Why dont headunits/amplifiers.....

[btnhfan 5,000+ posts]

Use digital connections?

Such as digi coax or optical?

It seems to me that would be the next step, with more and more systems have surround sound.

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[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

some do. I think those that have optical outs to go to processesors like the high end alpine and pioneer.

 

[frzninvt 10+ year member]

The Alpine 7939, 7949 and I am not sure about the 7969 all had digitial optical outputs in addition to the AI-Net connections.

 

[JAZN 5,000+ posts]

Pioneer ODR if I'm not mistaken

 

[btnhfan 5,000+ posts]

Yea I guess some headunits do, but do any of the good 5 channel amps?

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

There would have to be a standard for controlling the preamp among all companies. There isn't and until there is, the whole concept is dead in the water. Digital coax and optical are not volume controlled. They are at whatever level the source is. You have to control the volume after the DA conversion. You can also only send digial signals over a digital cable. That leaves you with two options for listening to anything other than CDs or DVD; AD conversion or using RCAs as well.