RCA/coax interconnect question.

trubluluc
trubluluc Posts: 2,067
edited January 2006 in Electronics
Ok,I should know this but.....
besides the fact that "Digital Coax" cables are sold individually, instead of being sold in pairs as "Analog" cables are.

Is there any difference really?

-Luc
Post edited by trubluluc on
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  • John K.
    John K. Posts: 822
    edited January 2006
    No, Luc, there actually are no such things as "digital" and "analog" cables. Copper wire carries both digital and analog material without any problem. The standard for digital connections calls for a 75ohm impedance and some "analog" cables have a lower impedance than this, but for digital connections of the length typically used in home audio the impedance mismatch is insignificant.
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  • trubluluc
    trubluluc Posts: 2,067
    edited January 2006
    This confirms what I have always thought, but didn't know for sure.
    To hear Cable manufacturers talk, you would think you were breaking the law not using a "Digital" classified cable for a digital signal.

    -Luc
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2006
    Hold up, there IS a caveat. I have had RCA "analog" IC's that would not work for digital transmission reliably----Audioquest Sidewinder, to name one. My DAC would intermittently loose "lock" with this cable being used as a digital coax. Why? I have no idea, just relaying what I experienced. Just a heads up...

    Video cables will work as a digital coax, but some analog audio cables will not perform reliably.
    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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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,536
    edited January 2006
    http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/digitalanalog.htm
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  • trubluluc
    trubluluc Posts: 2,067
    edited January 2006
    Good Read. THANKS Emlyn!

    So I guess the answer is yes and no. Got to love gray areas.

    If I'm understanding this correctly, if the analog cables are a newer design,
    with tighter tolerances in passing a true 75 ohm signal, then yes,
    analog cables will work fine for digital.
    And do to the tighter tolerances, digital cables will definitely work well for analog signals

    -Luc
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2006
    Your best bet is to get a "dedicated" digital coax. No need to spend a ton of money, see the DH Labs D-75. $69 bucks and highly respected.

    http://www.upscaleaudio.com/product.asp?itemid=356&catid=70
    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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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited January 2006
    John K. wrote:
    No, Luc, there actually are no such things as "digital" and "analog" cables. Copper wire carries both digital and analog material without any problem. The standard for digital connections calls for a 75ohm impedance and some "analog" cables have a lower impedance than this, but for digital connections of the length typically used in home audio the impedance mismatch is insignificant.

    With respect, I will catagorically disagree with you John.

    If I had to pick I would rather use a digital(75 Ohm) cable as an analog jumper before using an analog cable as a digital(75 Ohm) cable.

    HBomb
    ***WAREMTAE***
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited January 2006
    Coathanger that ****.
    Never Forget
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  • bpadget
    bpadget Posts: 65
    edited January 2006
    RG-6 coax is RG-6 coax is RG-6 coax. It will work for either digital or analog. An analog RCA cable is not coax. (edit - should have restricted that to 75 ohm coax)
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  • Lsi9
    Lsi9 Posts: 616
    edited January 2006
    Ive read that a video cable (75ohm standard) is better than using a audio rca cable
    its a coincidence because Iam going through this exact issue today
    after doing optical for awhile I want to go back to Coax...I used to have a XLO coax but no longer,
    think Ill go with a good video cable as a coax

    Audio Physic Scorpio II
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  • goingganzo
    goingganzo Posts: 2,793
    edited January 2006
    video and digital audio is 75 ohm and is inportant to ohm match but audio cables dont matter. you just need a quality one. i used a 75 ohm carana cabble that is custome made for my sub and it is awsome. i will make vid and digital cabbles for any one on the bord for cost +shiping.

    what it cost me is about 1/2 of what sigonal and blue jean for parts. but they proabley get a better price on parts than me.
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  • Lsi9
    Lsi9 Posts: 616
    edited January 2006
    Is Coax audibly better than Optical?

    Audio Physic Scorpio II
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited January 2006
    no LSI9, and vice versa- but it's been said over long runs it's better to use Optical due to rf interference (or something like that)

    cool name btw
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
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    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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