[Lowfront]

I'm still trying to get an answer on this.

Should I run my Audigy2 Zs Platinum Pro to my corda move via analog as the move doesn't have digital in.


Or just do usb through the move.



I'm asking because my audigy is on another computer and would be a big hassle to change in and out of computers if it wasn't going to give me any benefit.

 

[TheVinylRipper]

Umm... USB *is* digital..

And the CM has a high quality DAC onboard.

Keeping everything digital until it's outside of the computer is superior at least in theory.

If it's going to be a hassle, just leave the soundcard where it is.

 

[Lowfront]

K sounds good

thanks for the reply

I know usb is digital btw I meant no optical in.

 

[poo]

You are generally better off with USB rather than optical anyway it seems.

 

[compuryan]

yeah many claim to hear minute differences between the different flavors of digital (coax, usb, or optical), but it is all gonna be almost the same. Its kind of like black ants and red ants. They are different, but when they bite they'll both hurt like hell.

I have personally heard that coax and usb are close but both are superior to optical.

 

[Logistics]

Yes, common consensus is simply that hardwire digital, in whatever form, is superior to optical because optical is more tempermental when it comes to jitter.

But what is the pro to optical? Long distance runs? Cause unless a person needs it for some reason, it just seems like an unneeded step. It all starts in a form of hardwire digital and it will have to end in a form of hardwire digital for any DAC to be able to do anything with it, so optical is just a form of transport; one which I cannot see being superior if you're just sitting in your room, connecting your sound card to external amplification. If you were running it to the other side of the house, however... would optical be better?

 

[poo]

My understanding from most forums is that optical gets worse over longer distances. I can't hear the difference myself so am skeptical, also because it seems to me to make sense that the way optical cable works would favor longer runs.

 

[infinitesymphony]

The maximum recommended length for an optical cable is between 10-15 meters (33'), while it's a bit longer for coaxial. Optical has the benefit of being immune from electromagnetic and radio frequency interferences (EMI and RFI). For example, if you live under a broadcasting tower, go with optical.

Otherwise, optical is frowned upon because there is no standard for the amount of light that must be transmitted or received from optical connections. So, you'll find that not all devices have equally well-implemented optical outputs. The same is probably true with coaxial outputs, but to a lesser extent as it uses the old-fashioned electrical method of delivering signal.

 

[poo]

Thanks for the extra information infinitesymphony. In all the reading I have done on the subject, I have never discovered that there is no standard for light transmission via optical. This makes things very different indeed!

 

[riceboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by poo /img/forum/go_quote.gif You are generally better off with USB rather than optical anyway it seems.

X2. Some use Firewire with the Apogee Mini-Dac for example, but they do for the extra bandwidth firewire provides for recording purposes. The soundcard in most cases is cleary inferior to a DAC. Good luck

 

[skeeder]

The Audigy 2 ZS has a horrible hiss present at all times...even with DAC's...I'd use USB.