Audio output/input question

[Ron Pollitt]

My HDTV set top box and my DVD player both have optical cable (S/PDIF AC3) output which I would like to feed into the one input on my Home theater receiver so I don't have to switch cables all the time.  Is there a device/ switch that I can use to combine to have one input?
Thanks
Ron

[Gregg Lengling]

You would need an optical switch and I've only found one on the web at this site: http://www.rdlnet.com/ruspx4.htm
However it is not automatic and you would have to manually switch but it beats switching cables all the time.

[Ron Pollitt]

Thanks Lummox, you gave me a lead.  I called rep for area and he said list price was around $800.  So I went on eBay where I have bought most of my components (including the Plasma unit) and found the following device for $25. Although no where near the quality of the other I think I'll give it a try and see how it works. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1392524087

Ron

[Pat]

Any modern (last few years) Audio Receiver (maybe they call them Home Theater Receivers or something, I forget) should have more than one digital audio input and will switch to the correct one as you switch viewing modes.  You may have just one optical, but you may also have a "coaxial" digital input.  Sometimes you can use both, one for one component and one for another.

[Joseph S]

I picked up a very similar looking item to that on ebay from Radio Shack about 1.5 years ago. I don't think it was more than $25. It is all black with 4 ins and 1 out.

Item 15-1586 "Digital Optical Selector"

The other option is a receiver with more several optical and coax inputs or a optical->coax converter if you have 1 coax and 1 optical input on the receiver.

[veyj]

I've read positive reviews about Audio Authority switches.  http://www.audioauthority.com/consumer.html

Check out the 4X1 Model 1177 for auto switching digital audio.  It even cross-converts coaxial and optical.  If you're interested in auto switching component video and digital audio, check out the 4X1 Model 1154.  Shop around.  You should be able to get better pricing than direct from mfg.

More switches can be found at http://www.keohi.com/keohihdtv/interfaces/switches.html

John

[Ron Pollitt]

Thanks for the links, the model 1177 looks promising since it is auto.
Pat had a good point, I have other types of inputs, but I had always "assumed" that optical was a superior connection?  Is there a preferred pecking order of audio hook-ups?  optical vs component vs RCA plugs vs ?

Or video?
VGA vs. component vs SVideo vs ?

Confusing to me!

Ron

VGA

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SensoryScience HDT100 STB
NEC 42" Plasma Monitor
Lance 4-bowtieUHF Antenna
Channel Master UHF Preamp
Charter Cable(no HDTV )

[Pat]

In the context here, digital is the same as digital regardless of medium -- that is, an optical digital audio cable is not superior to a coax digital audio cable, and both are superior to analog.

For video, DVI is no doubt superior to component because DVI is digital, component (analog) is superior to composite and the same as RGB, and composite is superior to RF (coax).

But DVI is basically evil.

[Ron Pollitt]

Whoa! Pat?  DVI??? (not in glossary)
Out of my set top box I can hook up video out to my Plasma unit, either using 1. a VGA cable or 2. Composite cable (yellow,) or 3. component cable (BS,HD,VD,R,G,B).
I'm presently using a VGA cable, is that the right choice.  
Too many choices for this accountant.  GRIN

------------------
SensoryScience HDT100 STB
NEC 42" Plasma Monitor
Lance 4-bowtieUHF Antenna
Channel Master UHF Preamp
Charter Cable(no HDTV )

[Pat]

I'm not familiar with the "internals" of VGA, but my guess is that it's equivalent to component.  I know its not digital, but I'm not sure if R,G, and B are separate signals.

DVI is the new digital interface now starting to appear in products.  I forget the acronym, but there's a **severe** copy protection overlaid on it.  It allows broadcasters to disallow a copy, to allow one-only, and maybe more.  I wouldn't be surprised if they could allow a copy, but allow only one further viewing, or only allow viewing within a certain amount of time.  Reminds me of the Divix fiasco.  That's why I say it's evil.

[This message has been edited by Pat (edited 11-01-2002).]

[Matt Heebner]

DVI= Digital Video Interface.
Pro's...allows uncompressed HD pass through. No need for compression as it can handle the full 2.2 gigabytes (or whatever it is) transfer of uncompressed HD programming.
Cons...Not bi-directional, and can be manipulated for never-copy, copy-once encryption schemes.

Hopefully DVI wil not be the choosen method of video transfer. Firewire 2 has a 3 gigabyte transfer rate, is bi-directional (meaning it can "talk" to other components, and will allow for time-shifting.

About VGA versus component...you might have to check the plasma's manual. While almost all component cables and VGA can carry the max resolution to your monitor, some VGA inputs on moniters accept the VGA as a 640x480 resolution only. See what the manual says.

Matt