From: Christopher Woods <christof_at_infinitus.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2006 19:17:01 -0000

The optical (at least out) of the H1x0 series is very much optical - with
red laser light - audio. I have a special optical cable which has flippable
ends so I can connect my device to both types of optical socket (for e.g. I
have an audio interface for my laptop which uses TOSLink sockets, but my
H140's optical in and out sockets are of course, like on your H120, the
'regular' sockets which accept the mini-toslink 3.5mm jacks). I can't
remember where I got my cable from, I think it was Maplin - see the links
below for a couple of pics. It really is a handy cable.

http://stuff.totallysucks.co.uk/opticalcable-bothends.jpg
http://stuff.totallysucks.co.uk/opticalcable-flippableconnector.jpg

Basically, to swap the ends, you just (gently, no force required) pull the
outer casing away from the cable a bit - in the direction the actual
connector is facing. That brings the other side of the flippable connector
out of its home, and you can just swivel the head around. Let go, it pops
back into place.


You can't just plug coax (SPDIF) into optical, you need some kind of
converter. Of course, that's where some audiophiles get really anal about
what kind of circuity you use, what components... But you can pick up a OPCO
(optical -> coax) or COOP (coax -> optical) converter for around 20 quid.
Examples... OPCO:
http://www.lektropacks.com/view_item.php?product=87&&category=21 , COOP:
http://www.lektropacks.com/view_item.php?product=86&&category=21 . Not
pimping that site or anything in particular, was just the first relevant
result on a Google. Probably end up buying one of both myself, handy little
buggers to have around methinks.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brent Harding [mailto:bharding_at_doorpi.net]
> Sent: 08 November 2006 04:53
> To: Rockbox
> Subject: Iriver H120, SP Dif or optical?
>
> I could've had a 320 or 340 on Ebay, but I decided at the
> time I received their phone call alert not to bid because I
> wanted to try for the 120/140.
> If I could use the digital out off my sound card into that
> 120 I bought, it could solve problems I have recording with
> the stereo mix In the specs of the H120 as I found them they
> mention optical and SP dif being the same, like optical (sp
> dif). I thought they were 2 different digital connection
> standards. My Turtle Beach Montego DDL has SP dif in and out
> on it, according to the volume settings in Windows. Would I
> need an adapter to be able to record the digital sound card
> output on the Iriver? I was hoping that, since stereo mix
> records bad quality for some reason, that the hardware
> digital out would be as good as what I hear out the speakers
> when playing anything but stereo mix recordings.
>
>
>
>
Received on 2006-11-08