optical audio cable vs aux ? difference? * PC audio set up *

[jeremyp777]

optical audio cable vs aux ? difference?

i am using a MSI M5 motherboard which i think has a optical input...
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z170A-GAMING-M5.html#hero-overview

and a kanto yu5 speaker which has 2 optical input...
http://www.kantoliving.com/product/yu5/


so what i am wondering here is...

should i use optical cable or aux cable for the best sound quality?

 

[86technie]

Usually if left and right signal only which is Stereo, 3.5mm
will do just fine but however as you are using quite a
decent powered bookshelf speaker.

Get a Creative Soundcard with RCA out for better sound quality.
Majority of Creative Soundcard all comes with this RCA output
which is left and right.

RCA gives full left and right separate channels thus it is better than 3.5mm.
The best soundcard is Creative ZXR at $299 with RCA out.
Can buy online from Creative store or if you live in Jurong can buy from Creative HQ customer service no need to go down to SLS to buy.

http://sg.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-zxr

Since you have such a decent speaker, do consider a sound card upgrade. Onboard audio usually do not sound or perform that good.

 

[jeremyp777]

Usually if left and right signal only which is Stereo, 3.5mm
will do just fine but however as you are using quite a
decent powered bookshelf speaker.

Get a Creative Soundcard with RCA out for better sound quality.
Majority of Creative Soundcard all comes with this RCA output
which is left and right.

RCA gives full left and right separate channels thus it is better than 3.5mm.
The best soundcard is Creative ZXR at $299 with RCA out.
Can buy online from Creative store or if you live in Jurong can buy from Creative HQ customer service no need to go down to SLS to buy.

http://sg.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-zxr

Since you have such a decent speaker, do consider a sound card upgrade. Onboard audio usually do not sound or perform that good.

hi there thanks for the fast reply... ok

1) considering i do not have budget for a sound card... should i use optical input or aux wire input? just a male to male wire.

even so can my speaker to motherboard be plugs with optical cable?

which will provide a better sound quality?


2) i read up about my motherboard and it actually has a very good on board sound card ( was told to me on another forum https://pcpartpicker.com/user/jeremyphay/messages/ , not sure what they say is accurate but i went to the MSI m5 site to check and they seem to have some hd audio thing ) nevertheless i thought about getting a sound card for my CPU too, personally i have very bad expirence with creative... any other sound cards to recommend that can be bought on amazon?

 

[lee-turbo]

optical audio cable is better, i tested my setup, since i have optical n rca , input and output

 

[wwenze]

optical audio cable vs aux ? difference?

The DAC converts digital audio to analogue. Aux means you're using the DAC in your soundcard. Optical means you're using the DAC in the speaker.

And the DAC in the speaker is most likely better than the DAC of motherboard.

Unless you are absolutely positive that you can head a difference between the speaker's DAC and a third party soundcard/DAC, I would stick with optical for the galvanic isolation from the computer. Computer noise can be a real nuisance no matter how good your soundcard is.

 

[jeremyp777]

The DAC converts digital audio to analogue. Aux means you're using the DAC in your soundcard. Optical means you're using the DAC in the speaker.

And the DAC in the speaker is most likely better than the DAC of motherboard.

Unless you are absolutely positive that you can head a difference between the speaker's DAC and a third party soundcard/DAC, I would stick with optical for the galvanic isolation from the computer. Computer noise can be a real nuisance no matter how good your soundcard is.

ok so all i need to do is buy an optical cable plug into my speaker and then plug the other side to motherboard right? nothing special required or etc?

 

[wwenze]

Nothing special. Just buy and plug.