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Thread: Archive through April 14, 2005 |
    
Proximo |
| Posted on Sunday, December 22, 2002 - 04:00 pm: |
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What's the difference between digital coaxial cable and regular rca audio cable?
I'm wondering if I can use a left over Monster Cable rca audio cable, instead of getting a digital coaxial cable to connect my dvd to my receiver. |
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Relevant Product Info
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Anonymous |
| Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 04:09 am: |
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Aren't rca cables the same as coaxial cables? |
Al Holland |
| Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 08:33 am: |
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A coaxial cable is an RCA cable. You can use an RCA audio cable, video cable or one labeled as coaxial.
Just because it says coaxial does not always make it better.
I have had excellent results with all of them.
Use the Monster, it will not do harm and later you can try a coaxial to see if there is a difference in sound. If not then return it. |
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| Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 09:29 am: |
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I need 45 ft of digital coaxial cable to hook a computer to stereo reciever. would you know where i could find this |
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| Posted on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 11:38 am: |
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Bill Young mentioned a 45 ft digital coaxial cable. Are there any length limitation on a digital coaxial? |
SPALAW |
| Posted on Monday, March 17, 2003 - 12:50 pm: |
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I just went through the same issue of "what's the difference between digital coaxial cable and regular RCA cable or even digital RCA cable (not labled coaxial)." Sales guys at the stores always tell you that you have to have something labled "coaxial," but I think they generally don't know what they are talking about. Nonetheless, I ended up taking the cautious approach and bought a digital coaxial cable, even though it was more expensive and I really don't notice any difference from the audio digital RCA cable that I had. |
Tim |
| Posted on Friday, March 28, 2003 - 01:09 pm: |
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The difference between a used car salesman and a computer/appliance salesman is that the used car salesman *knows* that he's lying. |
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| Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2003 - 08:11 pm: |
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How would I know if the digital link to my receiver is working, doing any thing? Should I unplug the audio L&R cables?
I'm using a Sony dvp-s330 and a BOSE Lyfestyle 300. |
buzbug |
| Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 04:23 pm: |
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Coaxial digital cables look on the surface like standard analog RCA cables; however, you should avoid using a standard audio interconnect to transfer a coaxial digital signal. Cables engineered specifically to pass a digital signal provide 75-ohm impedance and wider frequency bandwidth, ensuring superior signal transfer. |
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| Posted on Monday, August 25, 2003 - 08:24 pm: |
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Do you mean by "superior signal transfer" that "analog" cables (50-ohm) as opposed to "digital" cables (75-ohm) might send 0 .9 0 .9 0 .9 instead of 0 1 0 1 0 1? 
I agree with what I have read that for short distances it shouldn't matter. For 45 feet, well, thats another thing all together. |
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| Posted on Wednesday, October 08, 2003 - 09:29 am: |
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Can I run coaxial digital audio over one pair of a cat5 cable? Or more precisely, what kind of distance could I expect?
I know I could use pipe cleaners or metal twisties if the distance is short enough, but I've got to run it from one end of the house to the other.. Has anyone experimented with PCM audio over twisted pair? |
latebeat |
| Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 10:50 am: |
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There's absolutely no difference in the audio quality whatever medium you use for a D-I-G-I-T-A-L connection! Digital connections either work or don't (contrary to analaog). So you could have used your ordinary rca cable. |
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 03:13 pm: |
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The only advantage of using a true Coax cable is the advantage of shielding. We use RG-6 Quad Shield cable with compression RCA connectors on the ends and have had great results, especially with long runs in-wall to subwoofers. (I know it's not a digital signal to the sub, but it works great by the way.) Also although there is a minor impedence missmatch, many of the custom installs done have Coax rather than regular audio cables run for in-wall CL3 rating purposes and they sound great to.
Jay Smith [Cable Guys, Inc. / Oklahoma City] |
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| Posted on Sunday, December 07, 2003 - 02:23 pm: |
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Digital Coaxial Cable is nothing but another scam they have fed us for sometime! ... You pay up $$$ and think you did the right thing while they are laughing and saying "what a great way to sell crap to people"!!!
Save your money as the difference is so insignificant that in reality it should have never made it to the market. You have one option and that is the regular RCA cable!!! |
New member Username: Tnixon
Post Number: 1
Registered: 12-2003
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| Posted on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 03:59 pm: |
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I have a 25 ft RCA cable (not "digital") connecting my PC's sound card to my receiver...digital output from sound card to digitial input on receiver. Every few minutes, while listening to music, the sound cuts out for a half-second. I can't find the cause. Should I consider getting a digital cable for that distance? What's confusing is that I also have two speakers plugged directly into the sound card headphone jack and the music plays fine..it only cuts out on the digital connection. Any ideas? |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Monday, December 29, 2003 - 01:53 pm: |
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I have a Logitech/THX Z-680 surround sound system with 4 inputs on the control pod, one of them being 'Digital Coaxial". It is only a single input. Does that one digital coaxial cable carry 5.1 sound? |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Friday, January 02, 2004 - 03:55 pm: |
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I have just purchased a Packard Bell 5.1 Digital theater system. Connected to my pc the receiver box seems to get rather hot is this normal as i have never had a digital external box before. Also i am using stardard RCA cable into the coaz would this have anything to do with it any suggestions i would be grateful. |
Juan Soziah Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Saturday, January 03, 2004 - 12:54 am: |
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How can I hook my dvd player up to a tv that doesn't have rca jacks? Do I need to get a converter or is there a cable that will do it? |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Saturday, January 03, 2004 - 09:26 am: |
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Scart cable might be an option |
Juan Soziah Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Saturday, January 03, 2004 - 02:36 pm: |
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? |
New member Username: Susieq
Post Number: 4
Registered: 12-2003
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| Posted on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 01:53 pm: |
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I have a new receiver that has a built in dvd that has 5.1 and dolby digital capabities and a satelitte receiver. What cable do I need to get all this. I already have a RCA audio cable on hand do I really need a digital cable? Please help. Thanks, Sue |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 03:04 pm: |
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how can I connect a 5.1 receiver without digital inputs (only 6xRCA for 5.1), in a DVD player with coaxial output? |
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| Posted on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 03:38 pm: |
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scart, buy one from ur local electronics store |
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| Posted on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 03:40 pm: |
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i dont think you can plug it in i havent seen or heard of an adapter for 6 rca's into one coax |
Odysseas Gr Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 04:12 pm: |
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You think that Scart from DVD player to 6xRCA input in my receiver will give me real Surround? |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 12:32 am: |
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Sorry for the tangent, but I hope somebody can point me in the right direction... I have a digital audio coax connection from my cable box that I need to hook up to my old home theater system, which only has analog RCA audio connections. I've been able to find analog-to-digital converters, but no digital-to-analog converters. Any help would be much appreciated. |
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| Posted on Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 09:02 am: |
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I am very surprised that your cable box doesn't have analogue audio outputs.
If you have a second scart output from your cable box, you can get a scart to audio output lead from maplin which will hook up to your old system.
If you only have one scart socket then get a scart splitter also from maplin that makes your single scart socket into a shared dual socket and then plug in your new lead.
If you want a d/a conveter then possibly use a minidisc player. Pressing record without a minidisc in the recorder starts the recorder in d/a mode only. I have used this technique on a sony standalone hifi separate.
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joe8888 Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 09:30 pm: |
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i have a dvd player with digital coaxial output but my stereo only has analog input is there anyway i can hook them up together i have looked for a digital coaxial to a 5.1 analog convertor does anyone have an answer |
Freely, I.P. Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 06:35 pm: |
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My reciever has two inputs, toslink & digital coaxial. I'm told only those inputs can play 5/6.1 surround. If I use an RCA cable as my "digital coax" will I still be able to play 5.1 surround? |
Gita dasi Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 05:10 pm: |
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I have an Archos Jukebox Recorder 20 who's analog just stopped working. The Archos guys aren't much help. How can I get it to record in w/ the RCA digital cable? I think I've even mixed it up accidently w/ my red and white analog cables! |
New member Username: Bradolson
Post Number: 1
Registered: 02-2004
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| Posted on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 11:35 pm: |
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I use a red standard RCA cable in the coaxial audio output from my DVD player to the coaxial input to the receiver and I do get DD sound. |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Saturday, February 07, 2004 - 10:25 am: |
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i want to move my subwoofer about 80 ft away from my receiver wat is the best way to cable it. |
Craig Geesley Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 05:14 am: |
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Use heavy gauge figure 8 speaker cable Russ you should be fine |
Craig Geesley Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 05:38 am: |
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For the Coax and Coax digital debate visit this link its interesting http://www.canford.co.uk/blueprintonline/blueprintaug2003/coaxcables.aspx |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 07:04 pm: |
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Is there an adapter to go from a rca cable to optical |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 08:44 pm: |
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Freely, I.P.
you should certainly be able to use full dobly surround 5.1 as for the toslink thats for an extirely different use, its for say you want to add on a cd player, instead of having 2 remotes you can control it with the amp remote.
Im assuming you have an onkyo amp they have that feature |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 08:52 pm: |
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From my own experience using a low quality, say standard audio rca approx 10m i get signal loss (stutter) and also interfearnce (turning a light switch on and off) i recently used a shorter low quality video rca approx 7m and it works wonders only cost me 10bucks from warehouse. for those who are planning to make an rca connection themselves please remember to buy 75ohm cable and use high quality connectors as most connectors only limit up to 25ohms. |
Michael W Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 08:36 pm: |
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so, if there is no difference between RCA and digital coax. We may connect the dvd player to receiver/AV amp by either RCA or ordinary coax.
There is no point to buy a coax marked specifically for "DIGITAL", right?!
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Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 04:41 pm: |
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I have been trying to work out whether to buy special digital coax for a while now - so I decided to do an experiment.
I bought 2 rca connecters and 2 feet of the cheapest, nastiest speaker wire that Jaycar had. I didnt even solder the connectors to the wire, I just twisted them on.
I have a pair of Dali Evidence 870’s for front speakers and my amp is a JVC 7.1 channel jobbie, and playing Jamiroquai’s Live in Verona 5.1 channel DD DVD I could not tell the difference from the old RCA cable and the speaker wire. The amp received the Dolby Digital signals, all 5.1 channels.
I then decided to get silly and I joined the 2 RCA connectors with some old 20 gauge rusty fencing wire, taking care that the 2 wires don’t touch together. The thing sounded exactly the same, everything worked fine. With about 2c worth of fencing wire!!!!! I could not believe it. This is completely unsheilded, unbalanced, unsoldered and it still sounded like Jamiroquai was standing in front of me!! Sharps, Bass, it was all still there!!
I think this verifies the theory that Digital signal is either there or not there. There is no way that anything more that $10 should be spent on digital coax connection.
Do the experiment yourself – It costs about $4 to do.
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New member Username: Babyferragamo
Post Number: 1
Registered: May-04
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| Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 01:28 pm: |
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Do you mind to tell me the Limitation Of Coaxial Cable? And is there any good webside that talk about Limitation Of Coaxial Cable? Thanks |
New member Username: Gater
Post Number: 1
Registered: May-04
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| Posted on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 01:51 pm: |
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HELP - Split DTS Channels from computer
I have a computer that has a digital out, but it uses a headphone jack. In order to test out if it was working, I rigged up some alligator clips and send the signal to the digital coax jack on my DTS decoder/amplifier.
It all worked except that coming out of the digital output of my computer I have a L, R & ground wire. If I hook up JUST the L wire to the center wire of the coax on the decoder, I get ONLY the front speaker channels. If I just hook up the single R wire to the decoder, I get the rear channels (coming out of the front speakers). But if I hook up both L & R wires to the same coax center pin, my decoder quits and displays the message "unlock"
I cannot find any combination of wires that will give me all channels at the same time.
Can anyone help?
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Mark-AV Consultant Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, June 02, 2004 - 05:30 pm: |
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For technical information regarding digital audio cables see the following web site: http://www.westpenn-cdt.com/pdfs/PRO-AUDIO.pdf Hope this helps. |
New member Username: Djshawn
Manhattan,
KS
United States
Post Number: 1
Registered: Jun-04
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| Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2004 - 06:03 am: |
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I remember when I used to work at a hifi store and dvd was just beoming the new consumer a/v craze. I didn't see that much of a difference between rca and digital coaxial rca until I ran into one particular customer. He was watching The Matrix, I believe, with a standard rca hooked up to his digital coax out and when the movie came to a huge climax scene with a ton of audio info being sent his dvd or receiver would crash, can't remember which one it was. He switched up to a digital coax cable, nothing super fancy, and the system never crashed again. |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 02:12 pm: |
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IS their any way i can plug my surround sound which has 6 output plugs into my one coaxial socket in the DVD player? |
Neil Shapiro Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Thursday, June 17, 2004 - 11:10 pm: |
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Wow. I want to thank everyone in this thread. I discovered this Forum with a Google search on "digital coaxial switch." My reason for searching was because I have a new Sony amp which has only one "digital coaxial" input and a bunch of light pipes. My DVD has only digital coaxial output (other than RCA) and my HDTV cable box is the same. So I have been listening to the DVD properly but had gone with the RCA outputs on the cable box -- resulting in no digital Dolby effects when watching HDTV. EVERY salesperson I spoke to at EVERY major electronics store maintained that 1) there was no such thing as an A/B switch for coaxial digital 2) I could not use RCA cables or an RCA A/B switch without effects ranging from no sound to distortion to even damage to my equipment and 3) maybe I should buy this here new amplifier that has the two separate inputs I need. Well, tonight after reading this thread I am listening to full Digital Dolby from both my DVD and my HDTV cable box! All I did was to use RCA cables (runs of 10-ft) and a very cheap RCA A/B switch. Works absolutely 100% perfecto. What an incredible semi-scam the electronics industry has going for it here with those high-priced cables! Thanks again. |
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| Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 09:12 am: |
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Well I have been using an A/B switch with RCA cables and sometimes when it's quiet I can here a pulsing effect like the signal is being swithed on and off very fast. Does not do it on a proper digital cable but I only have 1 input also and 2 devices that need digital. No idea why it would pulse like that. I thought about buying another digital cable but that's pointless as the switcher has 4 ins (stereo left and right) and 1 out rca cable with 2 phono pins on the end.
I think what I really need to find is a a/B switching box that is just that and nothing else and then buy 2 more digitcal cables and connect those. |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 04:22 pm: |
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I´ve been looking for a solution of how to connect a 5.1 receiver with 6xRCA inputs with a DVD Player with Digital Coaxial Audio output. It looks like the only choice is through an amplifier with both coaxial input and rca outputs.. but those are really expensive--> any other less expensive solution? |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 02:08 pm: |
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To make your own digital coaxial switch get the following items from Radio Shack
3 - "F" to Phono Plug Adapter - Catalog #: 278-290 - $4.29
3 - Sections of RG6 Coaxial Cable with Female connectors on each end. (Keep entire run under 100 feet or you might notice signal loss)
1 - High-Isolation Mini A/B Switch - Catalog #:15-1216 - $8.49.
Connect a "F" to Phono Plug Adapter to one end of each coaxial cable. Connect the other ends of the coaxial cables to the High-Isolation Mini A/B Switch. Connect the Phono Plugs to your devices. You then have a Digital Coaxial Audio Switch. For about $25 you can create something that the guys at Best Buy will tell you does not exist. |
soundboi Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Sunday, August 01, 2004 - 04:35 am: |
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Funny, I tried plugging in a an RCA cable as opposed to a digital coax cable and the reciever didn't display a DD symbol. <-Certifying that i'm getting a surround experience. I have an onkyo 5.1 reciever  |
Bronze Member Username: Arnold_layne
Madrid
Spain
Post Number: 32
Registered: Jun-04
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| Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 06:27 pm: |
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I'm not totally surprised, even though you've had unusual bad luck. There are after all some differences between analogue and digital signals. And even if I can get hold of rusty barb wire for free, I prefer to use cables that a manufacturer has developed and tested specifically for binary transfer.
I started plugging digital with an ordinary RCA cable. Sounded fantastic for about 48 hours. Now I have connected my equipment in 3 ways: Optical and Coaxial S/PDIF at 25 Euros each, plus mid-end cables for analogue interconnect.
For movies and I mostly run digital coaxial. I find optical lacking dynamic range, even though it sounds slightly cleaner (i.e. more linear frequency response). But if I want an audiophile experience, especially for SACD or DVD-A, I always switch to analogue.
So I confess, I am one of those who believe cables make a difference. But not that it is necessary to dedicate X percent of total expenses on cables. The key issue is to get something that fits with your equipment. And even more important: with your ears.
Cheers
AL |
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| Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 01:52 am: |
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Well, you guys are all way more advanced than me. I have a problem that is pretty basic so if you can give me a simple answer that's probably all I will be able to follow anyway. I am trying to hook up a DV player to my VCR/TV combo. I can get video hooked up OK. For audio, the DVD player has two lines (red and white)but the VCR/TV has only one (white). I can hook up the red to red and white to white with one left over red but doesn't give me any audio. My instruction manual indicates that the DVD player can use a coaxial audio cable, but I'm not sure whether VCR/TV combo can. Would that make a difference? What kind of cable to I need? |
Bronze Member Username: Arnold_layne
Madrid
Spain
Post Number: 39
Registered: Jun-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 03:21 pm: |
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Does your VCR/TV manual indicate what kind of connection is this "white"? |
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| Posted on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 01:32 pm: |
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On the VCR/TV combo there are two color coded places to plug in cables. The white one says line in audio and the yellow one next to it says line in video. On the DVD player there is only one yellow video-out and it works fine when connected to the video-in on the VCR/TV. For sound though, the DVD player says analog audio out - left - white, right - red. (No place on the VCR/TV to plug in the red side of the double cable that came with the DVD player). Below that it has another outlet that says digital audio out-coaxial (which is why I typed in coaxial to my search engine and found this site). If I buy and attach a coaxial cable to the DVD player will it fit the single white connection on the VCR/TV? It looks like coaxial cable has larger connectors. It appears that I just don't have two compatible units. What do you think? |
Bronze Member Username: Arnold_layne
Madrid
Spain
Post Number: 53
Registered: Jun-04
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| Posted on Saturday, August 07, 2004 - 01:48 am: |
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Firstly, the digital out on your DVD is for connecting it to an A/V receiver. Home cinema, that is. Do NOT connect it to VHS.
Secondly, it sounds now to me as if your VHS has a 3.5 or 6 mm stereo jack for audio input. That is, same as used for headphones. In that case it's just to buy an adapter cable, they're not expensive at all.
BTW, the technical specs page of VHS manual should confirm what kind of input we're dealing with here.
Cheers
AL |
Jerry K. Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 11:51 am: |
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Eugene, you've got a MONO INPUT on that TV/VCR combo, and a STEREO OUTPUT on the DVD player. Radio Shack should have RCA stereo to RCA mono adapter cables in stock. Walmart/Kmart might have them too, but there won't be anyone there that will be able to help you, you'll have to know what to look for. You can try to hook up the red connector on the DVD to the white connector on the TV/VCR, but this will only let you listen to half of the sound from the DVD (left or right channel) You really need that stereo to mono adapter cable. |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 12:00 pm: |
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I read all your posts, but I didn't see anyone describing my scenario. For years I've hooked up my home stereo system to my PC. It was always a simple matter of connecting the receiver audio AUX inputs (standard RCA plugs) to a Y cable with a mini plug, and simply plugging the mini plug into the audio out on the PC (or sound card.)
Now I have a new PC and bought Philips Aurilium external USB sound card. It's a great device and I have fantastic 5.1 surround sound using the surround sound outputs (green, orange, black) to the Altec Lansing surround sound speakers. BUT, I still want my stereo receiver hooked up so I can hear the same CD's, game or DVD audio in the living room. The Aurilium USB device has two additional digital outputs -- optical and COAX digital S/PDIF out (and a line in.) The software offers a "by pass" mode (AC3/DTS pass through) that seems like it should let me use even the RCA audio connectors that you discuss, to my stereo. Nothing has worked. My aging Yamaha stereo receiver has no ability to accept digital connectors.
Right now I have a short PCM digital audio cable coming out of the COAX out on the sound card, connected to a phono plug coupler (gold audio, because the digital cable is male) and that's plugged into the male RED RCA which is hooked up to the AUX input on the stereo. No sound on the stereo. Tried this with CD inputs. Nothing. Also tried putting either the RED or white end of the RCA audio on the digital out going straight to either AUX or CD on the stereo. NOTHING. Tried both pass through modes and surround modes with all possible connectors. what am I missing???
The only other output on the sound card is the headphone and I haven't tried that. It has input for a microphone and another input for recording.
Surely there is some configuration that will allow me to take the digital output from the sound card to the receiver. Any thoughts, help on this?
Thanks in advance. |
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