Stupid Question
Dear Gary: Thanks for Terry Paullin’s real-world experiences and opinions about home theatre. I very much enjoy his column in WSR. Being a 50-something guy like Terry with the HT disease, I fiddle with the “machine” constantly. But I have so many stupid questions that need answering and so few resources. The usual vendors I frequent (from Circuit City to high-end audiophile specialty shops) either know absolutely nothing or are operating at a very stratospheric level I can’t comprehend. I know this is the way you earn your living so I won’t overload you, but I hope you can give me the simple answer to this one: In your article in Issue 48 you said: “When you have a choice in digital audio connections, choose coaxial over optical.” I’ve labored under the idea that an audio optical connection (specifically between my Toshiba 9200 DVD player and my Onkyo TX-D989 receiver) was the better choice. Not so? After reading your article I plunged down into my basement/audio/video bunker and added a Monster Cable MkII audio cable to the system. My 50-something ear (too many Who concerts) can’t hear much of a difference but I take it on faith that you’re correct. You’ve been right too many times before for me to doubt you on this on.
John Tulin
mailto:johnt@technologiesna.com
Contributing Editor Terry Paullin Comments:
Thanks for your kind words regarding my column. Your question regarding preference of digital audio connections is certainly not “stupid.” Indeed, I have had many inquiries as to my stand on this one. Here, in increasing order of importance, are the reasons, given an option, I prefer a coaxial link. 1. Even at dealer cost, they are less expensive. 2. I too, have a tough time with very subtle differences in audio quality, which I believe to be the case here. The first time I was challenged on this topic, I conferred with a number of my installer/reviewer friends. Out of five polled, three said “no difference” and two expressed a slight preference for coaxial. I’m in the no difference camp. 3. The issue of reliability is very important to installers. The Toslink or optical connector is a poor mechanical fit. More than once, as I massaged the myriad of cables that necessarily accompany a complex rack of home theatre equipment, I have later discovered that an optical connection has come loose at one end or the other. I never had that happen with a quality RCA-type coaxial connector. All that said, I recognize that you sometimes don’t have a choice. Not all receivers or pre-pros or DVD players have both types of connectors. If you have done your homework in selecting the aforementioned “boxes,” I wouldn’t let the lack of a coaxial connection cause you to rethink everything. At the end of the day, it’s a nickel issue.
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