Coaxial vs RCA in audio

[Chris Anderson]

Can someone explain to me which of the cables will reproduce a better quality audio sound QUED PERFORMANCE COAXIAL VS QED Performance Audio 40i RCA or standard coaxial vs RCA I did some listening tests on the CD player and in my opinion RCA sounds better has a more detailed sound texture where coaxial is flatter these are small differences but however audible BUT is RCA really a better or worse cable for listening to audio what is your specialist opinion???? length of both cables 1 meter I would like to hear from someone about some measurements
maximum bandwidth kHz, etc

 

[isolar8001]

Coax and optical will bypass the built in DAC of your cd player. You will hear the DAC of whatever you plug it into then.
RCA uses the DAC of the cd player.
Your sound quality is dependent on the DAC's, not the method of connection.

 

[Chris Anderson]

Coax and optical will bypass the built in DAC of your cd player. You will hear the DAC of whatever you plug it into then.
RCA uses the DAC of the cd player.
Your sound quality is dependent on the DAC's, not the method of connection.

coax and RCA are connected to the same amplifier and from the amplifier to the same CD player when listening I only change channels so I don't really understand what you are talking about everything goes through the DAC so that we hear from digital to analog sound

 

[isolar8001]

RCA is an analog output...it has been processed already by the DAC in your cd player. Your amp doesn't need to do anything.

Coax and optical are pure digital outputs, they bypass the the DAC in your cd player and will use the DAC in your amp.
That is the only reason they are there....to use a different DAC. They are not "higher quality" outputs.

 

[highfigh]

RCA is an analog output...it has been processed already by the DAC in your cd player. Your amp doesn't need to do anything.

Coax and optical are pure digital outputs, they bypass the the DAC in your cd player and will use the DAC in your amp.
That is the only reason they are there....to use a different DAC. They are not "higher quality" outputs.

I would have used 'Analog output with RCA jacks'- the Digital Coax uses an RCA jack & plug, too.

 

[Chris Anderson]

Ok now is more clear thanks but what about
signal data throughput which cable will carry more information I know already the coax can deliver max 24 bits up to 192khz but what about RCA ???is a analog cable with different singal he can deliver high resolution like that?

 

[lovinthehd]

Ok now is more clear thanks but what about
signal data throughput which cable will carry more information I know already the coax can deliver max 24 bits up to 192khz but what about RCA ???is a analog cable with different singal he can deliver high resolution like that?

You're comparing apples and oranges to an extent, but digital has higher capacity (as it can handle more than 2 ch primarily). A pair of analog rca cables will carry stereo pcm, so can handle any hires signal that's been converted to pcm already.

 

[Swerd]

I agree with everyone else above. If you listen to CDs via a coax cable, you are sending digital signals from the CD player to your receiver, which performs the conversion from digital to analog. If you listen via the RCA cables, your CD player coverts the digital to analog, and your receiver gets analog signals.

Most receivers convert all incoming analog signals into digital for further processing, and then convert them back into analog before amplifying them for the speakers. Some receivers allow you to prevent that and keep the signals analog. What receiver are you using?

 

[mtrycrafts]

Ok now is more clear thanks but what about
signal data throughput which cable will carry more information I know already the coax can deliver max 24 bits up to 192khz but what about RCA ???is a analog cable with different singal he can deliver high resolution like that?

Why don't you swap the RCA cable and use it in the output that your coax is plugged into and the coax into the RCA cable's previous location and have a listen.
At 1m that RCA will throughput the same quantity s the coax cable.

Also, your listening protocol, sighted, will be very subjective and your mind will trick you unknown to you.

 

[isolar8001]

Would help to know what cd player is being used....and amp.
The real question seems to be, will that 80 dollar RCA cable mentioned in post 1 make a difference. (it wont)

edit...looked back at some of the OP's previous posts. Sorry I did. Forgive me for even responding, I will be more careful not to waste at least my time in the future.

 

[Chris Anderson]

Would help to know what cd player is being used....and amp.
The real question seems to be, will that 80 dollar RCA cable mentioned in post 1 make a difference. (it wont)

edit...looked back at some of the OP's previous posts. Sorry I did. Forgive me for even responding, I will be more careful not to waste at least my time in the future.

If you have problem write a decent answer because is a waste of time then delete your profile here and go wash dishes do something useful if being here is waste of time

 

[Chris Anderson]

So looks like I find my answers here thanks guys
So . If I listen to CDs via a coax cable, I am sending digital signals from the CD player to your receiver, which performs the conversion from digital to analog. If I listen via the RCA cables, my CD player coverts the digital to analog, and your receiver gets analog signals and that's is the correct so sound
quality audio dependent not with from the coax or RCA is dependent from DAC in cd and amp Am I right?

 

[isolar8001]

I told you that twice and so did others.....maybe you won't stretch this into a 7 page thread like you did "I have a question about connecting XLR cables", where you fought everyone trying to help you.

There are some very knowledgeable real world people on this forum, and for the most part they are very tolerable.

 

[lovinthehd]

So looks like I find my answers here thanks guys
So . If I listen to CDs via a coax cable, I am sending digital signals from the CD player to your receiver, which performs the conversion from digital to analog. If I listen via the RCA cables, my CD player coverts the digital to analog, and your receiver gets analog signals and that's is the correct so sound
quality audio dependent not with from the coax or RCA is dependent from DAC in cd and amp Am I right?

Back to the original point of quality differences, it is generally not important which device's dac is utilized. Any actual differences generally are trivial but doing a valid comparison is difficult and exaggerated in audio advertising/marketing of audio devices (and accessories like cables) as well as media supporting such.

 

[Chris Anderson]

I told you that twice and so did others.....maybe you won't stretch this into a 7 page thread like you did "I have a question about connecting XLR cables", where you fought everyone trying to help you.

There are some very knowledgeable real world people on this forum, and for the most part they are very tolerable.

XLR are in different set up system was explained all about that

 

[mtrycrafts]

So looks like I find my answers here thanks guys
So . If I listen to CDs via a coax cable, I am sending digital signals from the CD player to your receiver, which performs the conversion from digital to analog. If I listen via the RCA cables, my CD player coverts the digital to analog, and your receiver gets analog signals and that's is the correct so sound
quality audio dependent not with from the coax or RCA is dependent from DAC in cd and amp Am I right?

Well, it seems you may be confusing the issue with your specific question. Either cable can be used to transmit digital or analog signals.
You really didn't specify using the digital out on a CD player or the analog out. For sure, you can use the rca or coax on the analog out and short distances on the digital out as well.
So, maybe you can frame your question which is better digital out or analog out.
ps. even a wire coat hanger will work.

 

[Chris Anderson]

Well, it seems you may be confusing the issue with your specific question. Either cable can be used to transmit digital or analog signals.
You really didn't specify using the digital out on a CD player or the analog out. For sure, you can use the rca or coax on the analog out and short distances on the digital out as well.
So, maybe you can frame your question which is better digital out or analog out.
ps. even a wire coat hanger will work.

I say nothing about XLR that is different subject different audio set up

 

[Chris Anderson]

Yes that is logical thinking yes thanks do I mentioned early IAM still green in this ,,audio-music-video-sound,, world?
So what is your opinion coax output or RCA output?which give better sound quality and I think know the answer all depends what kind of DAC amp and cd player have so let's say both have exactly the same DAC

 

[mtrycrafts]

I say nothing about XLR that is different subject different audio set up

And I didn't mention XLR, correct?

 

[lovinthehd]

Yes that is logical thinking yes thanks do I mentioned early IAM still green in this ,,audio-music-video-sound,, world?
So what is your opinion coax output or RCA output?which give better sound quality and I think know the answer all depends what kind of DAC amp and cd player have so let's say both have exactly the same DAC

Toss a coin.