Coaxial Audio Switch

[mr_yeti]

As established in a thread that became very tangental in the On/Off Topic forum, I will be requiring some kind of switching device to use to select between the Coaxial Audio coming from my DVD player and that coming from my soon-to-be-installed HD cable box from TWC. Does anyone know of any such switch, approximate cost, and where one may obtain one?

Thanks.

[beirnead]

If your receiver has multiple coax inputs, you can use that to switch the source.  Likewise, if your receiver has an digital optical input and your DVD player has an optical output, you could use an optical cable for your DVD player and the coax for the TWC box.

If you can't use either of the above setups, this 'Y' connector may be what you are looking for  http://www.monstercable.com/productPage.asp?pin=655 .

[Gregg Lengling]

I wouldn't go with the "Y" cable as it will change the impedence of the connection, not a good engineering idea.  There seem to be lots of Optical Switches for SPDIF but I couldn't find any for Coaxial.  However if you want you can use a coaxial switch of the type for switching antennas or games as they have the proper impedance albeit they might not have the right connections (would be "f" connectors instead of "RCA" but you could use adaptors or change the cables.

Optical would be the best way to go and then you could have a multi-switch that would also switch video.  They are not cheap but they are nice.


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Gregg R. Lengling
RCA P61310 61" 16x9
HiDTV Pro 2 computer reciever card
glengling@ameritech.net

[veyj]

What about the audio switches I posted in this thread?  
 http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000176.html

The audio switch handles both optical and coax.  Don't know about an impedence change with this switch.  What do you think Gregg?

The 1177 is $99 at http://www.copperbox.com/lite/aa.php  when using the Instant Savings Coupon of $10.00 on this item.  

This site has a good picture of the inputs, http://www.smarthome.com/77707.html

John

[This message has been edited by veyj (edited 11-14-2002).]

[mr_yeti]

Perhaps I should clarify a bit. My receiver has two digital audio inputs, one optical and one coaxial. My current DVD player forces me to choose between coaxial and analog. It does not feature an optical audio connection. Likewise, i'm told the cable box i'm getting from TWC offers the same two methods of output. So, I have the following options:

(1) Buy a device that will switch between the two sources.
(2) Get a new DVD player with optical audio output, which is something I've been meaning to do anyway. This will also allow me to upgrade to a progressive scan machine.
(3) Buy a new receiver capable of handling the number and type of inputs I currently need it to, knowing that my needs may change as I upgrade my various components over time.

Buying a switch isn't nearly as cool as getting a brand spanking-new prog scan DVD player, and I was planning on a sizable outlay of cash for an OTA HD box that I'm not going to buy now, since I'll be renting from TWC. Hmmm... I could get a pretty darn nice DVD player for what I was planning to pay for that OTA box, and probably "save" some money in the meantime.

I don't really care which source is optical and which is coaxial. It's all digital to me. I've heard people say that optical sounds "harsher", but there can't be that much difference. Digital is digital, unless we're talking TWC.

I think I'll just try to rig something up for the time being, or even manually switch the plugs when I'm going to watch a DVD. I'll bide my time and make sure I get the right DVD player for me.

I think I've answered my own question. Does anyone see a problem with my logic?

[Gregg Lengling]

No problem with your logic....do it and then you won't have any problems to deal with...always nice to have an extra DVD player around.


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Gregg R. Lengling
RCA P61310 61" 16x9
HiDTV Pro 2 computer reciever card
glengling@ameritech.net

[StarvingForHDTV]

If you end up getting a new DVD player, I am very happy with mine:
 http://www.prodcat.panasonic.com/shop/NewDesign/ModelTemplate.asp?ModelId=15821&show_all=false&product_exists=True&active=1&ModelNo=DVD-RP82&CategoryId=%202977

I found it while browsing the AVS forum.  Other "pioneers and techno-geeks who like to experiment"   with new technologies, found this product acceptable as well.  At this price level, that is.  It does have the choice of using either optical or coaxial digital out.  The progressive scan picture is significantly better than my old non-progressive player which used my TV's built in line doubler.  I would look at the AVS forum to help choose a player, if I were you.

Good luck,  

Starving

[mr_yeti]

Actually, I was already planning on buying that one. It's the Panasonic RP82, right? Sorry, I didn't even hit the link, I just looked at the text. I've heard really good things about that player. I'll shut my trap and go take a look at it now.

[mr_yeti]

OneCall (the place from whence my Panasonic 47" RPTV came) has a deal on those. Just over $200. Didn't check if shipping was included as it was with the TV, but I was incredibly happy with their customer service and the promptness of the delivery. If I order now, I might just have it in time to take down the whole setup only once for the new HD box, rather than one for each new toy. Well, no matter, I enjoy messing with that sort of thing anyway.

Thanks for your help.