Why a "digital" coax cable?


Sorry for the noob question, just trying to learn...

What is the difference between a 75ohm digital coax cable and a regular ol' RCA/RCA interconnect?

For instance, would there be a noticeable difference (improvement) between a digital interconnect and an Audioquest King Cobra for connecting the digital out from my Squeezebox (or CD, DVD, etc) to the digital coax input on my integrated amp? If so, how come?

Thanks all!
joncourage

Showing 1 response by joncourage

Yep, the integrated has both analog in's and also digital in's (coax and optical).

In a casual a/b I think I liked the digital connection better than analog (using audioquest viper analog interconnects, .5m, and a aq king cobra interconnect for the digital).

But it seems pretty clear that the king cobra isn't the "right" cable to use to connect the digital side.

I'll do more of a blind a/b later today once I can teach my wife how to switch between sources.

But I'm thinking a "real" digital cable might be even better, if the king cobra isn't meant for that use.

The source (squeezebox3) has built-in DACs that are supposed to be decent, but if I like the digital out better I guess that means I prefer the DACs on the integrated?