CD out: Digital or Analog?

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.

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!

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

Using the digital out put does provide the oportunity for increased jitter.

Phild & Dan: Analog pass-through means exactly that. Many processors convert an incoming analog signal into a digital signal, process it, then convert it back to an analog signal. The analog by-pass skips this stage. Many newer models have this stage, in order to accomodate SACD and DVD-A inputs. In the absence of a digital input for SACD & DVD-A, this unfortunately is the only way to maintain any integrity of those signals, since they leave the player as analog signals. One of the underlying assumptions for the A/D, then D/A conversion processing was the DAC's in the processor were better than the DAC's in the cd player. Although this can be the case, it creates its own problems. So, in the end, to paraphrase from the real estate business, listen, listen, listen,

heimert, try it both ways and use what you prefer. I'm not that familiar with your B&K, but some similar devices have DSP manipulation that is only availible with a digital signal. Whether or not this manipulation is good or not is controversial.
Porschecab, if you use the analog out you are hearing the DAC built into the CD player. If you use the digital out you hear the DAC in the processor (when properly set up). If you use the analog pass through of the processor you hear the what ever analog signal that was presented to the processor with out (or more likely very little) effect of the processor.

Hi Dan...I think you have it backwards. If you use the analog outs of the CD you are using the D/A converter in the CD, not the preamp. If you use the digital outs, your CD player is nothing more than a transport and your preamp's DACs do the conversion. I'm not sure what analog passthrough means, but I assume you are right...the converted analog signal from your source will pass through as an analog signal and not be converted to digital. I don't know why it would be converted to digital...for HT effects, maybe??

I like to use the digital out if the receiver or processor does analog to digital conversion then digital to analog conversion before sending to the pre-out/amplifiers. If the receiver/processor has analog direct or bypass then I like to use the dac built into the cd player (if it is better quality)and connect it to the receiver via the analog output/input (because I like the MIT sound). I also too use MIT, T2 analog out and T3 Digital to jitterbox then T3 digital out to receiver. Digital In my case Denon DCM560 to Denon 2801. Analog Sony SACD player to Sony TAE-1000ESD pre-amp. The analog method allows me to hear more of the MIT "sound" than the digital, although the T3 digital are much better than the TMAXdigital I had before it. THe digital method does seem to give a lower noise floor in my set-up.

Patrick

What does this mean? If you use the analog out, you are hearing the dacs from the processor, if using digial, you are hearing the dacs from the source? And if a processor has analog pass throughs, this means I am hearing n dacs at all, just directly of the CD direct?

Thanks.
Dan

Just the opposite advice from me, but I'm running into a Theta Casa-Blanca II with superior dacs, (Try it both ways)

It depends on the quality of the DACs in the B&K. Listen to it both ways and see what you think. I've generally found that a quality CD player will sound better on it's analog outputs than through a piece of home theater gear.