Time to upgrade?? Newbie question regarding optical outputs

layz1 · Jun 9, 2003, 11:19 PM

Hi guys,

Currently I have a Sony receiver hooked up to my SB Live value using the analog outputs, and I'm planning to upgrade my receiver to one that supports optical inputs. My question is regarding which sound card upgrade path I should take.

1. Keep the SB Live, and just get the Hoontech SB DC which allows me to add optical inputs to my SB Live.

2. Just toss the Live, and buy a new Audigy.

Right now I'm only interested in the quality of sound coming through the optical output, and I was wondering if you guys could give me some advice. I know that many of you would recommend the Audigy over the Live, but I was wondering how the optical outputs stacked up against one another. Thanks

Henry.

mike2h · Jun 9, 2003, 11:40 PM

i am not familiar with the hoontech device you mentioned, but i do know from home stereo experience that optical is not always better. in fact i got completley away from toslink & am strictly co-ax. (at&t optical is another matter) like anything there is a difference in quality among various optical devices. the other thing you have is if the sb live is involved in ANY sound processing at all, then that is the sound quality you will get. i do not know if it has any sort of 'direct pass' (i doubt) but even if it did i would be suspicious. if you want the sound quality, upgrade. there are a couple of posts in this forum that will give you very good recs. i would not upgrade just for optical. spend the money on better speakers & better rca cables. got to remeber that your sound is only as good as the weakest link in the chain.

Jun 9, 2003, 11:19 PM	#1
layz1 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	Time to upgrade?? Newbie question regarding optical outputs Hi guys, Currently I have a Sony receiver hooked up to my SB Live value using the analog outputs, and I'm planning to upgrade my receiver to one that supports optical inputs. My question is regarding which sound card upgrade path I should take. 1. Keep the SB Live, and just get the Hoontech SB DC which allows me to add optical inputs to my SB Live. 2. Just toss the Live, and buy a new Audigy. Right now I'm only interested in the quality of sound coming through the optical output, and I was wondering if you guys could give me some advice. I know that many of you would recommend the Audigy over the Live, but I was wondering how the optical outputs stacked up against one another. Thanks Henry.

Jun 9, 2003, 11:40 PM	#2
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,489 Rep Power: 74 System Specs	i am not familiar with the hoontech device you mentioned, but i do know from home stereo experience that optical is not always better. in fact i got completley away from toslink & am strictly co-ax. (at&t optical is another matter) like anything there is a difference in quality among various optical devices. the other thing you have is if the sb live is involved in ANY sound processing at all, then that is the sound quality you will get. i do not know if it has any sort of 'direct pass' (i doubt) but even if it did i would be suspicious. if you want the sound quality, upgrade. there are a couple of posts in this forum that will give you very good recs. i would not upgrade just for optical. spend the money on better speakers & better rca cables. got to remeber that your sound is only as good as the weakest link in the chain.