CD out: Digital or Analog?

For me, the type of gear I have owned, analog has always been a noticable improvement. Which really stinks because with a dvd/cd combo things would be cheaper if I only had to buy the digital verses digital and analog cables.

As always, just try.

Marty

For those above who seem a little confused when it comes to the difference between analog and digital signals, just remember this: Please to do not attempt to take a digital output from a player and run it into an analog input on your processor/preamp/reciever (a digital output will be just a single connection containing all channels, not separate L/R, etc.). You definitely do not want to feed your amplifiers, speakers, or ears an unconverted digital datastream!

There is a 'stereo direct' mode on the B&K202 - you must select this mode if you want to use your CD player's DAC. Otherwise, all signals (ie. digital and analog) will be processed by the B&K's DSP's.

In the case of an analog connection, the signal is passed through the A to D converter AND then to the receiver's D to A converter. In other words, using analog cables does not automatically mean that you're bypassing the receiver's DAC's UNLESS you select the 'stereo direct' mode. At least, this is my understanding. Note that the 'stereo direct' mode disables bass management so if you have a subwoofer hooked up, you won't be able to use it in this mode.