I have a JVC KD-Dv500 head unit. It plays everything, including dvd's. It is dolby 5.1 ready, w/ the digital toslink output. I am looking at a PhoenixGold 5.1 amp for everything except my sub, that has the toslink input. SO, my question is, it I hook up the head unit to the amp with the digital cable, would I still need to use RCA's, or does the digital cable take the place of them?

MattB

im not 100% sure but it makes sence that the digital cable replaces the RCAs

An amp with a digital in? Need a link here.

You will still need some sort of volume control as well, since once you go to digital, the analog control is no longer of use. Only way past this would be if the amp has one built in. Otherwise, it would be pure gain.

The amp has the digital input AND rca input. It is a Phoenix Gold Octane-R 5.1MT.

http://www.phoenixgold.com/2004/octane-ramps.html

I sent Phoenix Gld an email, but no reply so far..

MattB

Yeah, I did some research on it yesterday. I would believe the on-board DSP will have some sort of volume control.

Guy from Phoenix Gold said that the dig. cable would control the signal and volume, but, depending on if my head unit converts my am/fm to digital or not, would determine if I needed rca's for that. He also said that people are using this amp just for its 5.1 feature. He said most customers use a separate 4ch. amp for powering loudspeakers. The amp is rated at 18w x5 @ 12v., and 50x5 @ 13.8v. (rms), and peaks at 100 x5. Is 50w too little for the speakers? I am planning on a 400x1 sub amp.

MattB