Possible to use digital coaxial cable in RCA input/outputs?

[CT246]

Hi, I'm very new to A/V, just got a new receiver and set of speakers. I was previously using a set of RCA cables to output audio from my TV to my receiver. Then I got a coaxial digital cable, and would rather use that, as I gather the signal will be better quality. But I realized that my only outputs from the TV are RCA type (a pair) and my receiver inputs for the TV are also an RCA pair.

I tried just plugging the coaxial digital cable into one of the RCA pairs for both input and output, and it seems to work. Is this something that's OK to do? If it IS OK, is there any difference between choosing L or R? Any comments appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Pyrrho]

The specifications are different for analog audio, composite video, component video, and coaxial digital cables, but the connectors are the same. Often, they can be used interchangeably, though there are occasions when it does not work well. Using a cable for analog audio that was designed for digital will not give an audible improvement over using one competently made for analog audio, so there is no reason to buy new cables as you appear to be thinking of doing.

If, however, you already had a bunch of coaxial digital cables, and did not already have any analog audio cables, I would suggest giving them a try, as it will probably work well. But I would not recommend spending money on something that is not going to do anything for you other than cause you to lose some money. Basically, if you want better sound, buy better equipment (speakers, primarily), improve the acoustics of your room, or be more careful in the placement of your speakers and listening seat in your room. Magic wires are not the answer.

 

[MDS]

I tried just plugging the coaxial digital cable into one of the RCA pairs for both input and output, and it seems to work. Is this something that's OK to do? If it IS OK, is there any difference between choosing L or R? Any comments appreciated. Thanks!

You mean you plugged a coax digital audio cable into one of the analog audio jacks - either L (white) or R (red)? If you do that, you get mono analog audio - either the left channel or the right channel depending on which one you used. A wire cannot convert from analog to digital or vice-versa.

 

[j_garcia]

The specifications are different for analog audio, composite video, component video, and coaxial digital cables, but the connectors are the same. Often, they can be used interchangeably, though there are occasions when it does not work well. Using a cable for analog audio that was designed for digital will not give an audible improvement over using one competently made for analog audio, so there is no reason to buy new cables as you appear to be thinking of doing.

If, however, you already had a bunch of coaxial digital cables, and did not already have any analog audio cables, I would suggest giving them a try, as it will probably work well. But I would not recommend spending money on something that is not going to do anything for you other than cause you to lose some money. Basically, if you want better sound, buy better equipment (speakers, primarily), improve the acoustics of your room, or be more careful in the placement of your speakers and listening seat in your room. Magic wires are not the answer.

AFAIK, the spec for coaxial digital and component/composite video are the same and the cables can be used interchangeably. These cables should also work perfectly fine as they should actually be more specific than for analog audio. In other words, analog audio cables may or may not work for video or coaxial digital depending on the cable, but more often than not it will work. Video and coaxial digital however, should work for analog audio every time. I've used the same coaxial digital cable for composite video, coaxial digital audio and as a subwoofer cable, so I know this to be true.

TVs generally do not have coaxial digital outputs, so using a coaxial digital cable from an analog output will not change it to a digital signal as MDS said.

 

[Pyrrho]

AFAIK, the spec for coaxial digital and component/composite video are the same and the cables can be used interchangeably. These cables should also work perfectly fine as they should actually be more specific than for analog audio. In other words, analog audio cables may or may not work for video or coaxial digital depending on the cable, but more often than not it will work. Video and coaxial digital however, should work for analog audio every time. I've used the same coaxial digital cable for composite video, coaxial digital audio and as a subwoofer cable, so I know this to be true.

TVs generally do not have coaxial digital outputs, so using a coaxial digital cable from an analog output will not change it to a digital signal as MDS said.

Yes, you are right, the specifications for video and coaxial digital cables are the same, and are to a better standard than audio cables. But, as you indicate, many audio cables are made to the same standards (even though they don't need to be for analog audio use) and can be used for video or digital audio. Even if one has analog cables that are just made to analog standards, there is no advantage to using a higher standard video or coaxial digital cable for analog audio, as once the wire is good enough to pass the signal with no audible degradation, there will be no improvement in actual sound with anything better.

 

[CT246]

You mean you plugged a coax digital audio cable into one of the analog audio jacks - either L (white) or R (red)? If you do that, you get mono analog audio - either the left channel or the right channel depending on which one you used. A wire cannot convert from analog to digital or vice-versa.

Yes -- that is what I stupidly tried -- plugged the coax digital cable into just one of the analog audio jacks on either end. I don't know why I thought it would be a good idea. I'm really a total newbie and I didn't even think about RCA being analog vs the coaxial digital, or about losing a channel and ending up with mono.

I restored my RCA cables, and will save the coax digital audio cable for some future upgrade.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I'm learning a lot!