Dumb question of the day

EndersShadow
EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
edited January 2012 in 2 Channel Audio
Can you use a RCA IC in place of a coaxial cable? I will have an extra EXp1 cable. If you can I will use it to replace the cheap Monoprice one I have right now between my computer and the HK3490 in the office.

I apologize for the simplicity of this question, but its Friday and my head hurts lol...
"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited January 2012
    Some will say yes, so will say no. A coax is supposed to use a tru 75 ohm cable for best performance. I have used a regular RCA and a true 75 ohm RCA and really noticed no difference. So I say yes, try it. You can't harm anything.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2012
    I'm assuming you're talking about a digital coaxial cable?

    If so, H9 is right, 75 ohms. Some analog IC's are 75ohm; some aren't. It won't hurt anything, and might do great!


    The only thing I'd be unsure about in your particular case is the articulation poles in that MIT cable. MIT doesn't use that type of pole in their digital coax cables.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited January 2012
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    I'm assuming you're talking about a digital coaxial cable?

    If so, H9 is right, 75 ohms. Some analog IC's are 75ohm; some aren't. It won't hurt anything, and might do great!


    The only thing I'd be unsure about in your particular case is the articulation poles in that MIT cable. MIT doesn't use that type of pole in their digital coax cables.

    Gotcha, well I will have some Signal Cable IC's as well (the MIT's are replacing them) so I will give both a shot and see which I like better till I get a USB DAC.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2012
    Depends on how close to 75ohm they spec. I CAN tell you that Kimber HERO is an AWFUL digital cable....LOL Talk about flubby bass and rolled off treble...sheesh....and people say bits is bits and wire is wire; you'd have to be deaf to not hear how awful it was. But Hero is fantastic as an RCA analog wire.

    If the RCA's are typical coaxial cable (RG-59/58 or RG-6), they should work fine--if they are some other topology---good luck.

    Buy you a belden 1694A from blue jeans for $12 and be done with it--it's an EXCELLENT dig cable IME.
    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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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited January 2012
    Wow, I didn't know you could do this.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2012
    Most analog cables vary too much in impeadance to work well with digital. Well--I mean---they'll work, but they can sound like poo-poo.

    Digital cables will always work with analog, but not always well the other way around.

    STRICTLY MY OPINION:
    I've found most coaxial type analog cables to be strident and cold sounding--never cared much for them.
    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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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited January 2012
    steveinaz wrote: »
    Depends on how close to 75ohm they spec. I CAN tell you that Kimber HERO is an AWFUL digital cable....LOL Talk about flubby bass and rolled off treble...sheesh....and people say bits is bits and wire is wire; you'd have to be deaf to not hear how awful it was. But Hero is fantastic as an RCA analog wire.

    If the RCA's are typical coaxial cable (RG-59/58 or RG-6), they should work fine--if they are some other topology---good luck.

    Buy you a belden 1694A from blue jeans for $12 and be done with it--it's an EXCELLENT dig cable IME.

    Steve, you are self admittedly deaf :razz::cool::cheesygrin:
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2012
    True Dat! and even I heard it!
    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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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited January 2012
    Anyone know if Signal Cable's Analog 2's are close to the 75ohm spec? I would be using either one of those or the MIT EXp1.

    And no I dont have the MIT's yet so I cant pull the Signals from my rig to test lol.....
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2012
    It's a coaxial design, so it should work fine.
    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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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited January 2012
    steveinaz wrote: »
    It's a coaxial design, so it should work fine.

    Rock on. Anythings better than Monoprice :wink:
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2012
    Just FYI, most Component Video cables are 75ohm, because HD video requires higher tolerances. A single Component Video cable will work.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited January 2012
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    Just FYI, most Component Video cables are 75ohm, because HD video requires higher tolerances. A single Component Video cable will work.

    Yeah, only problem is all mine are in sets of 3 (and they are Monster :devil:) so it would be a PITA to run them lol. I think I will just wait and try the Signal Cable one......
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited January 2012
    EndersShadow wrote: »
    Can you use a RCA IC in place of a coaxial cable? I will have an extra EXp1 cable. If you can I will use it to replace the cheap Monoprice one I have right now between my computer and the HK3490 in the office.

    I apologize for the simplicity of this question, but its Friday and my head hurts lol...

    I got one for ya Dan, you have a pm.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited January 2012
    pepster wrote: »
    I got one for ya Dan, you have a pm.

    PM replied...... :wink:
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2012
    Fyi, the custom solidcore silver digital cable pep made me is the best I've heard to date.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited January 2012
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    Fyi, the custom solidcore silver digital cable pep made me is the best I've heard to date.

    He's sending me a surprise.... literally I dont know what brand but if he says its good I will take him at his word :smile:
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited January 2012
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    Fyi, the custom solidcore silver digital cable pep made me is the best I've heard to date.

    Thanks Ben, much appreciated!
    Its not my hand built, but its free and it is pretty good.
    I think Dan will be very satisfied with it.:cheesygrin:
    Testing
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,966
    edited January 2012
    Yep, Pep is da man. Have one of his power cables too, just as good as the other upgraded ones I have.

    Incidently Pep, just so you know, I voted for you to be Polk member of the year but Heiney[Brock] had his goons rigging the election process ala Saprano style.:cheesygrin: There's always next year bro, you have my vote.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited January 2012
    tonyb wrote: »
    Yep, Pep is da man. Have one of his power cables too, just as good as the other upgraded ones I have.

    Incidently Pep, just so you know, I voted for you to be Polk member of the year but Heiney[Brock] had his goons rigging the election process ala Saprano style.:cheesygrin: There's always next year bro, you have my vote.

    LOL!
    Thanks Tony!
    Brock is a very knowledgeable fellow (more so than myself:cheesygrin:).
    Testing
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    Testing
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited January 2012
    tonyb wrote: »
    Yep, Pep is da man. Have one of his power cables too, just as good as the other upgraded ones I have.

    Incidently Pep, just so you know, I voted for you to be Polk member of the year but Heiney[Brock] had his goons rigging the election process ala Saprano style.:cheesygrin: There's always next year bro, you have my vote.

    They are on my list of tweaks once I get my IC's and wires finalized.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited January 2012
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    Fyi, the custom solidcore silver digital cable pep made me is the best I've heard to date.

    I tried to find out how good they are but I must be on his bad guy list..:eek:
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited January 2012
    Not hardly Larry!:cheesygrin:
    I always stay a little behind on my cables.
    Can't seem to catch up.
    Just can't make any promises at this point.:redface:
    Testing
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited January 2012
    pepster wrote: »
    Not hardly Larry!:cheesygrin:
    I always stay a little behind on my cables.
    Can't seem to catch up.
    Just can't make any promises at this point.:redface:

    I know and believe me I understand I only posted to give you a hard time. LOL!!
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2012
    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    I know and believe me I understand I only posted to give you a hard time. LOL!!

    Haha you sombitches are a riot!
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited January 2012
    steveinaz wrote: »
    Depends on how close to 75ohm they spec...If the RCA's are typical coaxial cable (RG-59/58 or RG-6), they should work fine--if they are some other topology---good luck.
    Exactly.
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  • codyc1ark
    codyc1ark Posts: 2,532
    edited January 2012
    As long as were thread jacking, I'm putting 27% of the blame on my current system issue on Paul, and 73% on ES, ****.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited January 2012
    codyc1ark wrote: »
    As long as were thread jacking, I'm putting 27% of the blame on my current system issue on Paul, and 73% on ES, ****.

    Hey now, I proposed a way to test your system issues to see if its your source or not lol.... I should get CREDIT for how AWESOME your system is going to sound :wink:
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • codyc1ark
    codyc1ark Posts: 2,532
    edited January 2012
    EndersShadow wrote: »
    Hey now, I proposed a way to test your system issues to see if its your source or not lol.... I should get CREDIT for how AWESOME your system is going to sound :wink:


    Errr... I had a typo there, your only getting the small end, Paul gets the big stick!
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited January 2012
    :biggrin:
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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