Digital coax = composite video?

[mrkeeling]

Is there any difference in construction and build between digital coaxial and composite video cable?
Both should be 75 ohm coaxial cables with RCA plugs, so is there anything specific in the build that should make one to better transfer digital signal and the other to better transfer video signal?

As digital signal is very simple (being a bitstream it has only two states YES and NO or ON and OFF), video signal should be more complex, right? If that is correct than video cable shouldn’t have any problems handling digital signal. Actually it should transfer it “better”, if that is at all possible for bitstream. On the other hand digital coaxial may have problems with video signal.

Have I just introduced irrelevant philosophical speculations in Hardware forum?

[Wirehed]

Originally posted by mrkeeling

Have I just introduced irrelevant philosophical speculations in Hardware forum?

yeah, we've never had that before.


Yes, a Digital Coax cable is the same thing as what's packaged in the Composite Video cable package --three of them infact.

[jonathan_little]

I just use a plain old RCA cable which appears to be out of the '70s for my digital coax connection. It transports all of my digital audio, including PCM and full bitrate dts tracks, with no problems at all.

Your video cable(s) will handle digital audio just fine. As for using a digital coax cable for video, that would work as well. A wire is a wire, but since the video signal is analog, there is a possibility of signal degradation. One of those overpriced digital coax cables should have the shielding and gauge to keep that to a minimum. Using a digital coax wire for video will probably be better than any wires that came with your DVD player. With the digital audio connection, you will probably either get 100% transmission or no audio at all, so don't hesitate to try to use the cheapest thing available.

[Wirehed]

unlike the Digital coax for sound situation, component video is still analog and a better cable does make a notable difference. how much, and weather it's worth it or not is an entirely different story. As always, I suggest auditioning whatever you plan to purchase --if you think you are going to notice.

[chlngr1970]

For some laughs, check out this thread where Chromy made his own Digital Coax cable out of stuff laying arround his house, including a rusty nail, and a piece of picture hanging wire

j

[Wirehed]

Originally posted by chlngr1970
For some laughs, check out this thread where Chromy made his own Digital Coax cable out of stuff laying arround his house, including a rusty nail, and a piece of picture hanging wire

j

and if memory serves Taxi is using this cable in his home theater right now.

....heh...good times, the image of that cable still makes me laugh. Especially when Bill (the owner of Audio/FX) was looking at it and then agreed to let us plug it into his system (all Mcintosh amps/receiver and B&W 802s). I still can't beleive he plugged that thing in.


So hows it working for you Taxi?

[Taxi]

Originally posted by Seamonkey
and if memory serves Taxi is using this cable in his home theater right now.

....So hows it working for you Taxi?

It works like a charm!

Actually, I forget it's even back there, unless I (rarely) move my stereo around for some reason.