Difference between digital rca cable and analog rca cable

EDUBAG
EDUBAG Posts: 403
edited February 2011 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Hello guys,

this subject comes from a discussion i held with my stepfather last saturday while listening to some tunes in my place.

He brought me a digital cable, rca to rca so i could hook up my subwoofer. I told him that that is not a sub cable and they were made for digital transfers, he loughed his a.. Off and said that it is the same since they are coaxial cables.

I have been wondering about these anyways since i do not use any digital output (except hdmi), i am a little bit familiar with optical cables but do not know about the digital coaxial.

Please shime in.

Eduardo
HT:
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Post edited by EDUBAG on
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Comments

  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited February 2011
    While it's possible to optimize a cable for one our the other, they're both 75 ohm cable. Check the description on these: http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10236

    Not a recommendation, just an example.
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited February 2011
    In other words, it doesn't need to say, "subwoofer cable" on the package in order to transfer a subwoofer signal. And, I'm just going to throw this out there - while I believe that cables matter, I believe this one matters least.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2011
    The 75ohm specification (correct connectors, shielding, topology) is more closely followed with good digital cables. Analog RCA's are all over the map; some have no shielding, don't use RG-59 or RG-6 (coaxial) topology, etc.

    Any digital cable can be used as an analog cable, but not all analog cables work well for digital.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited February 2011
    ^^^ Yes, I didn't mean to imply I'd use analog ICs for subwoofer connection. Thanks Steve!
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2011
    A digital or analog RCA would be fine for a subwoofer input cable. It's just more important to use a digital cable (properly spec'd) for digital connections.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited February 2011
    mdaudioguy wrote: »
    ^^^ Yes, I didn't mean to imply I'd use analog ICs for subwoofer connection. Thanks Steve!

    Yes, a subwoofer signal IS analog... Doh! :redface:

    So.... What Steve said. :biggrin:
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  • virtualdean
    virtualdean Posts: 286
    edited February 2011
    steveinaz wrote: »
    The 75ohm specification (correct connectors, shielding, topology) is more closely followed with good digital cables. Analog RCA's are all over the map; some have no shielding, don't use RG-59 or RG-6 (coaxial) topology, etc.
    Yep/
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  • K-daugh
    K-daugh Posts: 467
    edited February 2011
    this is good it answers my question that i had in my thread .....thanks everyone
    Budget 5.1 H.T. Set Up
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