optical or coaxial audio cable?

I just tested the difference between co-ax and optical cables in my system. I'm running a Denon DVD-2500 to a Rotel RSP-1066 using a Monster Cable fiber-optic interconnect (0.5 M) and a Monster Cable Video 2 interconenct (1.0 M) for the co-ax connection (yes...a video cable for a digital application). The test was using Coldplay's "Parachutes" CD and the RSP-1066 was in PCM mode. The fiber optic cable has been in use for 3 years. The Monster Cable Video 2 interconenct hasn't really seen the light of day.

I could immediately hear a difference, but I thought that perhaps I was somewhat biased since I knew which cable was which, so I had my wife compare the difference. I asked her first to describe the differences between "A" and "B", then to specify which she preferred.

We both preferred the co-ax connection.

I didn't hear a gain difference. Instruments seemed more defined in space. Mind you, the difference was slight, but still noticiable. I've got both cables still attached, so I'll keep testing, too.

Eldartford,

There is an element on the left side of the 1066 display that show whether the active input is "coaxial" or "optical".

I thought about including "analog" in the mix, but all I had was crap RCA cables, and I'm more interested in using the Denon DVD-2500 as a transport, and not use the Denon DACs.

It is the input defined in the OSD.

if you select "optical" with the OSD, and only have a co-ax or analog input, it will *not* default to the next available (valid) input.

Hmmm...interesting. Guess I was wrong. I've never really used the analog out of my digital source into the 1066.

If you have more than one analog input in use, which input will it default to?

Sorry for taking this thread WAY off topic.

Eldartford,

Can you tell a difference in sound between the MULTI inputs and the regular analog inputs? When I was doing my testing (several months ago) I thought that the MULTI inputs sounded better, so I run my turntable through the R/L of the MULTI inputs. According to Rotel, the signal path should be similar, but I thought that I could hear a difference.

Overall, I have been happy with my RSP-1066. For HT, I can't imagine spending any more (unless you really wanted lots of configuration options - crossovers per channel, more granular time delays, etc). As a combined 2 channel / HT pre-amp, it seems to fit my needs.