Coaxial vs RCA for Interconnects

[Zwischen]

Wanted to know the difference between Coaxial and RCA for interconnects ?

 

[just4kix]

Wanted to know the difference between Coaxial and RCA for interconnects ?

Coaxial is the digital interface. RCA is the actual socket type. A coaxial cable is actually an RCA cable with better shielding and connectors.

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[Zwischen]

Thanks ,
So in other words a coax should do a similar job with the added advantage of better sheilding ?
Can I use Coax to connect my power amp to my processor and expect the same results as I would with using RCA (Price being same 2k - 3k)

 

[just4kix]

Thanks ,
So in other words a coax should do a similar job with the added advantage of better sheilding ?
Can I use Coax to connect my power amp to my processor and expect the same results as I would with using RCA (Price being same 2k - 3k)

Basically, yes.

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[Vinod.R]

Some more differences:

1) Coaxial can transfer signals up to DD/DTS for HTS. Assuming by RCA interconnects you mean White and Red RCA interconnects it can transfer signals up to stereo.

2) However with the RCA interconnects you can use 5 cables to transfer DD/DTS signals.

Vinod

 

[just4kix]

Some more differences:

1) Coaxial can transfer signals up to DD/DTS for HTS. Assuming by RCA interconnects you mean White and Red RCA interconnects it can transfer signals up to stereo.

2) However with the RCA interconnects you can use 5 cables to transfer DD/DTS signals.

Vinod

No. That is not true. RCA is a just a socket type and not an interface. Interfaces are like coaxial, component, composite, etc. All of them use RCA plugs. One can very well use a simple RCA cable to connect coaxial terminals. Question of quality is there but that is a different topic.

 

[reignofchaos]

Thanks ,
So in other words a coax should do a similar job with the added advantage of better sheilding ?
Can I use Coax to connect my power amp to my processor and expect the same results as I would with using RCA (Price being same 2k - 3k)

Not so easy! While the above may work, its suboptimal

The coaxial cable connectors are supposed to have a nominal impedance of 75 ohm while analog connectors are supposed to be 110 ohm. So while coaxial connectors will work, you might end up losing some useful information in the signal due to attenuation.

 

[Vinod.R]

No. That is not true. RCA is a just a socket type and not an interface. Interfaces are like coaxial, component, composite, etc. All of them use RCA plugs. One can very well use a simple RCA cable to connect coaxial terminals. Question of quality is there but that is a different topic.

My bad. Can you point out where I am wrong here?

 

[just4kix]

My bad. Can you point out where I am wrong here?

Interface is different while connector is different.

There are many types of interfaces such as Composite AV, Composite Audio, Component Video, SCART, S-Video, Optical/toslink, Coaxial Digital, HDMI, USB, etc. Interfaces determine how audio and video signals are carried from source to destination.

Connectors (or plugs and sockets) are the means of connecting two interfaces. Some are unique are known by the names of the interfaces themselves such as SCART, S-Video, HDMI, USB. So there is an HDMI interface and HDMI connector and so on. Some interfaces use universal connectors such as RCA. Interfaces such as Coaxial digital, Composite AV, Component V use RCA connectors.

 

[hemchandran]

Interface is different while connector is different.

There are many types of interfaces such as Composite AV, Composite Audio, Component Video, SCART, S-Video, Optical/toslink, Coaxial Digital, HDMI, USB, etc. Interfaces determine how audio and video signals are carried from source to destination.

So out these which one carries the signal better/best.

 

[just4kix]

So out these which one carries the signal better/best.

From best to worst ....

Video: HDMI Component S-video Composite
Audio: HDMI Coaxial/optical Composite

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[reignofchaos]

From best to worst ....

Video: HDMI Component S-video Composite
Audio: HDMI Coaxial/optical Composite

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For stereo audio,

the following is debateable

HDMI Coaxial/optical

HDMI is a really lousy interface for stereo audio. HDMI derives the audio clock from the video clock which is 74.25MHz. So it needs a PLL to generate the audio clock - this basically means you get horrible jitter. More info in Charles Hansen's post here:

HDMI has the highest jitter of any interface - Charles Hansen - Computer Audio Asylum

 

[just4kix]

For stereo audio,

the following is debateable

HDMI Coaxial/optical

HDMI has a really lousy for stereo audio. HDMI derives the audio clock from the video clock which is 74.25MHz. So it needs a PLL to generate the audio clock - this basically means you get horrible jitter. More info in Charles Hansen's post here:

HDMI has the highest jitter of any interface - Charles Hansen - Computer Audio Asylum

For pure stereo, it is debatable whether digital is better than analog. True, digital will have better sound quality and free from noise, interference, etc. but ultimately, the sound will have to be converted to analog and that will depend upon the DAC involved. So, there can be case of quality in = garbage out. For analog, the equation is straighter, quality in = quality out, garbage in = garbage out. Of course, I am assuming that good cables are being used.

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[jls001]

"Coaxial" is a type of cable construction. RCA is a connector type, meant for terminating unbalanced signals. So the question posed by the OP is unclear.

An RCA connector could be used to terminate a coaxial cable.

"Coaxial" is essentially unbalanced cable type. It has different characteristic impedance - typically 50 Ohms and 75 Ohms - depending on intended application.

 

[Zwischen]

"Coaxial" is a type of cable construction. RCA is a connector type, meant for terminating unbalanced signals. So the question posed by the OP is unclear.

An RCA connector could be used to terminate a coaxial cable.

"Coaxial" is essentially unbalanced cable type. It has different characteristic impedance - typically 50 Ohms and 75 Ohms - depending on intended application.

I basically want to connect my power amp to my processor . and also connect my proccessor to a CDP .

So would a 75ohm pair coax cable work in this case or would I need RCA audio inteconnects .

 

[devilwearsprada]

No. That is not true. RCA is a just a socket type and not an interface. Interfaces are like coaxial, component, composite, etc. All of them use RCA plugs. One can very well use a simple RCA cable to connect coaxial terminals. Question of quality is there but that is a different topic.

True that , the Stereo sound is basically from the Composite Interface through an RCA Jack/Socket