Coax or Optical?

[tonyh21]

I'm planning on buying either a coax or optical cable for my z5500's so I can get digital sound and I have no idea which one is better or if they are the same. I know that coax is cheaper than optical but that is not a real big deal with me.

So which one should I buy?

And are these good deals/brands

optical http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1051384701228 or http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/GE-Digital-Fiber-Optic-Audio-Cable-AV22649-/sem/rpsm/oid/78120/catOid/-12927/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

coax http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1051384791747

 

[pat]

I don't think you'll ever notice a difference between coax or optic. If cost don't matter, get the one that will be best suited for your sound card and home theater receiver.

 

[the_guru]

I'm planning on buying either a coax or optical cable for my z5500's so I can get digital sound and I have no idea which one is better or if they are the same. I know that coax is cheaper than optical but that is not a real big deal with me.

So which one should I buy?

And are these good deals/brands

optical http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1051384701228 or http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/GE-Digital-Fiber-Optic-Audio-Cable-AV22649-/sem/rpsm/oid/78120/catOid/-12927/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

coax http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1051384791747

Coaxial is usually better, the toslink connector on the optical cables can sometimes cause trouble. The only benefit with optical is that you are free from any grounding problems.

 

[uncle_ben]

as tony said there is not much of a difference there.

However consider the distance you need this cable for. Long optical leads are not common and more expensive while regular cable for digital connection are available in all possible lenghts.

 

[tonyh21]

thanks guys, i still dont know which one I will buy, every forum seems to have a different view, one says optical, the other says coax.......

 

[astrallite]

You realize you only get stereo or pre-encoded surround sound with digital? Games have discrete surround channels and unless you have a way to compress those channels to fit through the digital medium, such as Dolby Digital Live, you'll only get stereo or what's already pre-encoded (like DVDs).

I personally would get whatever is cheaper. Coaxial tends to be so. I had to get a optical cable because my sound card (Chaintech AV-710) only supports that for the digital out, but otherwise I would probably have gotten a coaxial cable.

One more thing...if you have a nice soundcard that has good DACs like an Audigy 2 or above, there is no reason to go digital unless you are running off of onboard sound.