optical vs analog

[lowfat]

I bought a JVC RX-6042 receiver for my computer, to replace my Z680s. However i have a dilemma. The receiver doesn't support 192KHz/24-bit PCM through SPDIF, but it does support it through analog.

I am using a pair of Athena AS-B1 speakers,a Paridigm 8" subwoofer, and am using the Wolfson DAC on a Chaintech AV-710. So in order to use the 192KHz,24-bit sound i need to use analog, is there much of difference between digital and analog sound? Should i buy a reciever that supports 129KHz/24-bit sound SPDIF?

[Randyman...]

What 192KHz source material do you have anyway? Likely little to none. Stick with your SPDIF connection to your reciever, and you should be fine. Most A/V Recievers handle 96K/24Bit SPDIF signals w/o any issues - and that is plenty of data (Nyquist was right after all - no need for 192KHz sampling AT ALL!!!).

If you go analog out of the PC, and analog into the Reciever, you will be converting from Digital to Analog at the PC, and then from analog back to digital at the Reciever (unless the reciever has an analog pass-thru like my Sony STR-DA777ES does, thank you). I'd bet the bank that your A/V reciever has a better DAC than the PC's soundcard (unless you are using RME or simular Audio cards like I do ;) ), so use the reciever's superior DAC's to your advantage by staying digital from the PC to the Reciever...

There are TONS and TONS of white papers and stuff about how 192KHz rates are really manufacturer driven, and the "Push" to 192KHz is nothing more than a marketing scheme to get you to replace non-192K capable gear with new gear. I'd be glad to post some links to wise Audio minds of people like Dan Lavry (Makes the best converters on the planet costing $4000 or more), Nika Aldrich (a mathematical/digital audio mastermind), and a plethora of others who debate 192KHz's worthiness (all it does is waste bandwidth across the board and actually INCREASE errors!)... 44.1KHz is actually completely adequate with fantastic DA conversion (and fantastic initial AD conversion during the recording sessions). Don't believe the hype :)

Rock On :cool:

[lowfat]

The reciever handles 96KHz/24-bit DTS but linear PCM. :( but if 44.1KHz is fine for most parts, i'll guess i'll keep the receiver.

[james.miller]

sample rates are over rated (lol). if your listening to cd's, nothing beats bit perfect.