Is it worth it to buy a digital optical audio cable for a PS2

[jpuma1]

I just bought a digital optical audio cable. Radio Shack brand. I did a little research, and found their brand to be just fine for the price, and comparable to other brands out there. I played Indigo Prophecy again, and noticed little, but not great sound difference. I could now here some of the voices better when they were drowned by the music, better than using just regular audio cables from my PS2 official component cables, but I wasn't totally in awe.

Are there any games where it makes a HUGE difference to have optical audio, before I decide to return them?

[kakomu]

It's not the game, and typically not the cables that bring about better audio. It's the speakers and audio system. If you're just changing from RCA to Optical to the same receiver speaker set, I doubt you'll hear that much of a difference (unless you were originally running from stereo and now running 5.1, and even then, most 5.1 tracks are mixed to such minute levels that you really don't hear much of a difference).

[jpuma1]

It's not the game, and typically not the cables that bring about better audio. It's the speakers and audio system. If you're just changing from RCA to Optical to the same receiver speaker set, I doubt you'll hear that much of a difference (unless you were originally running from stereo and now running 5.1, and even then, most 5.1 tracks are mixed to such minute levels that you really don't hear much of a difference).

oh yeah, forgot to add that part, thanks for reminding me. I have a Sony 5.1 surround system hooked up to my tv that i use for gaming. But now, the optical cable directly connects my PS2 to my 5.1 system.

[Vegan]

An analog connection isn't necessarily worse than a digital one. DVD-Audio, for example, will ONLY use analog.

[gamereviewgod]

Very few PS2 games actually use 5.1. I remember Sled Storm being one (with DTS). The other few use the extra audio during cinematics, which was supposed to be the only time the console could do it.

[Vinny]

A lot of PS2 games only support hardware ProLogic II, which means that your receiver must be able to decode ProLogic II. It should have a little label in the front if it does (there's also ProLogic, which is different from ProLogic II).

ProLogic II is a more simple surround sound... you get 5 channels but ProLogic II was meant to be carried over regular RCA cables and then decoded by hardware (receiver) into 5 separate channels. It can still be used with an optical cable just fine of course, but if you want to notice real surround sound than you'll have to get a game with Dolby Digital 5.1 support and the only PS2 game that I know of that supports that is MGS2 (only during the cut-scenes though).

[kakomu]

I guess the only difference you'll notice may be less noise in the signal (greater clarity) due to the TV not adding any hissing or sound.

[Zing]

Return them. There are very rare instances in very few games where 5.1 surround is used. The rest of the time, you are just receiving a normal stereo signal that will sound the same as your analog cables.

[Zoglog]

you have no other option if you want dolby 5.1 on the Console =p. And yes Optical cables are better than RCA.

[Ecofreak]

I didn't know such cables existed.

[thagoat]

i have the digital optical cable for my ps2, but i bought it just to watch movies on the ps2 in dolby and dts. i know madden 2006 has some type of dolby in it but i dont know if its 5.1. i have a 7.1 that decodes dts-es and dolby ex. it sounds good.

[TheShiz]

only real use is for dvds in 5.1 surround, otherwise not needed. but it is good to have an optical cable around just in case you need it

[redgopher]

There is a significant boost in audio quality when using optical cables.

[sarausagi]

It's not the game, and typically not the cables that bring about better audio. It's the speakers and audio system. If you're just changing from RCA to Optical to the same receiver speaker set, I doubt you'll hear that much of a difference (unless you were originally running from stereo and now running 5.1, and even then, most 5.1 tracks are mixed to such minute levels that you really don't hear much of a difference).

What? No, not at all. The more you can hook up through a digital source [coaxial, optical] the better

Less interference
No jitter
No noise

Better yet, your chance of ground loops disappears completely, which is important if you're doing anything analog or hooking up a PC to your receiver..

It's worth it alone for the higher sound quality on DVD [even with virtual surround or Dolby 2.0, but if you have an optical hook up, most likely you can do 5.1] and less wires [1 versus 2]