Coaxial cables all the same?

[Sonikku]

I have a soundbar that I want to hook up to my tv but it doesn't have optical. (nor does the sound bar have an hdmi in) The tv does have an orange colored output however, coaxial I think it's called according to google. As I want digital audio going to the sound bar it seems preferable over a headphone jack or red and white stereo cables.

But here's the rub; I did a google search on coaxial cables and it looks like the same stiff black cable I screw into my internet modem. The orange audio input on my tv however looks like something you just push in. Are these two different kinds of cables or can one of my black screw in cables fit without damaging the tv?

 

[Imp]

What's the terminator look like?

RCA fat guy or really thin, needle-like with a threading thing?

 

[thesmokingman]

I have a soundbar that I want to hook up to my tv but it doesn't have optical. (nor does the sound bar have an hdmi in) The tv does have an orange colored output however, coaxial I think it's called according to google. As I want digital audio going to the sound bar it seems preferable over a headphone jack or red and white stereo cables.

But here's the rub; I did a google search on coaxial cables and it looks like the same stiff black cable I screw into my internet modem. The orange audio input on my tv however looks like something you just push in. Are these two different kinds of cables or can one of my black screw in cables fit without damaging the tv?

Don't stick the wrong thin in there.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Coax will be round with a tiny hole in the center:

What TV do you have? I don't think what you're describing is a coax input...

 

[thesmokingman]

Coax will be round with a tiny hole in the center:

What TV do you have? I don't think what you're describing is a coax input...

^^RG6 connector. His orange connector is a spdif or digital coaxial cable.

 

[balloonshark]

Digital coaxial cables. http://www.monoprice.com/category?c_id=102&cp_id=10236

Post your tv and soundbar make and model or post a link to each.

 

[Sonikku]

Looks like this.

Alright. So I guess there are two completely different cables BOTH called Coaxial... I rather wish my tv had an optical. EVERYBODY knows what you're talking about when you say optical. But when I put "digital coaxial" into a newegg or amazon search box it can't seem to make up its mind which is which.

 

[CraKaJaX]

^^RG6 connector. His orange connector is a spdif or digital coaxial cable.

:thumbsup:

What's the difference between this an a typical optic input? A quick google actually shows spdif can be transmitted over an optic cable, just a different connector. Why can't they just settle on one connector?

 

[Schmide]

Regular rca cables work fine. It's a simple spdif signal, no high frequency stuff that needs extreme shielding.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF

Edit: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/S-PDIF-Sony-Philips-Digital-Interface

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=1059959

Edit2:

Edit3:

Personally, I think any short modern cable will cut it as long as you're not watching a DVD inside Chernyobl.

Sure signal jitter is a problem, as is reflection. That being said, 6ft of copper wrapped in rubber/plastic is not going to pick up that much interference, and reflection should be a non-issue.

If your reciever is really that picky, I think there's something wrong with your reciever.

 

[Imp]

^^RG6 connector. His orange connector is a spdif or digital coaxial cable.

I think that's actually an F-type connector.

The RG6 is the cable itself like RG59.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F_connector

 

[Oceanas]

Looks like this.

Alright. So I guess there are two completely different cables BOTH called Coaxial... I rather wish my had an optical. EVERYBODY knows what you're talking about when you say optical. But when I put "digital coaxial" into a newegg or amazon search box it can't seem to make up its mind which is which.

Coax is just the type of cable. There are many different connectors that can be put on the end of it. A TV/cable connection uses F connectors, or analog security cameras would use BNC, etc.

 

[sdifox]

You need a rg-59 cable terminated with RCA connectors. RG-6 is too stiff and too thick to fit a RCA connector on.

 

[sdifox]

Looks like this.

Alright. So I guess there are two completely different cables BOTH called Coaxial... I rather wish my tv had an optical. EVERYBODY knows what you're talking about when you say optical. But when I put "digital coaxial" into a newegg or amazon search box it can't seem to make up its mind which is which.

Optical SPDIF has narrower bandwidth than coax.

 

[thesmokingman]

Looks like this.



Alright. So I guess there are two completely different cables BOTH called Coaxial... I rather wish my tv had an optical. EVERYBODY knows what you're talking about when you say optical. But when I put "digital coaxial" into a newegg or amazon search box it can't seem to make up its mind which is which.

Hehe, they also call optical cables toslink. There's a duality here with cables it seems.

 

[balloonshark]

search amazon for digital coaxial audio cable.

 

[JSt0rm]

best place for cable:

http://www.redco.com/home.php

not sure if they have a lot of consumer grade stuff though.

 

[Sonikku]

Digital coaxial cables. http://www.monoprice.com/category?c_id=102&cp_id=10236

Post your tv and soundbar make and model or post a link to each.

TV UW40T8lw (can't find manual online)

Soundbar http://www.vizio.com/sb3821c6.html

 

[JSt0rm]

search for spdif cable. Thats what you want...

http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-Cable-DR...F8&qid=1458687763&sr=8-3&keywords=spdif+cable

there

 

[Matthiasa]

Optical SPDIF has narrower bandwidth than coax.

That's putting it lightly. SPDIF transmits surprising little data for optical... then again it was only ever meant for audio.

 

[balloonshark]

TV UW40T8lw (can't find manual online)

Soundbar http://www.vizio.com/sb3821c6.html

According to your soundbar it comes with the cable.

• Package ContentsSound Bar, Wireless Subwoofer, Remote, RCA to 3.5mm Stereo Audio Cable, Digital Coaxial Cable (RCA), Digital Optical Cable (Toslink), Wall Mounts, Quick Start Guide, Sound Bar Power Cable

 

[Ichinisan]

"Coaxial" just means there's an inner wire and an outer wire. The outer wire is usually braided and acts as ground.

All your RCA composite AV jacks are technically "coaxial."

But most people think of RG-6/RG-59 and F-type connectors when you say "coaxial."

S/PDIF digital audio can be carried over an RCA plug (coaxial) or a fiber-optic cable. Regardless, the quality is identical because it's digital.

 

[Ichinisan]

Looks like this.

Alright. So I guess there are two completely different cables BOTH called Coaxial... I rather wish my tv had an optical. EVERYBODY knows what you're talking about when you say optical. But when I put "digital coaxial" into a newegg or amazon search box it can't seem to make up its mind which is which.

Search should include "S/PDIF" (Sony/Philips Digital InterFace).

 

[Ichinisan]

"Co-axial" meaning "shares the same center axis." Any cable or connector where the outer shielding is a conductor around a center conductor is coaxial. So, yes, many incompatible cables can be referred to as "coaxial."

 

[Sonikku]

Regular rca cables work fine. It's a simple spdif signal, no high frequency stuff that needs extreme shielding.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF

Edit: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/S-PDIF-Sony-Philips-Digital-Interface

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=1059959

Edit2:

Edit3:

So I could use the red and white rca connectors for sound instead and suffer no loss in quality? I have tons of those cables already.

According to your soundbar it comes with the cable.

I got it second hand from a friend that was moving.

 

[Ichinisan]

So I could use the red and white rca connectors for sound instead and suffer no loss in quality? I have tons of those cables already.



I got it second hand from a friend that was moving.

You could, yes.