Optical/Toslink VS RCA how big a diff?

Toslink/Optical is a digital transmission medium. It transmits a digital bitstream that is decoded by the processor/receiver. RCA is an analog signal.

Do you use your current setup for 2-channel playback of TV sound or multi-channel? If your current setup is two channel, you may not notice much difference.

TIC

You need to spend a lot more on a coax cable to equal the performance of an optical cable but... I found the sound to be smoother and warmer (less digital) with a coax than with an optical cable. Go figure, digital is digital, right? but it all depends on your system

Uh, guys, he said the unit does not have a coax input either. It's a 2-channel analog pre-amp, so it doesn't have any on-board processing of digital signals, i.e., no optical or coaxial digital connection.

He's asking if he will hear a difference between what he's experiencing today using an optical connection to a receiver vs. what he may experience with his future system using an analog stereo connection to his pre-amp/amp seperates.

TIC

It is hard to say. I once had a Audio Logic DAC that took RCA and XLR inputs. The RCA input sounded more musical then the XLR so you will have to try each to see if there is a difference with your units. I received advice saying that the XLR would most likely sound better but there was one Agon member who had the same DAC and I read his post suggesting this and he was correct.

Can you borrow a few cables form some friends or a local audio store? That would be the best to try it for your self.

Happy Listening.

Bigkidz,

He's not asking about a digital cable (input cable to your DAC). He's asking if he will hear a difference after "upgrading" from a receiver (that accepts digital optical input) to an older higher quality 2-channel analog seperates rig that does not have any digital inputs (no optical, no coax). He wants to connect his TV source using RCA analog connections to the pre-amp.

Ramax,

I did a bit of research to refresh my memory. The 3 Adcom components you list, when added together, basically get you the functionality of an old pro-logic receiver. All combined, they provide Dolby pro-logic processing of an analog signal, 5 channels of amplification, etc.

So, if your goal is to have decent Dolby pro-logic for TV, plus all the other features of an old pro-logic receiver, go for it. However, if it were me, I would pass. This technology has been replaced long ago by better stuff. I would highly recommend that you spend a bit more money on a good current HT receiver. If you insist on the old obsolete Adcom stuff, you might want to consider purchasing the Adcom GDD-1 to add Dolby Digital to the stack of components. However, you would then have a total of 4 components doing the same work as an old, first generation Dolby Digital receiver, and you would have 4 boxes, plus all of the required cabling, added electrical requirements, etc.

Get a new receiver (or even an older 5.1 channel DD receiver). BTW, the new receivers have lots of great features that are worth the money. Specificically, some of the new surround formats are very good, plus auto-calibration/equalization is built into many of them.

TIC