Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater ? regarding analog and digital playback using CD's

It all depends on the DAC's in the source player. If you were using a $1000 plus audiophile DVD player I would suggest letting that unit perform the DAC and use the analog outputs (5.1) Built into the price of an expensive unit are, among other things, a real nice set of DAC's.

I doubt the Sony's DAC's are near the quality of the 525.

So it's only converted by the receiver when connected by the digital cable, correct?

If so, when would the signal be converted using the DVD player DAC? I.E what types of connections.....

Either 1. using 2 L-R RCA analog cables for the front L-R channels for 2 channel audio or 2. using 6 (5 plus 1 for sub) analog cables to decode the DD 5.1 signal. Those would go to your 5.1 channel inputs on the back of the 525

final question, and I appreciate the help.

I see the RCA type of cables on the back of the HK for the analog hook up for 5.1- 7.1. However, I have never seen this many outs on the back of a DVD player (I haven't gotten the sony yet, xmass present). Are they common on DVD players? I was curious until you responded to my posts what they were used for on the receiver, since I had never seen a DVD with those amount of outs to match the ins on the receiver.

Correct. The DVD player's DACs are used when its analog jacks are used (either the 2 L-R jacks, or if you have a DVD-A or SACD player, the 5.1 jacks).

If the DVD player has a built in Dolby Digital decoder it should have the 6 channel analog outs (FL,FR,C,SL,SR,SW). Also if the DVD player supports DVD-Audio or SACD it definaltely will have analog outputs for 6 channels.

My Pioneer 563A has those plus an extra set of FL and FR analog outs specifically for 2 Channel music because it decodes SACD.

lots of the cheaper DVDs do not have the seperate channel outs. The are becoming more common though, even in cheaper models.

Not sure if the 525 can do this or not, but I can use the analog output of my dvd player for two channel audio, and the optical output for movies. The 1066 remembers that when I select "CD" to use the analog, and when I select "Video 3" to use the optical. That way if my dvd player's DAC's sound better than my 1066's, I can take advantage of them for two channel audio, and still use the optical output for Dolby Digital soundtracks.

Did that make any sense?

Yes, the 525 does this.

Y, your original question appears to be based mainly on possible differences between the DACs in the player and in the receiver. DACs cost the equipment manufacturers roughly $1-$10 apiece and have reached a high state of excellence. Although there are measurable differences between them, it's highly doubtful whether they create audible differences in the real world. My view is not to be concerned about the matter, and if you're using the coaxial digital connection, continue to do so.