Optical cables retain sound quality even at 10 meters. There are even some who are using it at 30 meters with no problem! But if you’re going to use HDMI
HDMI
HDMI is a proprietary audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed video data and compressed or uncompressed digital audio data from an HDMI-compliant source device, such as a display controller, to a compatible computer monitor, video projector, digital television, or digit…
Does the length of an optical cable affect sound quality?
The length of cable wouldn’t be a problem for many people, but for those who require an extended connection, the transmission of signals might be an issue. Optical cables retain sound quality even at 10 meters. There are even some who are using it at 30 meters with no problem!
What is the best optical cable for sound quality?
The Van Den Hul Opticoupler is claimed to the possibly the best, but the difference is still subtle. This cable sounds a touch more full sounding, but may be overkill for you. I found a budget Pure optical cable still to sound about 90% the same however and I use a 4m one for DVD. Was only about £10 or so...
Do optical cables sound the same as coax cables?
All digital sound cables sound exactly the same, they either work or they don't. (not similar but the same) It doesn't matter if they are coax or optical. Click to expand...
Is it better to use HDMI or optical cable for sound?
Sound quality degrades faster with HDMI, but a digital optical can go as far as 30 meters without losing audio quality. Larger media rooms can get more out of optical cables, and with less susceptibility to interference, it’ll be easier to configure heart-pounding audio.
Do optical cables improve sound?
In terms of audio quality – HDMI wins If you're looking for the best audio quality, HDMI is your choice. While an optical cable can still pass surround sound and super high-quality audio, thanks to the added bandwidth in the latest HDMI versions (2.0) you'll be able to pass higher resolution and audio.
Is sound quality better with HDMI or optical?
The biggest difference is that HDMI can pass higher-resolution audio, including the formats found on streaming services such as Dolby Atmos and DTS HD Master Audio. These formats can't be transmitted across optical. In terms of simplicity, HDMI also passes video signals.
Does the quality of optical cable make a difference?
When it comes to optical audio cables, the audio cable quality does not really matter since the sound you get from the optical audio cables is the same regardless of the quality you pick. The durability of the optical cable, on the other hand, is one of the factors that will have an impact on the audio quality.
Do different optical cables sound different?
There won't be much difference between the sound quality of optical and coaxial connections in the real world – and the one you choose will usually depend on your devices' connections or the cables you have available.
Which cable is best for audio?
HDMI Cables: The sound quality is better than other two cable types. These cables transmit multi-channel audio formats such as DTS:X and Dolby Atmos. The HDMI audio connection cables can also support current and new video formats such as Ultra HD 4K resolution, as well as HDR formats.
Can optical do Dolby Atmos?
Digital optical doesn't support Dolby Atmos because it can't transmit the Dolby Digital Plus or Dolby TrueHD audio codecs (both of which can contain Dolby Atmos audio). Digital optical cables only support up to 5.1 channels of audio. HDMI is the only method to send/receive signals with Dolby Atmos.
Which optical cable is best for soundbar?
Best Optical Cables 2022Optical CablesLengthBuy NowSyncwire Digital Optical Audio Cable5.9 feetCheck On AmazonFosPower Gold Plated Toslink Cable3 feetCheck On AmazonCableCreation Toslink Cable12 feetCheck On AmazonSuplong Digital Optical Audio Toslink Cable6 feetCheck On Amazon6 more rows•Jan 23, 2022
Is optical or coaxial better for sound?
Many experts say the difference in audio quality and performance is negligible. That being said, it's a good idea to learn the basics about coaxial and optical cable connections. Both coaxial and optical cables support 5.1 surround sound systems with a difference in sound quality that is nearly indistinguishable.
Is optical better than Jack?
Most people would probably agree that, all things being equal, you get clearer sound, better channel separation and superior spatial quality from an optical line.
Is optical louder than aux?
After finally getting audio to work both via aux cable and via optical, I was shocked to find that the aux has better quality and is much louder than optical, which is obviously the opposite of what it should be.
What is S/PDIF in audio?
S/PDIF is two signals in one. It contains the audio bitstream data, and it contains the sample clock superimposed upon the data using manchester biphase mark encoding . The bitstream itself is very robust, in any half-decent implementation the chances of bit-errors are extremely small. The sample clock is however very fragile, and can suffer phase errors which lead to jitter when the clock is recovered.
Can a copper cable be used for both digital and analog signals?
In saying that they are satisfied that the cable can be used for both digital signal and analogue signal as it is basically copper, and it is manufactured to carry the electrical flow of electrons as efficiently as possible with as little interference as possible.....
Can optical interfaces cause jitter?
Optical interfaces can introduce jitter into a the recovered clock. Poorly designed receiver / transmitter hardware and the quality of the optical cable can all impact this, making jitter worse. Can you hear it: Any decent modern DAC should have circuitry to minimise the effect of input jitter.
Can I use a wire hanger to connect a DVD player?
Calm down Mrs. Crawford, yes, through a wire hanger... It'll work just fine... Ok, So if any of you followed the digital wire wars a while back you may recall that some people maintained that you absolutely, positively, NEEDED a 75 ohm digital cable to connect your DVD player to your pre/pro...
Do digital sound cables work?
All digital sound cables sound exactly the same, they either work or they don't. (not similar but the same) It doesn't matter if they are coax or optical. No fewer than 70pc of young offenders in Britain are from single-parent families.
What is optical digital connection?
An optical digital connection uses the medium of light to transmit data through a cable’s optical fibres ( which can be made from plastic, glass or silica). An optical cable doesn’t allow noise to pass from source to DAC circuitry like a coaxial can, and so makes sense to use this socket when connecting straight into the DAC ...
Where are optical inputs found?
Optical inputs are found at the amplification or DAC end, e.g. on soundbars and AV receivers. Like coaxial, one of the issues with optical is that it doesn’t have enough bandwidth for the lossless audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks found on most Blu-rays and 4K Blu-rays.
What is HDMI good for?
Launched in 2002, the biggest benefit of HDMI is it’s a one-size-fits-all connection for video and audio. It boasts much higher bandwidth than optical, allowing for playback of lossless audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Unlike optical and coaxial, there isn’t really a similar rival out there.
Does coaxial cable support DTS?
Also, coaxial doesn't have the bandwidth required to support high-quality surround sound formats such as Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. So, in a modern home cinema setting, its uses are quite limited.
Is coaxial cable better than optical?
Coaxial might not be as widespread as its rival optical connection these days, but you'll still find it at the back of certain AV receivers, integrated amplifiers and TVs. And, in our experience, compared to optical, a coaxial connection does tend to sound better.
Is QED a good optical?
Something like the QED Performance Graphite Optical is a good entry-level option. Although HDMI has taken over as the main socket of choice for many manufacturers, optical outputs are still common on games consoles, Blu-ray players, set-top boxes and televisions.
Does HDMI handle audio?
HDMI’s feature set, upgradability and the fact it can handle both audio and video means you don’t need to worry about too many wires clogging up your system. And, best of all, you won't sacrifice performance.
Can cable loss be a signal loss?
No cable can do better than simply minimizing the amount of loss during that transmission, as there will indeed be signal loss as the electrons make their way through the conductors and struggle to jump the boundaries imposed by the connections at each end.
Is shorter cable better for sound?
At the beginning we said shorter is “almost” always better.
Is the shortest cable length better?
When it comes to cable length, the shortest length possible is almost always better . I say “almost,” because there are some exceptions, as will see. Cables are critically important system components responsible for protecting the fragile voltages as they are transferred from point to point among the links of the audio/video chain.
Can long speaker cables cause power loss?
Long speaker cables can also be of concern. First in terms of the added impedance that substantial runs may add, the increased resistance can, in more extreme cases, lead to power loss. And, in my experience, there simply tends to be more loss of signal though speaker cables than through interconnects of equivalent lengths.
What is the purpose of audiophile cables?
The argument for audiophile cables basically follows this logic: The cable’s task is to carry an analog electrical signal from the source (or amp) to your speakers. The cable is made of materials that present impedance (resistance and capacitance). In doing so, the cable affects the signal that reaches the speakers.
Why are digital signals different from analog signals?
Digital signals—electric or optical—are quite different than analog signals, because we’re only dealing with ones and zeros to communicate information. While the methods to do this are more advanced than the example I’m about to give, the lesson here is that digital cables will work or not— nothing in between.
What to do if your cable is not working?
If that doesn’t work, then it’s time to consider better cables.
Can digital audio reduce jitter?
Another common myth surrounding digital audio is that buying the right cables can reduce what’s called “jitter.” That claim is again based in a small dram of reality, but wildly overblown.
Does a USB cable always deliver data?
No matter how “degraded” the signal is, no matter how noisy it gets, a USB, HDMI, or optical cable (that uses light to transmit data instead of electricity) will always deliver its payload unless there’s something severely wrong.
Can HDMI cut out video?
For example, systems that use HDMI will cut out your video if it detects problems, as that’s how the encoding works.
What is a speaker cable made of?
Most speaker cables are made of copper wire or copper-clad aluminum. That’s because this metal has low resistance and is generally more affordable than other metals. Some of the cheaper cables don’t use good quality copper or use bad insulation that either exposes it or reacts to it.
How much speaker impedance is audible?
As a general rule, the resistance will only have an audible effect if it is greater than 5% of the speaker impedance, which is measured in OHMS.
How is cable thickness measured?
So its thickness is able to compensate for the distance. Thickness is measured in SWG (standard wire gauge) and AWG (American wire gauge). The smaller the SWG or AWG number, the thicker it is. In some cases, a cable manufacturer will also measure thickness by giving the strand count.
How many feet of HDMI cable for Netflix?
If you’re watching a 720p or 1080p video on Netflix, you may even have 70 feet HDMI cable and feel perfectly happy with the audio quality. But if you’re an audiophile, or in commercial situations where noise and interference can ruin a recording or broadcast, HDMI cable lengths can become quite a headache.
What are headphones made of?
Headphone cables are frequently made from gold, copper, silver, or rhodium and budget headphones often use silver-plated copper . But if you can afford it, look for one made from high-quality copper.
How long is the Ibirdie HDMI cable?
The length of the ibirdie HDMI cable is from 3 feet to 328 feet, all cable compatible with 4K resolution of HDMI 2.1 TV. Check Price On Amazon.
How long is a 2 OHM speaker?
50 to 200 feet. Note that there is a range given in feet rather than a strict length because the resistance is also affected by your speaker impedance. A 2 OHM speaker can have a maximum length of 3 feet for a 22 AWG, while an 8 OHM speaker can have a maximum length of 12 feet.
How long has the cable company been in business?
The Cable Company has been in business for 23 years, and if most people who listened to cables didn't hear a big enough difference to justify the expense, its business model wouldn't work. Remember, everybody returns the loaned cables anyway, so it's not like they just settle for the wires because they're in the system.
Does the Cable Company offer discounts?
The Cable Company doesn't offer huge discounts , but it does have a sliding scale discount program for regular customers. The loans are only available to U.S. customers. If you have a modest system, investing in expensive cables may not be the best way to spend your money.
Can cables break hi-fi?
Some audiophiles swear that cables can make or break the sound of their hi-fis, while others poo-poo the idea and use the cheapest hardware store wires. The debates have raged for years, but the only way to really know for sure is to try a set of high-end cables in your system.
What is the difference between HDMI and Toslink?
The main difference is HDMI cable is transferred higher-resolution audio and videos while Toslink cables are used for audio signals. HDMI replaces the Toslink.
Can HDMI be ground?
HDMI could possibly introduce ground issues, which an optical interface cannot. If the cable works at the bandwidth required (no dumbing down or reduction of the digital data conveyed in the signal and no dropouts) then all the digital reaches the destination and digital data is perfectly preserved. However, audio signals have timing information ...
Is audio a clock signal?
However, audio signals have timing information conveyed with them - an analog style clock signal is transmitted. It is the shape of this analog signal that can be affected by various cables and the digital data being sent.
What cable do I need to send 1080p video?
If you're sending 1080p (i.e. from a Blu-ray player) or UltraHD "4K" video, make sure you have an HDMI cable labeled "High Speed.". There's no such thing as " 4K HDMI cables " or " HDMI 2.0 " cables. High Speed cables cover all of that.
How many feet is a Monoprice HDMI cable?
On the left, Monoprice's slim 60-foot HDMI cable with RedMere. On the right, Monoprice's standard 50-foot cable. Sarah Tew/CNET. However, there are some cases where spending a bit more makes sense. Active cables, such as those that use Redmere technology, have chips built into them that help boost the signal.
How long does a $2 cable last?
There's no proof of this, for one, and it doesn't make economic sense either. If a $2 cable lasts two years , you can replace it 10 times (20 years!) before a $20 cable makes sense. And chances are that $2 cable will last just as long, if not longer, than the $20 cable anyway.
Do USB cables pass more amps?
Among different USB cables, some will allow more current to make it from the charger to the device. Better-made cables can pass more amps (a measure of electric current) than poorly made cables. So if you want to charge your devices as fast as your charger and device allow, make sure you get a decent USB cable.
Can USB cables improve audio quality?
It won't improve video or audio quality. The exception is with USB cables used to charge devices. Not all USB cables can charge devices at the same rate. I've actually found this, anecdotally, and Wirecutter did some extensive testing and found the same thing.
Can HDMI cables be thinner?
Thicker gauge HDMI cables may also do the trick, or you may need an active cable. Occasionally you might want thinner cables, and again, active cables allow that, too . Plugs at angles can place less stress on the connection if you use a thinner cable.
Is CAT 6 cable better than CAT 5?
Category 6/6a cables have a more robust specification than Category 5/5e. There probably won't be much of a speed difference on your home network (Cat5 is still really fast), but the extra shielding can't hurt. Since Cat6 cables are only fractionally more expensive, there's no reason not to go with them.
Optical Digital Connection
- An optical digital connection uses optical fibers and light to transmit audio signals from your TV or a transmitter to your speakers. These fibers can be plastic, glass, or silica, but what makes it an excellent audio transmitter is because noise can’t pass through an optical cable. Game consoles…
High-Definition Multimedia Interface
- HDMI uses copper as its main component, which is cheaper. Plus, it boasts various advantages, such as being a one-size-fits-all audio and video connection, a much higher bandwidth capability than optical, and a perpetually evolving technology. It allows playback for newer devices that use audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio. The newer HDMI versions can …
Differences Between HDMI and Optical Cables For Audio
- It can be challenging to figure out which one is better without putting them side by side. However, an optical cable will always come at a disadvantage—it can only transmit audio signals. So for us to have a comparison that would even make sense, let’s keep video transmission out of the picture, okay? Here is a quick comparison table which will be elaborated upon in this article.
The Better Choice For You
- Both HDMI and optical cables are excellent in transmitting digital audio from one device to another, and there’s no difference in the quality of sound that they can produce when using multi-channel audio like Dolby digital. But when it comes to higher resolution audio, HDMI is, clearly, a better option. However, HDMI isn’t always the best choice for everyone, and the devices that yo…
Recommended Audio Cables
- Now that you know which of the two is better for your sound system, it’s time to start setting them up. If you’re planning to get these cables from a brick and mortar shop, what you’ll find are bundle deals that include the surround sound, sound features, and cables. It’s easy to pick the fancier ones with these bundle deals, but it would be best to stick with what you need and then negotiat…
Conclusion
- The better choice between HDMI and optical for audio connection is clear. If your device is compatible with both options, you’ll be a happy camper with HDMI. A digital optical connection isn’t really much of a competition with HDMI’s capability to work with more channels and easier installation and configuration. However, it’s not always the case for many people, since the differ…
Coaxial Digital Connection
Optical Digital Connection
- An optical digital connection uses the medium of light to transmit data through a cable’s optical fibres (which can be made from plastic, glass or silica). An optical cable doesn’t allow noise to pass from source to DAC circuitry like a coaxial can, and so makes sense to use this socket when connecting straight into the DAC of a soundbaror AV recei...
What About HDMI?
- Launched in 2002, the biggest benefit of HDMI is it’s a one-size-fits-all connection for video and audio. It boasts much higher bandwidth than optical, allowing for playback of lossless audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Unlike optical and coaxial, there isn’t really a similar rival out there. You'll find HDMI inputs and outputs a firm fixture on TVs, Blu-ray p…
So, Which Connection Should You use?
- The answer to this will depend on the kit you’re using. If it’s a straight choice between coaxial and optical, we’d go for the former. In our experience, a coaxial connection tends to produce better audio quality than optical, allowing for a higher level of detail and greater dynamics. But, we live in an age where convenience is king. HDMI is now the go-to connection for all things AV and it’s ha…