RCA-type cable for digital audio output?

[clicknext]

There are two standard types of digital audio output, the optical one and the one that looks like RCA, right? Can I use regular RCA cable on that instead of pay the ridiculous prices they charge because it's "digital"? Or is it different? I'm planning on outputting from my computer (soundstorm) to my home theater system in the next room.

Thanks.

 

[bmacd]

you can use a standard RCA

-=bmacd=-

 

[skriefal]

A standard RCA video cable will work fine. An audio cable may or may not work, or if it does work it could cause intermittent and seemingly random dropouts. A digital coaxial cable is nothing more than a video cable with fancier packaging and a higher price.

 

[silverpig]

Yeah, it'll work fine.

 

[SuperTool]

I have two standard RCA cables running from my computer to the receiver, video and digital audio. I am basically using a two prong stereo RCA audio cable for both. Both video and sound work fine.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: skriefal
A standard RCA video cable will work fine. An audio cable may or may not work, or if it does work it could cause intermittent and seemingly random dropouts. A digital coaxial cable is nothing more than a video cable with fancier packaging and a higher price.

True.

I've had some cheap Radio Shack RCA cables work as stereo interconnects but not work as digital audio interconnects.

It really depends on the quality of the cable.