Quote:
Originally Posted by Asmo
The BEST way to connect a soundcard to a external DAC is via optical. Unfortunately, the Creative X-Fi only allows it with the external break out box.
Also, the creative x-fi digital mini out jack, is also the mic input jack, and line-in jack, so you have to choose what you want to use it for.
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Not really. There has been so much debate over Toslink vs Coax and in the end neither is better nor worce.
As merlin put it very well:
I too did my tour of duty in college as a EE (does that make us HT people GEEKS?!!).
Digital devices are capable of creating exact duplicates of their stored master. This means that bit by bit is transferred from source one to source two. So using our Home Theater example, the interconnects between a DVD digital out, and a Dolby Digital Decoder digital in, should not make an audible difference in the perceived sound.
Why? In computers, when a signal is sent, a parity bit is used to assure the information sent was received successfully (and the data was unaltered). In the event that the data was altered or corrupted, the receiver requests that the data be retransmitted. In the case of streaming audio, where time plays an issue, buffer memory is used so that the device has time to resend the information without a sound drop out. If the resend takes too much time (or requires multiple resends) and it exceeds the storage space of the buffer, the sound completely drops out.
While I'm willing to entertain ideas about quality and type of cables making a difference (like optical vs coax), I haven't heard or seen an evidence that has made me think that there is. In fact, when dealing with timing and distance issues, optical cables would seem to have the advantage.
Understand, I am only referring to the 100% digital portion of home theater where the digital source can be re-sent in the event of data corruption. In analog portions of Home theater (speakers and analog inputs/outputs) I believe that cables do not only impact the quality of the sound, but character of the sound as well.
As for the inference that a "Paperclip or coat hanger" would be sufficient, I would disagree. If the transport medium (the paperclip) caused enough signal loss that the DD decoder was rarely able to get the correct data, you would get audio drop outs. So assuming that the interconnects are good enough to prevent excessive signal loss or interference, they should all perform alike.
here's a bit from
www.dolby.com and their DD FAQ (
http://www.dolby.com/tech/l.br.9901.DDFAQ.html):
18. My DVD player has two digital outputs, one optical and one coaxial, and my Dolby Digital decoder has both kinds of inputs. Which should I use?
Under most conditions, optical and coaxial digital connections work equally well. Under some rare circumstances, however, coaxial cables, particularly very long ones, can pick up radio frequency (RF) interference generated by household appliances, or nearby high-tension power lines or broadcast towers.
If cost is a consideration, start with coaxial, which is less expensive. If you then hear RF interference, you can try relocating the cables, moving your components closer together so you can use shorter cables, or, if all else fails, changing to costlier optical cable. If cost is no object, using high-quality optical cables from the outset is probably your best long-term choice.
Note: some DVD players and Dolby Digital decoders have either a coaxial or an optical connector. Be sure that the units you purchase both use the same type.
One can argue that optical is 'better' because it is not susceptible to rf/emi interference but unless you wrap your digital coax cable around your power cables and plug them into a circuit with a microwave and washing machine on it, you won't notice any interference at all.
Some argument for coax are that you are almost guaranteed a good connection with a coax. Unlike the new "trap door" fiber optic connections that are being put on the ass end of the Sony Receivers and others, the Coax connection is solid and a proven design. What happens with the new "trap door" fiber optic connection design is that after two or more installs/uninstalls, the door brakes. Well, the door is also used to hold on the fiber optic cable, and without the door, that connection is lost. Your only hope after is to rig the cable on with adhesive, or use another connection and change sources on your AV equipment.
Each end of a fiber optic cable is just that, an optic. Optics are prone to scratches and breakage. If you accidentally mess up an end during installation or handling, you're screwed out of an expensive cable. Yes, even an "audiophile" can screw up connecting this cable. What can happen, for example, is you may be in a tight area (like behind a wall unit), and you can't see the back of the equipment. So now your forced to blindly try to install the fiber optic connector, which is obviously, orientation sensitive. You feel, you prod, and you push, but it ain't going in : ). Then suddenly, with all that poking around, you snap off the lens, or scratched the lens without knowing it.
The question I had was more in the reference of what to conect to what in what order rather then cable quality.
For instance taking in to consideration that x-fi cards do not have optical on the card and you have to go thought the 5.25" bay pannel or external box and the fact that you can use the 3.5mm mic jack to output data which does less damage, the sending data through the card to bay pannel / external box cable or thought the 3.5mm plug. Coinsidentaly I have answered my own question by looking in to what merlin said, its digital, if the data will get altered on the way it will be resent and there should not be any issues being sound drop out since thats what we have buffers for.
Atleast that is how I understand it, please correct me if I am wrong since I am not an acoustical engineer by any means, thanks guys
