Optical better than HDMI at audio, isn't it??

jvc · « **Reply #20 on:** 22 May 2010, 03:29 pm »

I, personally,think the main reason for not hearing a difference between DD/DTS, and the HD audio formats, is the speakers you have. Your speakers must be able to distinguish the subtle differences of the formats. Unless you have golden ears, you're not going to hear a difference with HTIB speakers, and probably won't even then. Even if they're not HTIB speakers, speakers that are real cheap won't let you hear the differences either. I always try to talk people out of buying real cheap speakers, for this very reason...........

ted_b · « **Reply #21 on:** 22 May 2010, 03:31 pm »

Quote from: macrojack on 22 May 2010, 03:21 pm

I would argue that this entire hobby is predicated upon and perpetuated by concern over what we might be missing. When finally we all come to our senses and realize that we are the big variable in the whole process, not the software or hardware. We have the ability to decide that we are satisfied. Why, as a group, do we continue to fantasize about some "absolute sound"? All of us are securely established in the 99.99999 percentile of audio system performance. As you no doubt have noticed, most of the rest of the sane world can't begin to understand why we don't just relax and enjoy the music.

"absolute sound"? The OP has a BluRay player and finds his optical lowrez sound is better than his BluRay Hirez sound...not exactly a nitpick. My point about the cable was: if you are getting dropouts on audio it could be the older HDMI cable. It's not like I'm recommending he buy a $2000 powered active dialectric HDMI cable and polish the power supply leads! A $10 Monoprice cable could be a solution.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #22 on:** 22 May 2010, 03:42 pm »

Yea, it's not about which magical snake oil speaker cable will raise the veil hanging over my speakers, it's a matter of a cables ability to transfer data. An HDMI cable isn't a "simple" two conductor speaker cable, there are numerous cables in there carrying several channels of audio as well as all the video content. There's just simply more "going on" that there is with regular audio cables.

Boy.....I'll get blasted for that one.

Bob

macrojack · « **Reply #23 on:** 22 May 2010, 03:48 pm »

Sorry, Ted. My comment wasn't aimed at you, your suggestion, or even really this specific topic. I was responding to Bob's observation about the "main problem with this hobby". He found himself concerned about how best to deal with a problem he didn't know he was having.
Doesn't that perfectly characterize audio nervosa in its most insidious manifestation? Don't we all seem to be looking for problems all of the time?

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #24 on:** 22 May 2010, 03:54 pm »

Quote from: macrojack on 22 May 2010, 03:48 pm

Doesn't that perfectly characterize audio nervosa in its most insidious manifestation? Don't we all seem to be looking for problems all of the time?

Absolutely yes. One hundred percent.
I have actually found myself looking for new ways to find problems I didn't know I may or may not know I have.
Like buying a portable AM radio for the purpose of hovering it near the rear of the A/V rack where the power cords are to see if I'm "leaking".

Dammit.
Then I take my pill and stop worrying about it.

Bob

macrojack · « **Reply #25 on:** 22 May 2010, 04:01 pm »

One pill makes you larger
And one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you
Don't do anything at all
Go ask Alice
When she's ten feet tall

And if you go chasing rabbits
And you know you're going to fall
Tell 'em a hookah smoking caterpillar
Has given you the call
Call Alice
When she was just small

When men on the chessboard
Get up and tell you where to go
And you've just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving slow
Go ask Alice
I think she'll know

When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen's "off with her head!"
Remember what the dormouse said;
"Keep YOUR HEAD

ted_b · « **Reply #26 on:** 22 May 2010, 05:14 pm »

Quote from: macrojack on 22 May 2010, 03:48 pm

Sorry, Ted. My comment wasn't aimed at you, your suggestion, or even really this specific topic. I was responding to Bob's observation about the "main problem with this hobby". He found himself concerned about how best to deal with a problem he didn't know he was having.
Doesn't that perfectly characterize audio nervosa in its most insidious manifestation? Don't we all seem to be looking for problems all of the time?

Sorry, my bad too.

Great time for a little White Rabbit