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Old July 24th, 2007, 06:32 PM   #1
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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?
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Old July 24th, 2007, 07:02 PM   #2
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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.
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Old July 25th, 2007, 04:47 AM   #3
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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.
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Last edited by Steve House; July 25th, 2007 at 06:12 AM.
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Old July 25th, 2007, 05:54 AM   #4
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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
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Old July 25th, 2007, 09:21 AM   #5
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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.
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Old July 27th, 2007, 10:26 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ty Ford View Post
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.
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.
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Old July 27th, 2007, 10:39 PM   #7
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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.
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Old July 28th, 2007, 03:19 PM   #8
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...Besides my 50 dollar Wydeeye Apogee gold plated 75 ohm digital s/pdif cable works like crap.
How long is the run?
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Old July 28th, 2007, 07:07 PM   #9
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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.
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Old July 29th, 2007, 02:52 PM   #10
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You'd think the plug and jack manufacturers could figure out how to follow a 50 year old (?) spec by now!
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