Quote Originally Posted by Lexmark3200
What is the major difference between connecting a CD changer or player to a receiver through the analog RCA connections or either the coax or optical digital connections? Is there a major sound difference, and why are CD players even equipped with ANALOG RCA outs if it's a digital appliance? My Marantz CC67 five disc changer is connected digitally to a Marantz DR700 CD recorder, but for SOUND LISTENING purposes, the changer is going to my Onkyo receiver through gold-plated Monster RCA cables....am I losing something by LISTENING to CDs through a player's RCA terminals?
RCA connection means the D to A conversion is happening in the CD player and an analog signal is being sent to the amp.

Toslink or digital Coax means the D to A conversion is occuring in the Amp - assuming you connect the digital stream to an amp.

Whether you are losing anything is debatable. Depends on which unit has the better D to A conversion.

I think you are correct sending the digital signal to the recorder no D to A conversion is happening thus should be no loss in the conversion process - theoretically. You may want to test and see if you prefer the amp D to A conversion or the Cd players by hooking both toslink and RCA to your amp, maybe digial to the CD connector and the RCA to Video 2 or something like that. Then you can switch between the two sources and let your ears decide which sounds better...

Yam