:21 am: |
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In my PC System I have an ESI Juli@ sound card that has among other things the following:
1. Built in digital optical output - 5.1 Dolby digital support
2. Digital coaxial I/O (with support for up to 192kHz) - 5.1 Dolby digital support.
Can I connect this to any AV receiver say Denon 2105 or 2805 and get same quality output. I mean in this case if I play audio file sampled at 192khz can I get the same output( more than DVD Audio quality I presume). If so in how many channels? Should I use digital optical out for best results? Kindly advise.
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Simon J Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 06:07 pm: |
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Hi there -- I'd be very grateful for some help (and apologies if I've missed a relevant discussion somewhere along the thread).
I have a Philips iDTV and Pioneer DVD/home cinema system. The two are connected by means of (1) a SCART connection, (2) audio L+R leads, and (3) SPDIF out (from the TV) to optical in (on the DVD player) via a digital-to-optical converter. However, I can only hear the sound from analogue TV stations through the home cinema speakers.
As such, when the TV is switched from analogue to digital mode, the sound from the digital station can be heard through the TV, but the sound from the analogue TV station can still be heard through the home cinema speakers. Does anyone have any thoughts on how to solve this problem? Philips and Pioneer each suggested arranging the optical/digital connection, which I've done (as per the above), but it doesn't seem to make any difference!
Many thanks in advance. |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - 03:08 am: |
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Can I connect (parallel) additioanl satelite speakers to my existing book shelf front speakers,
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| Posted on Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 08:34 pm: |
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hi, the coax digital conection, what i dont under stand is,, it has the rca on both sides,, the logitech z-5500 has a digital coax in .. ok,, so one end goes to the speaker`s,, the other end has the same connecter,, if plugged in the dvd ,, it gives no sound,, am i doing something wrong,, the dvd menu has all digital and dolby settings to on. could you guide me to how to plug in the coax cable to the dvd? |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Tuesday, November 08, 2005 - 09:37 pm: |
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I just purchased a HDTV plasma tv but it has only 1 optical audio output. How can I connect to my not so new dvd/home theater system. My system has only regular av inputs. |
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| Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2005 - 04:38 am: |
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Hi, I have a digital audio output on my tv. To connect the receivers with Dolby Digital or PCM the manual suggest to use Optical audio cable. My question is the Optical audio cable is the same as Optical Fiber Audio "Toslink" Cable. |
Gold Member Username: Project6
Post Number: 4265
Registered: Dec-03
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| Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 03:41 pm: |
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yes it is |
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| Posted on Sunday, November 20, 2005 - 06:05 pm: |
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I have a Toshiba DVD/VCR and a Yamaha Reciever. How Is it possible for the optical to send sound but not be picked up as a digital sound. I have 5 channel sound but not digital. Only analog
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New member Username: Chuckinkc
Overland park,
Ks
Post Number: 1
Registered: Nov-05
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| Posted on Monday, November 21, 2005 - 10:50 am: |
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Please HELP... I'm using an Optical (toslink) cable from my cable box to home theater receiver. Receiver only has OPTICAL IN. The sound works for a while and then goes out completely with no sound at all. Intermittent audio continuously. 25' cable from wall mount to cable box. 3' tsolink cable from cable box to home theater receiver.
1.What can I do to fix this?
2.Considering exchanging home theater for one with coax audio input. Will this solve problem? not preferred choice. |
BK117medic Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Monday, November 21, 2005 - 12:49 pm: |
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If an HDMI cable is used from cable box to HD TV. Knowing this carries both the video signal and audio signal, and is the best quality. Can the audio be taken from the cable box to a receiver with an optical cable for surround sound. The receiver does not have HDMI connection but has Optical audio connection. Or do I have to use seperate component video and the optical cable? |
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 06:08 pm: |
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I am connecting my computer to receiver through optical cable. while playing DVD on computer I set it to pass through audio to optical out. My receiver decodes it and plays Dolby digital. I also connect analog RCA cable from PC to receiver to get analog out.
I also connect my wireless headphone to one of the audio out jack of the receiver. I dont get any sound on my wireless speaker. Why?
If I play a regular mpeg file then I can hear the sound through the wireless headphone.
Two questions:
1) When I am playing DVD on PC DVD software does SPDIF passthrough and as a result it doesnt output sound on the analog out, it does only on optical out. Why receiver is not converting that optical in to analog out through the RCA jack connected to the headphone?
2) Is there a way to tell DVD player(PC) to output both on analog out as well as SPDIF passthrough?
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Derek Pattenden Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 - 03:06 am: |
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ive done alot of research into these problems, the optical cable and coaxial cable are almost identical, i use the coax because the signal is not affected by bends or excessive length, the optical however, is affected by these problems, now as for running both, a myth, the player or amplifier only puts out one signal at a time, so the fact that you have a coax and an optical, a waste of about 60-180 bucks, i dont know about you, but my coax cable cost 150 bucks, im not buying another optical for 150...but i see the coax as the logical choice, and i have an amzing stereo, i have invested thousands, and realisically, the sound i get is phenominal, hope this helps, as for the computer problems, i have no idea what im talking about when it comes to computers...sorry |
Derek Pattenden Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 - 03:10 am: |
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the guy with the optical audio, you need to change the settings on your DVD player to output optical digital signals, should be fairly simple in DVD options, if your not sure consult the manual, but its default is always analogue..hope that helps |
Brandon Mc Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Saturday, December 10, 2005 - 05:44 pm: |
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First of all, thanks to everyone on here that has posted, there is some REALLY good info on this forum.
I have 2 questions. 1.) I am looking to buy a surround sound system soon and I wanted to spend around $300. Is it possible to get a decent quality system for this price or no? 2.) How much difference does it make for the subwoofer to have it's own power plug (instead of getting power through the speaker wire)?
Thanks in advance! |
awbrowne Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 03:39 pm: |
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I have a Hitachi Plasma Tv, and have hooked it up to my DVD and my older Bose Lifestyle 12. I used RCA cables to connect the DVD audio to the TV, and also to connect the TV to the Bose (the Bose does not have an optical input). I can play and listen to DVDs through the TV. I can also use the Bose with TV shows just fine. However, I cannot get sound through the Bose from DVDs. I've checked the DVD output settings. I;ve tried to learn from previous postings, but am still baffled - - The fact that sound IS going from DVD to TV, and IS going from TV to Bose, but doesn't get from DVD to Bose has me confused. I don't need to connect the DVD directly to the Bose, do I? |
Clive2go Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 08:16 am: |
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Great forum Q & A's.
Just bought a Pioneer DVR 433HS recorder which I know has an Optical digital output and the two audio phono outputs for the sound (I am going to use Componant to connect to Sharp LC32GD7E LCD TV)
Question: which cable connect shoud I order for sound. The two jack audio cables or the optical (Toslink?) cable. I cant find any pictures for the back of my Sharp TV. (its on order so don't know what its got yet)
any help/ opinions really appreciated |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 03:46 pm: |
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Closed: New threads not accepted on this page
