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HDMI or SPDIF

L

Lihto

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Joined
Dec 13, 2006
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28
I have HTPC(ABIT F-190HD) that has HDMI and SPDIF.It's connected to Onkyo 7.1 receiver. So my question is it better to connect HTPC throught HDMi or SPDIF? I watch many HD materials and listen to DTS audio(SACD).Which is better HDMI or SPDIF?
 
They're both digital, so assuming neither one does any reprocessing, they'll be the same. If you can do it with HDMI, that'd probably be easier - less cables.

I'm using optical on mine, I had some issues making the HDMI work right and didn't feel like dealing with it. But either will be fine.
 
rogue_jedi said:
They're both digital, so assuming neither one does any reprocessing, they'll be the same. If you can do it with HDMI, that'd probably be easier - less cables.

I'm using optical on mine, I had some issues making the HDMI work right and didn't feel like dealing with it. But either will be fine.
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They are not the same. SPDIF is bandwidth limited. Therefore if going through SPDIF the stream will have to be compressed which will result in a loss of quality. However, HDMI can handle a fully uncompressed audio. Big difference.
 
We all know HDMI is better in terms of tech specs, but all of the HDMI interfaces on computer motherboard and video cards now are limited to what SPDIF does. It either hooks up with a SPDIF jumper, or it uses the SPDIF intermediate sound driver. There would be no difference... unless a HDMI sound card supporting the higher bitrate audio is released.
 
Digital is digital, what goes out is what goes in. The source and the destination are the variables. If the source is the same and the stream is unmolested, it wouldn't make a difference. People tend to think HDMI is better quality, which is not the case. It has more capability and it usually more convenient, but when all things are the same it doesn't make a difference.
 
wolfofsin said:
Digital is digital, what goes out is what goes in. The source and the destination are the variables. If the source is the same and the stream is unmolested, it wouldn't make a difference. People tend to think HDMI is better quality, which is not the case. It has more capability and it usually more convenient, but when all things are the same it doesn't make a difference.
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its NOT the same. HDMI supports lossless audio SPDIF does not have enough bandwidth. Not even optical supports Lossless but I'm not sure about it's bandwidth limitations...

But that said lossless will still need to be decoded at some point. I have not been able to listen to a high end HT system that supports this yet though.

but in case of the OP the above is correct, I do not know of any sound cards that support lossless as of now.
 
Justintoxicated said:
its NOT the same. HDMI supports lossless audio SPDIF does not have enough bandwidth. Not even optical supports Lossless but I'm not sure about it's bandwidth limitations...

But that said lossless will still need to be decoded at some point. I have not been able to listen to a high end HT system that supports this yet though.

but in case of the OP the above is correct, I do not know of any sound cards that support lossless as of now.
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Ok, first off, don't correct someone when what your saying wrong. S/PDIF can do uncompressed and lossless. It is limited to 3.1mb/s tho, There are plenty of 2.0 stereo uncompressed tracks that can be used with an S/PDIF cable/port.
 
Justintoxicated said:
SPDIF does not have enough bandwidth. Not even optical supports Lossless but I'm not sure about it's bandwidth limitations...
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Optical (TOSLINK) is S/PDIF - no different from the RCA cable in functionality. ;)

But anyways. Trepidati0n is right, HDMI has more available bandwidth. However, digital is still digital - assuming the bandwidth is there to support it. On most movies, audio is encoded in Dolby Digital 5.1/DTS - both of which are supported just fine over S/PDIF. Assuming both function properly for you, HDMI is probably the better option - if only because it is one less cable. You are unlikely to notice any difference, though.

If you feed lossless audio into it, yes, HDMI will be better - assuming you are feeding 8 channel lossless audio. S/PDIF can handle 2-channel uncompressed, IIRC, so for most audio applications other than movies, you won't notice. And with movies, as stated, the audio on the movie is already compressed to a format S/PDIF supports.

So, in conclusion: Go HDMI if you can, but don't worry too much about it if you can't.
 
I have Onkyo TX SR-505E+Jamo E680(5.0) and I listen only FLAC,and DTS-Audio. But I can't listen SACD(I get only noise) so I thought if I connect to HDMI that it might work.Has anybody listen SACD on this board?
 
Lihto said:
So no reply?
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Thats cos you have presented very little information and hijacked someone elses thread to sort out your non related issue.

If you need help or ideas, start a new thread.
Also give as much info as possible as for us, its really annoying having to ask all the basic questions. ie what you have tried, how it failed, what you have learnt so far...
 
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