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    HDMI or Toslink audio?

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by jooooeee, Jun 4, 2008.

  1. jooooeee

    jooooeee Stealth in disguise

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    What will give me better sound quality?
     
  2. Wiz33

    Wiz33 Notebook Deity

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    What are you trying to do? HDMI is just DVI with audio, it's for sending the signal to a TV (stereo) or AV receiver (5.1/7.1 depends on receiver). If you are not using an AV receiver and going into a set of multi channel PC speakers. Your best bet is to use a mini-plug to toshlink optical cable if you speakers have onboard decoder and accept optical input. If not, then your best bet would be a PCMCIA/Expresscard or USB audio card. For the short distance usually there is not difference in sound quality. Optical is cleaner if you go long distance in a EM heavy envoirment.
     
  3. jooooeee

    jooooeee Stealth in disguise

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  4. Wiz33

    Wiz33 Notebook Deity

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    HDMI into the TV and optical into the Sony should work fine.
     
  5. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

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    Same quality probably they can both send different kinds of audio but chances are its going to be the same if its from the same piece of equipment.
     
  6. agent007

    agent007 Notebook Consultant

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    Does that mean both the TV and the Sony would have two separate audio signals? One from the HDMI and the other from the optical?
     
  7. Wiz33

    Wiz33 Notebook Deity

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    Yea but I would assume that you won't be using the speaker from the TV
     
  8. Tusin

    Tusin Notebook Evangelist

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    Ok, first off go return that HDMI "conversion" kit. Unless for some reason your TV does not support it's highest resolution over component. Xbox 360 does output up to 1080p over component. You are not gaining any quality using that "conversion" kit. It is more likley that you will lose some.

    I won't get to techie. But your 360 has analog hd video out only (which is actually just fine, yes HDMI is "better", but most cannot tell a difference). So now you just bought a cheap Analog (Component) to Digital (HDMI) converter. Anytime you do a conversion you lose quality. How much depends on how good of a DA/AD you have. If you have a somewhat decent HDTV, I can promise you that it's converter is much better then that.

    Oh and to answer your question. You would use the Toslink cable and go direct to your amp. Just make sure you turn the speakers off on your TV.