Greg Bax

Audio Out vs. Digital Out

Can anyone tell me the difference between Audio Out and Digital Out and what are the benefits of one over the other if any?

Michael Reuben

There's no precise answer without reference to a specific piece of equipment, because the term "Audio Out" doesn't have an established technical meaning. Generally, though, it's used to indicate an analog output as opposed to a digital output.

There's no inherent advantage of one over the other, but a lot depends on the specific components and source materials.

M.

"Most people never have to face the fact that, at the right time and the right place, they're capable of anything." -- Chinatown

"What kind of movies would there be if everyone in them had to do what we thought they should do?" -- Roger Ebert

HTF Beginner's Primer and FAQ

Tim K

yes, that is a tough question to answer without more information. What pieces of equipment are you referring too? What else is connected?

-Tim

John Garcia

You may want to start out by taking a look at the FAQ in the link in Michael's signature.

"The trouble with the world is not that people know too little, but that they know so many things that ain't so." - Mark Twain

HT: Marantz SR-8300, MA500 monoblocks x 2, 5X GR Research A/V-2s, Adire Audio Tempest sub, Denon 2900, Oppo 980H, Toshiba HD-A2, RC2000MkII remote, Panamax 5100, Panamax Max2 sub, Slim PS2, PS3 60G + 320G USB

Bedroom: Marantz PM-7200 Integrated, GR Research A/V-1s, Sony 222ES SACD, RC3200 remote, Panamax M8EX

Audio: Audioquest * Video: Bluejeans

My DVDs My HT

Greg Bax

The equipment I am referring to is the higher-end DVD players for example the Denon DVD-2200 or the Sony ES DVP-NS999ES which appear to have an Audio Out for Front L-R, Center, Surround L-R, and Subwoofer as well as the Digital Out for the Coaxial and Optical.

Tim K

ahh.

Many DVD players have built in decoders that decode the Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1 channel soundtrack. This is for people whose Receivers or amplifiers do not have their own decoders. The player will seperate the signal into the Front Left, Right and Center, Rear Left and Right, and Subwoofer signal and output each seperately.

The Digital Coaxial or Optical output transmits the digital bitstream undecoded to a receiver or preamp. The receiver or preamp then decodes the digital signal into the 5 speakers and subwoofer.

The advantage of the digital...well, its fewer cables first, and typically, the decoder thrown in a DVD player is typically much cheaper than the one in a receiver or preamp. Better decoders mean better audio signals, so most people prefer to have their receivers or preamps do the decoding.

Hope that clarifies it for you...if not, ask more.

John Garcia

Multi-channel analog audio output is not limited to the "high" end players, there are plenty of $100 players that have this feature.

The 999 and 2200, 2900 have analog outputs because this is the only way you can get SACD or DVD-A signal, which cannot be passed via digital connections (with a few exceptions).

"The trouble with the world is not that people know too little, but that they know so many things that ain't so." - Mark Twain

HT: Marantz SR-8300, MA500 monoblocks x 2, 5X GR Research A/V-2s, Adire Audio Tempest sub, Denon 2900, Oppo 980H, Toshiba HD-A2, RC2000MkII remote, Panamax 5100, Panamax Max2 sub, Slim PS2, PS3 60G + 320G USB

Bedroom: Marantz PM-7200 Integrated, GR Research A/V-1s, Sony 222ES SACD, RC3200 remote, Panamax M8EX

Audio: Audioquest * Video: Bluejeans

My DVDs My HT

Greg Bax

Thank for the info. That was a big help.

Michael Reuben

John's point is an important one and a perfect example of why it's impossible to say in the abstract that either the analog or the digital output is "better".

With respect to DD 5.1 and DTS, I think Tim K summed it up well. The decoders in the receiver are usually (though not always) better quality, and often provide much more flexible settings. In that situation, the digital connection is usually preferable.

And lots of people use both.

M.

"Most people never have to face the fact that, at the right time and the right place, they're capable of anything." -- Chinatown

"What kind of movies would there be if everyone in them had to do what we thought they should do?" -- Roger Ebert

HTF Beginner's Primer and FAQ

ChrisWiggles

So to summarize what's just been said, it's generally better to use digital outs for movies, as a receiver is usually better, or more flexible, in decoding Dolby Digital and DTS.

For DVD-A and SACD, you MUST use the analog outputs, as the MLP and DSD on those formats cann't be passed via digital connection. (with the exception of some proprietary methods that at this point stay within the same brand.)

So usually, people with such setups have both connected, and use whichever is necessary whether viewing a movie, or listening to an SACD, or a DVD-A.

Hope that makes everything extra-clear.

Tim K

Crystal!