Optical Audigy Connections

[Guest]

I have just gotten an audigy card and am very impressed with the quality of the card. However, my current wireing probably leaves a bit to be desired. Has anyone used optical cables to connect their audigy to their amp? Is there a noticeable performance improvement? I am thinking since I have a system capable of 5.1 that by using an rca connection I am really limiting myself. Anyone have a feeling/experience about this one?

Thanks much,

John

 

[FatBurger]

What kind of amp are you using? Not many have optical ins.

Make sure you're not going a very large distance, optical doesn't have a very big range.

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[Guest]

I have a pioneer vsx d608 which has 3 availible optical inputs. The distance I need to run the link is 30ft, which I currently do via rca cables. I figure the optical has to have a greater run length than that. Is this not so?

Anyone else use an optical out on one of these audigy cards?

John

 

[arsend]

If you are going to have 30 ft of Optical cable, prepare to spend a couple hundred dollars or so on it, as that stuff is not cheap. The longest strand of optical cable that I have seen is limited to 3 metters, which is about 9-10 feet. You really need to have your system in the same space as your computer if you intend to have good quality sound. As far as the difference between optical and normal RCA cable, for your card and listening environment, you would not hear that much of a difference, however, I highly recommend that you purchase some high quality RCA plugs (from monster cable) and not buy the cheap $5.00 ones form your local Walmart. The quality of the better plugs is well worth the investment. In my case, I have the Soundblaster live 5.1 card, hooked up to my Pentium 1000 mhz, Windows XP machine, and in less than 4 feet away I have a Teac AG-D9320 Dolby DTS Receiver. My system rocks and when I upgrade my speaker package later on this year, it will sound even better

If it works for you then don't fix it.

 

[dandsgreen]

I use the optical out of my vortex 2 sound card to connect to a MSB DAC, because my yamaha receiver lacks optical inputs. The sound is great, no noise from the computer, no noise from ground loops.

The optical cable is 5 meters long and was purchased on ebay for $25 plus shipping. The optical signal so strong that the music will continue to play with the connector plug held in space 3" away from the jack. I'm sure that a 50 meter cable could be driven.

Good luck!


Verdeva