Analog/Digital Coaxial/Fiber Optic

Re: Analog/Digital Coaxial/Fiber Optic

I'll quote what Robert J said in your other thread, and say I agree, except for the bolder print in his quote:
There are receivers with HDMI that don't decode the HD audio formats. But, they will usually play the HD audio, if the player can decode internally, and send the signal out as PCM or LPCM.

Some receivers will handle only video "Pass through", over HDMI, and need a separate connection for audio.
Some will decode DD and DTS over HDMI, but not the HD audio.

Re: Analog/Digital Coaxial/Fiber Optic

Actually, they are both digital. What you should have been asking is which is better, fiber optic (or Toslink) or coaxial . Performance wise they are both pretty much the same. Coaxial offers a more secure connection. Toslink is somewhat fragile and the connection isn't as good but some think it's more "high-tech". I use coaxial whenever possible. Toslink uses light to pass the signal, coaxial is more old fashioned but more reliable in my opinion. There's no harm in using both Toslink and coaxial, but no benefit either. There are basically two kinds of analog connections. The common red and white one's, which are stereo only, and the 5.1/7.1 analogs. These allow for multi-channel playback. When you use a digital connection (Toslink or coaxial) the receiver will do the processing of the Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound and when you use the 5.1/7.1 analog connection the BluRay player will do the processing. Connecting both digital and analog gives you the option of chosing which sounds best to you. On a side note, some expensive cd players have better DACS (digital to Analog Converters) than the receiver and two channel stereo sounds better connected with the red and white analog cables instead of a digital connection. Because many hdmi equiped receivers handle both audio and video and up-convert composite, s-video and component video to hdmi so you can hook up all your components to your receiver, which will do the switching for you, and then run just one hdmi cable to your display instead of 2-3-4-? cables to your display. Also, there are two new audio formats, DolbyTrueHD and DTS-Master Audio which are better when connected to your receiver via hdmi. Some BR players allow for these new formats to be transfered via 7.1 analog outs but hdmi is the preffered method.

That's a lot to digest but should get you started.