Short one optical audio

[hikerak]

Hello, I just got a digital receiver to go with my New HDTV now I am one optical audio port short in the back of the receiver.  I have one for my Dish receicver, one for my DVD, and I need one for my tv the TV has a built in tuner.  So TV optical out doesn't have a port in the receiver.  Is there a 2 into one type conector so I can plug two optical wires from two sources into one port?


Please say yes....

Matt

[HiFiTy]

Do any of the devices have a digital coax output?  Most digital receivers now have a couple of fiber optic and a couple of digital coax inputs.  The difference in signal transmission between fiber optic and digital coax is minimal.

[dlhoppe]

Receivers usually also have a coaxial digital input. Check to see if any of your components can connect using that instead of optical. The quality will be the same since it's digital. If the optical and coaxial inputs don't match correctly with the selected "source" on the receiver, you should be able to "remap" them.

By the way, what is the brand and model of your receiver? What's the brand and model of the DVD, TV and Dish box as well?

[hikerak]

I have a Samsung 3275 HDTV,
And a yamaha htr 5740 receiver, the DVD player is a Yamaha DV-C6660, and the Dish 508.  The TV has a built in Tuner.

I am using the component inputs for the video on the DVD.  S-video for the dish 508, the RCA jacks for the VCR, and the TV doesn't need Video connectors as the tuner is built in.  

I didn't know that the Coax input(orange) was as good as the optical.. I am a much happier camper now.  On the connection directions it shows connecting the digital coax with the red rca connector and leaving the white unconnected.  Do I need a special Coax digital wire? I would assume so but if not one less thing to purchase....

Thanks for the responses,

Matt

[hikerak]

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/HTIB/HTIB_750_1.htm

[dlhoppe]

Matt,

Using one side of an analog audio cable would probably work just fine. Give it try. I've done it before. Remember, it's digital. It either works or it doesn't. You cannot have degraded sound quality unless you start getting drop-outs. Use as short a cable as possible for coaxial just to minimize the possibility of interference.  However it's rare to have problems with digital audio connections. Even using coaxial.

Good luck!

[hikerak]

You all have been sooo..... helpful today, thank you very much.  I can now go home tonight and watch the Packers in full hdtv glory....

Go Packers!!!!

[Skipjack]

didn't know that the Coax input(orange) was as good as the optical

Some might even argue that a digital coaxial connection is better than an optical one.

But that's a different can o' worms.

[dlhoppe]

Yeah, I've heard people argue both sides. Optical "sounds better" than coaxial or the other way around. People who make these arguments don't understand how digital works. Digital data is digital data. It's exactly the same data that the receiver sees regardless of how you transport it. There's really no way the transport mechanism can cause a difference other than having interruptions or corruption in the data stream. The result of these types of errors would be drop-outs or popping noises and such rather than tonal or other types of "sound quality" differences. People are so programmed by all those years in the analog world, they somehow "will" themselves to actually hear differences between optical and coaxial connectivity.

[gparris]

Yes, many times the digitial coaxial is confused with the analogue red and white RCA jacks because of the shape of input/output so the orange color marking came about.  
Make sure the red or white other cable jack is taped up with a non-conductor so if the right or left feed not connected does not touch anything else as to ground or cause interference with the hookups, based on my own experiences.

Coaxial digital outputs were first used as manufacturers believed them to be either cheaper to manufacture or more common among audiophiles as better. Additionally, the consumer did not have to go out and buy more expensive Toslink glass cabling for optical audio and use what they had around for connections like you are doing.

Some will claim the glass optical runs are easier to touch other cords in a setup and not have any chance of interference and the runs for optical can go longer lengths than coaxial, while others claim to hear sound run off on certain frequencies with optical.

Now that TWC has a HD-DVR with both outputs, I get a lot less complaints with hookups as they now have both of them.
(Before TWC just had coaxial outputs-only.)
Now they don't have or run out of digital inputs on their A/V recievers and can connect more easily if using cable boxes.:cool:

[hikerak]

OK, good with the reception, I got the RSDBT and if I move it around a little I can receive all stations, but Fox and CBS I only get a weak signal, it is watchable but has a fe w break-ups(like when green fumbled on the goal line).  What is an atenuator(sp?),does it control gain??

I think if I increased the gain a little, I could pick up Fox and CBS without the break-ups..

Matt

[Paul S.]

I have a very good coax/optical switcher for sale.