75ohm business

[killdozzer]

I must ask, interconnects rarely have impedance stated (at least the budget ones). Could I use a single strand of an interconnect for Coaxial Digital Audio?

It is just an exercise, but I don't want to cause some damage. Connectors fit, but is it a suitable gauge and impedance?

Thanks!

 

[Speedskater]

The 75 Ohm business, is the Radio Frequency Characteristic Impedance. It starts to come into play at well above 100 kHz and even then only for very long cables.
So for a short (1 or 2 meter) digital interconnect, any co-ax will work just fine. As the cable gets longer (say 30 feet) then the 75 Ohm value becomes important.

 

[killdozzer]

The 75 Ohm business, is the Radio Frequency Characteristic Impedance. It starts to come into play at well above 100 kHz and even then only for very long cables.
So for a short (1 or 2 meter) digital interconnect, any co-ax will work just fine. As the cable gets longer (say 30 feet) then the 75 Ohm value becomes important.

Gracias mucho, muchacho!

 

[killdozzer]

Works like a charm. Maybe I could have even saved my old Philips DVD/CD, I don't remember if it had digital out.

I'm very happy with this set up. Using conventional white/red cinch out from the DVD/CD left me with some heavy bass. I guess it is because of some sound effects or something, but this way it appears to be easily circumvented.

Thanks.

 

[killdozzer]

Just one more little detail; is there any benefit or type of benefit to be expected when using optical? (even if it's just durability or safer and more secure connections), anything, any reason why you would recommend one over the other?

Both my player and AVR have coaxial and optical connections. Coaxial looks safer, you really have to pull to disconnect. But maybe I'm wrong. Is there anything else I should be taking into consideration?

 

[lovinthehd]

One advantage to optical is it is not an electrical connection...so can't pass things like ground loop hum.

 

[killdozzer]

One advantage to optical is it is not an electrical connection...so can't pass things like ground loop hum.

It looks so obvious now, but it didn't occur to me. Thank you!

 

[lovinthehd]

I simply use optical as first choice, digital coax second.

 

[mtrycrafts]

In past tests even a wire coat hanger worked flawlessly.

 

[killdozzer]

I know, thank you anyway. As i said, this wasn't about sound quality benefit, but any other benefits. Like @lovinthehd mentioned one clear pro for optical vs. copper coaxial.

In my first post I DID want to make sure that I don't need anything different for digital signal. Then again, by this I didn't mean a 100$ interconnect.

Honestly, this is what got me confused:

These resemble cinch connectors but are not exactly the same havin' those cuts in the outer ring which, btw, appears to be thicker than usual:

Other than that, under coaxial, people most often think antena cable, like this:

now, I know that this antena coaxial doesn't look the same on the inside and has different connections. I wanted to make sure there is no real difference for the one I need.

At the moment my cd player is connected using one side of the cable in the middle picture. The other side is just hanging, but the result is great so I'm considering investing in something no-name-pretty just to have it neat and tucked in.

Thank you for reassuring me.

 

[lovinthehd]

I have coax cables with rca terminations that look like both of your examples. I believe the bottom example of a coaxial cable is terminated with "F" connectors, usually what cable company/sat companies use for video connections for example.

 

[highfigh]

Just one more little detail; is there any benefit or type of benefit to be expected when using optical? (even if it's just durability or safer and more secure connections), anything, any reason why you would recommend one over the other?

Both my player and AVR have coaxial and optical connections. Coaxial looks safer, you really have to pull to disconnect. But maybe I'm wrong. Is there anything else I should be taking into consideration?

If you use optical, don't bend it or coil it tightly- any loops should be fairly large diameter (6") because kinks, sharp bends and tight cols prevent the light passing. Seriously. Wrapping it in the way power cords and thin audio cables and putting a wire tie in the middle won't work because the light will become too dim at the far end.

 

[killdozzer]

Another good one and very useful. Thank you.