HDMI vs Optical/Coaxial for CDP

[math wizard]

I have a Yamaha DVD-C950 CD/DVD player. Currently it is connected to my receiver via a HDMI cable. Since this player is used to play CD's only, is there any advantage/disadvantage to using HDMI over coaxial/optical cables?

Thanks!!!

[Erik Tracy]

The yamaha looks like a nice univeral player with a good upscaling chip....and you only use it for CDs?

The spec sheet shows it has 24-bit/192Khz audio DACs.

So, you may want to check to see if you can send this data rate out via HDMI to your AVR.

Not sure if TOSLINK/SPDIF connections will support this rate or not - that might be the only advantage I can think of for staying with HDMI.

And you may also want to consider using analog connections from the CDP to your AVR if all you use it for is CDs....just to compare the sound you get from the CDP DACs vs the AVR DACs.

[math wizard]

The yamaha looks like a nice univeral player with a good upscaling chip....and you only use it for CDs?

The spec sheet shows it has 24-bit/192Khz audio DACs.

So, you may want to check to see if you can send this data rate out via HDMI to your AVR.

Not sure if TOSLINK/SPDIF connections will support this rate or not - that might be the only advantage I can think of for staying with HDMI.

And you may also want to consider using analog connections from the CDP to your AVR if all you use it for is CDs....just to compare the sound you get from the CDP DACs vs the AVR DACs.

I use this for CD's only because I have a BluRay player and a HD DVD player which up converts DVD very good (the Yamaha does a great jog up converting also). I have an Onkyo 806 as an AVR, but don't know if it has better DAC's then the Yamaha (I don't know what the Yamaha has - Burr Browns?).

[Mike21]

I may be wrong, but I think the BB DACs in the Yamaha are the same as those in the Onk 806.

I don't think you will hear any difference between HDMI, optical or coax digital cables. If you want to experiment, buy 1 inexspensive optical and 1 coax from Monoprice and see if you hear a difference.

Mike

[BlueFox]

One point about HDMI is it can support anti-jitter technology. Sony calls this HATS, and Pioneer has another name. I do not know if the Yamaha has it, but if the CD player and AVR both support it then it will (most likely) give better sound if it is turned on.

[GV#27]

Why noy try the analog outputs of the Yamaha.Using the coax or HDMI will bypass the Yammy's DAC's and analog output stage, both of which may be better than those in the AVR.



edit.ooops Eric already suggested this.

[WilliamM2]

Do you use the sub when listening to CD's? If so, you will want to avoid the analog outputs, as the Onkyo will run the signal through it's A/D converter, apply bass management, and then run it back through it's D/A converter.

Of course if you have any SACD's you will need to hook up the analog connections to hear the SACD layer of the disc, it doesn't do SACD over HDMI, coax, or optical.