Is Digital Coax the same as S/PDIF?
 

Hey guys.. I need to connect my two Edirol Studio Monitors with an S/PDIF cable and I have a digital coaxial cable here laying around. My question is:

Is a digital coaxial cable (package doesn't say anything about S/PDIF on it) the same as an S/PDIF cable?

If I understand correctly, S/PDIF is what goes down the cable. You can use two types: coaxial or optical, so if your cable meets the S/PDIF specs then it should be fine, but I don't know what the specs are... I can't see any harm in trying.

S/PDIF specs call for 75 ohm unbalanced cabling which is the same cable as is commonly used for composite video. And FYI, AES/EBU specs call for 110 ohm balanced.

Shhhh! Don't tell anyone, but I've used short runs (1-2 feet) of high grade audio cable with RCAa on each end for S/PDIF.

Your cable should be OK.

Regards,

Ty Ford

While S/PDIF is a standard which includes details of the signalling i.e. bit rates, voltages, cable impedance (75 ohm) and type (unbalanced coaxial), coding ( bi-phase mark) frame markers, data bit assignments....) most coaxial cables sold for "digital audio", especially if for the consumer market, are intended for use with S/PDIF and are thus entirely suitable. As others have noted the cheapest piece of coax from Radio Shack, even though it be 50 Ohms and leak like a sieve may very well work just fine for short runs. That's the good news and bad news about digital. It either works or it doesn't.

I won't say a word - as long as you don't tell anybody that I've use LOW grade audio cables for about 3 ft without problems. (It was just a loop-back test.)

As said above, use a composite video cable - the ones with the yellow ends - to run within spec.

That's right, if they didn't want us using audio cables, why the RCA connector. Besides my 50 dollar Wydeeye Apogee gold plated 75 ohm digital s/pdif cable works like crap.

How long is the run?

It's a short jumper. The problem is the design of the crimp on connectors. Both center pins are loose and do not make good contact.

You'd think the plug and jack manufacturers could figure out how to follow a 50 year old (?) spec by now!