6 Channel audio - does it need the digital cable?

I'm a little confused.
I just upgraded my DVD player and now I have the ability use the 6 channel DVD audio input on my receiver (the new DVD player has that output).
Is the 6 channel output used in conjunction with the fibre optic cable? Or is it used seperately? And if they don't work hand in hand - which is better?
If they do work hand in hand - how? How do they work together?

Dava

 

Thanks guys,
At first I thought ... "DOH!"
I already had a Dolby Digital DVD but I thought it was considered an upgrade to go to the 6 channel output DVD so I moved that one into the bedroom and picked up a really good Sony DVD (model was something like 755S).
I went and spent a mint on all the audio cables - thinking they would inprove my sound - not knowing (as I do now) that the optical cable is still the best.
However - I do know that the SACD does not go out to the receiver via digital - so the 6channel in that case works well with it (I think regular CDs and MP3s do go out via digital/optical).
I am still going DOH! over this though because... well... I don't have any SACDs, and even if I did - they could still go out via regular left and right cables (I assume).

DAMN! I hate waisting money. between the new DVD player and the cables - that's got to be $700-$800 down the toilet. Ug

I take that back - I wanted Component video for the new TV (Toshiba 50" widescreen) and my old DVD didn't have that so I guess I needed it anyhow - just all those audio cables were a waste.

Live and learn

 

Ya know - looking through the kenwood receiver manual (VR-410), and the Sony DVD (DVP-NS755V) manual - I am quickly coming the conclusion that things are not as black and white as they seem.

The Kenwood manual says this about the digital (DTS) connection :

"DTS is a 5.1 channel digital audio format that provides 5 full spectrum channels and one low-frequency (subwoofer) channel for unprecedented clarity, optimum channel seperation and a wide dynamic range."

Unprecedented huh? Ok - sounds like that's what I want - but then I read the DVD 6-channel input section :

"If you own a DVD player equiped with 6-channel output, this receiver allows you to obtain the full surround sound impact of DVD source material featuring multi-channel encoding. Since the source signals are digital and each channel in input independent, the resulting ambience is far suppier to what can be achieved with conventional surround sound systems."

I think they should have let a techy write the manuals and not someone in marketing.

Now I always liked it when I say the little red Dolby Ditigal or the little red DTS led come on my receiver when I play a DVD - I still get that if I use the digital input - but if I switch to the 6Channel input - I don't get those lights (because I assume the DVD is doing the decoding and not the receiver anymore).

So I guess it's half a dozen of one, 6 of the other.
I like the thought of an optical digital connection - it sounds right (but if you think about it - you don't need fibre optics to carry a digital signal - copper or even smoke signals can carry 1s and 0s).

Yoy know - for the life of me - I am having a hell of a time trying to decide which is the better sounding source - optical or 6channel - I still have not yet decided - I'll have to poll my friends and see what they think.

(If anyone has any insight on the particular DVD and receiver that I have and can offer an opinion - by all means... please do). - but I guess given that I can't tell the difference - I guess this is all a moot point huh? It's just so damn frustrating that there is no definitive answer on which is better.


Dave