Which is superior? Using a TOSLINK out or COAX copnnected tio a 'hi fi' receiver

nukemaster

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When using the same audio format they will sound the same.

Now TOSLINK is immune to ground loops because it uses light and this has no common ground shared from system to system.

As long as you have no ground loop issues(more common from your cable box than any bluray player), either should sound the same.

HDMI is also very common and has lots of bandwidth, if your TV has audio return over HDMI(and your receiver has HDMI in) then you can have audio from other sources go back to the receiver without having to swap inputs on the receiver. Some setups also allow the receiver to be a HDMI switch by running all devices into the receiver and connecting it to the TV via HDMI.
 

kctobyjoe

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Feb 9, 2010
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kctobyjoe

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I have no loop issue; I THOUGHT I remember reading somewhere that TOSLINK was slightly inferior to COAX; My ONKYO has TWO COAX inputs and both my units have COAX outs; I am interested in DTS out when it is available as an output; I just love the low end even without the two subs I intend on buying in the future from HSU research. FWIW if I use HDMI I notice a delay in audio; THAT drives me insane!!!
Thanks
Joe
 

nukemaster

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Kind of surprised you would have a delay with HDMI(shame too since it would allow lossless audio with the right hardware). Must have some kind of processing happening.

Best to check your devices to see what formats both output and input support. The problem is that different devices seem to support different formats. It is not as simple as it once was(early digital and analog just worked without having to worry about what encoding technique was used).
 
In high end audio systems coax is preferred because it tends to have less jitter than toslink optical. In a HT system it probably makes no difference. If you need a long cable the coax is cheaper than optical (you can use RG6 or RG11 antenna wire).
You might be able to correct for the HDMI delay if you can turn off any video processing in the Onkyo receiver.