Digital Coaxial or Digital Optical?

[renedecandia]

Anyone got an opinion on which is better, and which brand to get (Monster or Crest)?

[thornton melon]

They both do the job,I have used both,I now have a PRISM coaxial which I paid $180 for and sounds bloody great connected to my ONKYO receiver,but I would'nt say it was $140 better than my old Dick Smith optical one
Some say on longer runs of cable coaxial as better

[Rick]

Digital Coaxial or Digital Optical?

I really don't think there is a discernable difference in sound quality between the two. Go with the one that your equipment now and in the future will support.

and which brand to get (Monster or Crest)?

without getting into a debate about expensive cables making a lot of difference, (I'm sure analogue cables do ) I'm of the opinion that with an optical cable the difference would be less obvious. Having said that , the connections should probably be better on a quality cable than an ultra-cheapie.

My 2c anyway, bring on the flames ;)

Rick.

[19Hz]

Digital images and audio have the 'Cliff Effect'. That being they work to a point, then after that, will stop working (too many errors).

For a short run, either will likely do an identical job (only difference is errors).
For a longer run, Optical (TOSLINK - Not made of glass like in telecoms) is does not cut the quality, so Co-Ax is the way to go.

I have not heard a difference between both connections.

[byrons mate]

i once asked this question when i was shopping around and in the one store got about an even 50/50 split from the staff.

most did agree though that unless you were playing with very top end gear over longer distances you wont know the difference and a good $40 to $75
cable was more than sufficient.

one point that made sense to me (many will disagree and please , prove me wrong) was that with optical, the reciever has to do more processing (with more links in the chain ) to convert optical signal to audio.

i have mid range gear , have used both and couldnt tell the difference , even with a dts signal.

there is my 2c also.

[thornton melon]

Sound about right to me

[renedecandia]

I'm not playing over long distances (2m max) and my equipment isn't highend.

Current setup is:
Philips 32PF9966 LCD
Harman/Kardon DVD22 DVD player
KEF KHT2005.2 surround speakers
Philips DFR9000 AV Receiver

I'm going to go with coaxial as a guy at work has had two opticals break on him.