RCA vs Coax n00b question

[Megaken]

In the past I've purchased "RCA" cables, "subwoofer" cables, and "digital coax" cables. Now I'm looking at this:

It also mentions video. Now we will absolutely not discuss the quality or merits here, and I am not looking for a personal shopper. I am just trying to understand the following:

Are they all the same? Or are they different but can be combined like shampoo & conditioner into one?
Or any spdif cable can be an RCA cable but not every RCA cable can be a spdif cable? What makes a subwoofer cable different?


Thank you

 

[Vincent Kars]

Or any spdif cable can be an RCA cable but not every RCA cable can be a spdif cable

The S/PDIF standard stipulates a impedance of 75 Ohm. So for digital you better buy a cable with this 75 Ohm impedance.
As it is about impedance, not about DC resistance (almost zero), you can safely use it as an analog interconnect as well.
If you use a normal "analog" interconnect as a S/PDIF cable, in practice short runs will work.

What makes a subwoofer cable different?

Probably sold a piece instead of a pair.

 

[voodooless]

RCA analog and digital difference

I have question regarding rca cables. I see they sell rca analog and rca digital cables. What is the difference between them? Most of the rca cables dont mention digital or analog... What do i need to connect my avr (marantz cinema 60) to my amp (emotiva basx3+)?

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[sam_adams]

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Are they all the same?

The Amazon vendor has flooded their title with multiple keywords so their product will turn up whether you search for digital, sub, video, RCA etc. It's common but bad practice.

A genuine domestic video and digital cable will have 75 Ohm characteristic impedance. It will also work fine for normal audio and sub. A domestic 50 Ohm characteristic impedance in theory is wrong for domestic video and digital, but unless the lengths are very long, there should be no issue

 

[twsecrest]

In the past I've purchased "RCA" cables, "subwoofer" cables, and "digital coax" cables. Now I'm looking at this:

View attachment 481666

It also mentions video. Now we will absolutely not discuss the quality or merits here, and I am not looking for a personal shopper. I am just trying to understand the following:

Are they all the same? Or are they different but can be combined like shampoo & conditioner into one?
Or any spdif cable can be an RCA cable but not every RCA cable can be a spdif cable? What makes a subwoofer cable different?


Thank you

I've always been of the opinion that an RCA cable and digital coax audio cable funtion the same, the digital coaxial audio cable, intended for use with a sub-woofer, comes with more/extra shielding.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Why does an RCA lead need to be any different from a lead between a DAC and an amplifier that's covering all frequencies, even down to DC?

 

[pma]

Or any spdif cable can be an RCA cable but not every RCA cable can be a spdif cable

The S/PDIF standard stipulates a impedance of 75 Ohm

Exactly. For the best transfer of impulses over S/PDIF, the cable should have 75 ohm characteristic impedance. Same applies to connectors (not fulfilled in audio gear). The longer the cable, the better should it be. Like RG-59. So yes, not every signal RCA cable is a good choice for S/PDIF. If it is 1m long, it will work, though, even if the cable is a junk.

 

[Speedskater]

At digital audio frequencies, the connectors are way to short to matter.
In fact, because almost all reasonable coax cables have a Radio Frequency Characteristic Impedance in the 50 to 125 Ohm range. They will all work with shorter digital cables (say shorter than (10 feet/3 meters).

 

[Speedskater]

On the other hand, RCA cable connectors are manufactured in many different ways. Some have a 360° shield connections and others may have a long shield pig-tail. Those connectors may be far from the 50 to 125 Ohm range.