Common Audio Jacks

When connecting a device to your amplifier, always use digital if it's available. When you use digital, it's unnecessary to also use the left/right analog connectors. There are several key benefits in using the digital connector, including:

1. The audio transmitted from the device to the amplifier will be identical to the content on the device, and therefore will not be translated to analog. This reduces interference from power cords and any other device. It also leverages the digital-to-analog converter in the amplifier, which is generally significantly better quality than that inside the playback device. This is especially true in lower cost devices and computers.
2. Audio that is encoded in a digital standard such as 5.1 channel (Dolby Digital and DTS), 6.1 channel (DTS-ES Discrete), 7.1 channel (Dolby Digital Plus), 8 channel (Dolby TrueHD) must be transmitted to the amplifier in a format that the amplifier can decode. Digital is usually the only practical way to do that. If you connect your device to your amplifier using standard left and right analog cables, you will not get any type of digitally encoded surround. Only the traditional 4.0 channel (left,right,center,rear) Dolby Pro Logic Surround sound.

It doesn't matter whether you use optical or coaxial. So what do you do if you don't have enough matching digital jacks? For example, what if your amplifier only has two optical inputs and two coaxial inputs, but you have three optical and one coaxial playback devices to connect. It may appear as though you are stuck, but you're not. The good news is that there are a few companies that make reasonably-priced optical/coaxial converters. These converters come in both optical-to-coaxial and coaxial-to-optical. So if you don't have enough amplifier inputs of a specific type, you can purchase the right converter for your need. While there are high-end converters available that offer various options and functions (including those from M-Audio), unless you have specialized needs, the basic converters below will suit you and provide perfect digital quality.

Example of Digital Audio Connections

If you are connecting from a coaxial device to an optical amplifier input, then you want this converter:
Dayton Coax to Optical: Dayton at Parts Express
Audio Authority Model 977T: 977T at Audio Authority

If you are connecting from an optical device to a coaxial amplifier input, then you want this converter:
Dayton Optical to Coax: Dayton at Parts Express
Audio Authority Model 977R: 977R at Audio Authority

If you haven't gone digital, now's the time. Get down to your local electronics store or one of the many online outlets and get the cables and converters you need and then listen to what your gear can really do.

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