2 dvd players to my amp

[sterankin]

I hope someone can help me with this question.

I have a pioneer VSX-D510 home cinema amp, and my pioneer dv350 dvd player is connected to it via the coax cable for dd 5.1/dts etc.

I have just purchased a second dvd player (a cheap one that plays divx/xvid). I want to also connect this to my amplifier, so I have both dvd players going through the speakers. Is there an easy way to do this?

My amp has a couple of digital in sockets on the back, is this the way to go - would I get dd 5.1 etc with this?

Thanks for any advice.

Here is the amp:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_4153_36872_tab=B,00.html?...etailComponent

[yoda313]

Hello,

Simplist way:

Hook the second dvd player up to your second optical input. If you don't have two optical inputs hook up your coaxial cable.

Kevin

[glockjs]

well i have a sony amp but i think its kinda the same type of thing. if you want true digital you could hook one up by optical and the other by coax. but on mine its kind of a pain in the booty to switch back and forth since they are both recognized under video 2. so i just hooked my main dvd player up with the optical and the second one via regular rca and let pro logic do its work on that one and it still sounds pretty good

[edDV]

Quick answer is hook one up coax and the other optical.
Long answer gets into how those inputs are matched to the video selector on your particular system. On my Sony, S/PDIF inputs can be independently assigned to any (but only one ) video source. There is also a separate control to manually select a S/PDIF input to override the analog assigned audio.

[sterankin]

Thanks folks

Looks like I should be able to go one coax and one optical.

Thanks for the help.

[EvilWizardGlick]

Hook one to coax the other to optical. Or buy an Optical switcher from Radio Shack or the net. Radio Shack optical switcher has four in one out.
Or buy a video switcher that has two or more optical in.
http://www.digitalconnection.com/products/video/1154a.asp
Component (Y-Pb-Pr) 4x1 Audio/Video Switcher
"4 Component (3xRCA) Y-Pb-Pr Inputs
4 S/PDIF and Toslink Audio Inputs
4 L+R Analog Audio Inputs
1 Component (3xRCA) Y-Pb-Pr Output
1 S/PDIF and Toslink Audio Output
1 L+R Analog Audio Output
Power Connector and Adapter"

[sterankin]

I finally got around to looking at my amp and connecting both dvd players to it.

My current dvd player is connected via a co-axial cable.

I was planning on using optical for my new dvd player

BUT

On the back of my amp, the optical connection have a small plastic black "plug" in them, it can be removed but there is no connector in it.
It is the same for the optical connection on the back of my new dvd player, it also has a small black plug in it.

How am I supposed to connect the new player to my amp via optical if both have a small plug and no "female" part, if you know what I mean.

Does anyone know what I mean?

[magellan]

You should be able to take out the plugs and plug the cable in directly. On some amps and players I have seen a different type of "plug." These are a kind of spring loaded flap that pivots out of the way when the cable is inserted. Hope this helps.

[sterankin]

The plugs pull out very easily - but it doesnt look like any cable will fit in it - I will check to see any flaps come out too.

Thanks

[bugster]

The plugs pull out very easily - but it doesnt look like any cable will fit in it - I will check to see any flaps come out too.

Thanks

You don't use a cable as such. You need a piece of optic fibre with the relevant plugs on each end. Any decent TV/Video store should have them. SPDIF I think is the correct term fro these type of connections.

[sterankin]

Ahhhhh!

Thankyou!

You mean this kind of cable

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00005AKSO.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

that looks like it would fit the socket when the plug is pulled out. I have never had any experience with this type of cable so its new to me.

How does it compare with coax? I take it sound quality is pretty much the same?

Thanks again

[bugster]

Ahhhhh!

Thankyou!

You mean this kind of cable

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00005AKSO.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

that looks like it would fit the socket when the plug is pulled out. I have never had any experience with this type of cable so its new to me.

Ummm, maybe. Looks slightly different to the ones I have. Have never looked that close tho! If gold ones like that are more expensive than others, get the cheaper one. Gold has no effect on the transfer of light!

How does it compare with coax? I take it sound quality is pretty much the same?
Thanks again

Both are digital connections. Sound quality should be identical, though you will always find some 'enthusiasts' that will argue one is better than the other, and you will find arguments on both sides too!

[magellan]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that it needs to be a fiber optic cable. It looks like the one you linked to is the correct type. I believe they are called TOSLINK cables. When you get the cable it will usually have a rubber cap over each end of the fiber optic part of the cable. Make sure to take these off before connecting. As far as audio quality goes; I use both types of connections in my HT setup, and there is very little difference.