Do I really need optical out on my DVD player?

[SNOW4ME]

I'm looking at a Panasonic 5-disc DVD player DVD-F87. It is recommended by Consumers reports but it doesn't have an optical out. The other one I am looking at is the sony DVP-NC85H. It does have an optical out and is also HDMI. My tv doesn't accept HDMI and my stereo doesn't have optical in so I could get by fine with the panasonic for now. I thought it would be a good idea to get the Sony just in case I upgraded the TV or stereo later but my friend is steering me away from Sony since he says they are junk. What do I do? The price difference is no big deal, not that much to sway a decision.

Thanks

[ruadmaa]

I would tend to agree with your friend. I have had far too many Sony products that failed just shortly after the warrantly period was up. I no longer will buy their products.

[57U]

If there is no optical out, I'm pretty sure it'll have a coaxial digital audio connector, which is "just as good", provided you have a coaxial input on your AV Receiver.

[provenflipper]

As long as your reciever (current and future) has a digital coax input then I would say you are fine. I have the Sony DVPNS85h and I have it hooked up via digital coax and it sounds great. I've never been able to tell the difference between optical and digital coax as far as sound quality is concerned.