[mythtv-users] optical vs coax (was My Ultimate Mythtv?)

[Mark Edwards]

The thing that does make a huge difference with digital audio - one that is
measurable and detectable with A/B testing - is clock error / jitter.
However clock error is usually inherent in the clock sync source and not a
factor introduced by the transmission medium.

Mark
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Per Åge Sørvik" <peraage at leneogperaage.com>
To: "Discussion about mythtv" <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 7:12 PM
Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] optical vs coax (was My Ultimate Mythtv?)


> Jarod C. Wilson wrote:
>
> > On Wednesday, Sep 17, 2003, at 23:58 US/Pacific, Per Åge Sørvik wrote:
> >
> >> Yes, but then you are talking about an error situation. My point here
> >> is that conversion from electrical to optical isn't a lossy operation
> >> in itself, as was implied in your original statement ("is bound to
> >> have a wee bit more loss of signal"). BTW, the signal that goes out
> >> on the coax cable also goes through a translation, albeit not a
> >> change of physical media.
> >
> >
> > I have to admit I started down this road based solely on the comments
> > of an audiophile friend whom I trust (mostly), and he swears coax is
> > better. To me, the difference between the two is indistinguishable. My
> > friend is also the same person that used to do ogg encodings of all
> > his music at something like 512, but stopped and switched to flac,
> > because he was still concerned about loss...
>
> It's a typical audiophile argument, but usually not coming from people
> with an electronics background. Thats why I have to disagree with it ;).
> It's a bit funny really, because I was a little bit into the audiophile
> thing for a while myself, but after some years of education within
> electronics and computer technology, I found most of the claims where
> opposing my education...
>
> >
> >>>> and the fact that toslink probably is multimode fiber, not
singlemode.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Not sure.
> >>
> >>
> >> Well, I'm pretty sure, but I'm to lazy to check it out :)
> >
> >
> > I did a cursory search for info (5 second googler) and didn't find
> > much of anything on the topic.
>
> Guess you'll have to trust me, then :). Singlemode is usually used for
> long distance connections, like 50kms or so, without repeaters.
>
> >
> >> I guess the case of availabilty of high quality long optical cables
> >> for toslink is what keeps them out of use. High quality coax cables
> >> are  much more readily available.
> >
> >
> > Price is probably a big factor here...
>
> Definitely
>
> -- 
>
> peraage
>
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