are RCA cable and SPDIF cable the same?

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Jotosuds

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are they the same cable? like can you use RCA cable for the SPDIF connection.

specifically for the V-amp2, cuz i'm thinking of trying the spdif on it, and the spdif IN on audiophile soundcard.

can you use RCA cable for SPDIF?

thank you.
 
Jotosuds said:
are they the same cable?
Click to expand...

no they are not...

SPDIF stands for Sony/Philips Digital Interface...
it allows digital information (sound) to be transferred from one device to another...without being converted to analog....
RCA is analog only....
 
I read on another website that if the rca cable is shielded well enough, then it would work in place of an SPDIF cable.

I have a J-Station and have been using the SPDIF out to my Audiophile and it seems to work fine. I'm using these gold plated rca cables from radio shack, though I think the cables are intended for hoking up to audio to a dvd or vcr. Anyway, if someone happens to know better please chime in let me know if this is all wrong.
 
The S/PDIF protocol specifies the use of a 75ohm shielded cable for best transmission of the digital signal -- this is different than the cable spec typically used for analog signals.
 
The proper impedance can be obtained from a relatively inexpensive video cable with RCA ends.

I got a HOSA S/PDIF cable with gold-plated ends for about the same price. Very reliable cable, unlike many of their analog products.
 
I made my SPDIF cables....

Radio Shack has 75ohm TV cable by the foot and non-solder (screw on) RCA ends that will fit.

I made two 6ft cables and it cost me about 10 or 12 bucks.

I never had any problems with them at all.

Fast.
Easy.
Cheap.

-mike
 
Good RCAs will work, even unshielded, especially on short runs, but not necessarily optimal sound quality. If you have to make do for a while you can use it, but you should get the 75ohm when you can.
 
I bought 2.5 meter prefab spdif cables for 4 euros a piece (like 8.5ft/$5). For that money, I'd say: Why bother trying to make them yourself?
 
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