Optical vs. RCA cables for CD players

[kexodusc]

I own a modest Yamaha CD player (can't remember model number). Works fine, but I need to buy new cables for it. Is there any advantage to running an optical cable to the receiver over regular RCA's?

[markw]

The only time I would use optical instead of coaxial is if I ran out of coaxial inputs on the back of my receiver.

By choosing Toslink (optical), you opt for at least two additional stages in the signal path... one to convert electrical energy to light in the source and the other to convert the light back to electrical energy in the target. I am still waiting for someone to convince me this is a good thing.

[kexodusc]

Good point, but I'm not using a coaxial digital cable, I'm talking about your basic stereo left and right, white and red RCA cables vs. an optical cable.
Seems to me a digital coaxial cable would have to do an equivalent conversion to an encoded electrical signal anyway, or else why couldn't we just use normal audio cables to carry discrete digital signals?

[markw]

You cannot use an optical cable for the "analog" audio (Red/White) cables.

You can only use a "digital" optical cable in lieu of a 75 ohm "digital" cable that goes from a source (DVD,CD) before the DAC to a unit that contains a DAC within itself, such as a HT receiver of an expensive pre/pro.

You can, however, use a "digital" RCA cable for an analog signal but there is no inherent improvement to be had by doing so.

Frankly, I cannot even fathom how you would plug a Toslink cable into an analog RCA output...

[kexodusc]

Look dude I didn't think the question was that difficult, but one of us isn't understanding the other.
I have no intention of plugging toslink into an RCA input nor did I mention doing such. Check my posts again.
My Yamaha CD Player clearly has an optical output that an optical cable would presumably carry an audio signal to my Yamaha receiver, straight into the optional CD Optical input.
My question was about the signal quality. Would the optical cable be an improvement over the basic RCA cables?
My CD player does not have a coax digital output just the toslink or rca's.
I'm with you in that I'm not a big fan of toslink either, but I am wondering if it would be better than "good old fashioned" rca's. Clearer now?

[markw]

Would the optical cable be an improvement over the basic RCA cables?

Only if the DAC in the receiver is better than the DAC in the CD player.

I think I aelluded to this in one of my earlier responses.

You can only use a "digital" optical cable in lieu of a 75 ohm "digital" cable that goes from a source (DVD,CD) before the DAC to a unit that contains a DAC within itself, such as a HT receiver of an expensive pre/pro.

You really should express yourself more clearly.

Is there any advantage to running an optical cable to the receiver over regular RCA's?

I'm talking about your basic stereo left and right, white and red RCA cables vs. an optical cable.

Sometimes what we think we say is not actually what we said.

[Willow]

why dont you buy both and try which ever one seems best keep it and return the other one.....go to wallmart they'll take anything back..it says customer satisfaction .....

[markw]

why dont you buy both and try which ever one seems best keep it and return the other one.....go to wallmart they'll take anything back..it says customer satisfaction .....

Excellent suggestion!

[mtrycraft]

why dont you buy both and try which ever one seems best keep it and return the other one.....go to wallmart they'll take anything back..it says customer satisfaction .....

Yes, a good suggestion, but, always a but , one needs to know how to compare so it has meaning. The volume level between the analog and digital signal will be greatly different and cause one to sound different for the wrong reasons without careful volume matching. No, you cannot volume match by ear

[mtrycraft]

I own a modest Yamaha CD player (can't remember model number). Works fine, but I need to buy new cables for it. Is there any advantage to running an optical cable to the receiver over regular RCA's?

Why do you need new cables?
I seriously doubt there will be differences significant enough to worry about. The DACs are pretty much commodity items today, dirt cheap.