Rca or coaxial

[jkdjedi]

Coax transports a digital signal containing all informations. Channels will be decoded later at your DAC. Or do you need two WIFI networks to stream stereo songs?

You do need a right and left cable for RCA...no?

 

[alpha_zulu]

You do need a right and left cable for RCA...no?

Yes, but this is the OUTput of your DAC. Coax digital signal is INput.

 

[jkdjedi]

Yes, but this is the OUTput of your DAC. Coax digital signal is INput.

What's confusing to me is that the coaxial cable of say a TV is threaded ends..but for hifi components looks just like a RCA input/output connection.
But seems like coaxial hifi cables are made differently compared to RCA cables. How would you know...they both look alike.

 

[alpha_zulu]

They don‘t look like RCA interconnects because have only one cable. In addition, coax cables have an impedance of 75 ohms, RCA cables have an impedance of 50 ohms.

Amazon.de

 

[harkpabst]

In addition, coax cables have an impedance of 75 ohms, RCA cables have an impedance of 50 ohms.

More precisely: Analogue RCA cables don't have a defined characteristic impedance at all. They are designed for NF signals where the concept of characteristic impedance doesn't apply (but low capacitance and low ohmic resistance are important).

 

[jkdjedi]

More precisely: Analogue RCA cables don't have a defined characteristic impedance at all. They are designed for NF signals where the concept of characteristic impedance doesn't apply (but low capacitance and low ohmic resistance are important).

Sound differences between sbdif vs coaxial?

 

[alpha_zulu]

Sound differences between sbdif vs coaxial?

You need to try by yourself.

 

[harkpabst]

Sound differences between sbdif vs coaxial?

I don't understand the question. S/PDIF can be transmitted either electrically through coaxial cable with a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms or optically through glasfibre (commonly referred to as TOSLINK). Coaxial cable is often terminated with RCA plugs, although technically 75 ohm BNC plugs are better.

Some people don't bother using proper coaxial cable for S/PDIF but just use regular analogue RCA cables. Obviously this works well enough in many cases. There is no reason to believe the technically unfit analogue RCA cable could somehow magically sound better than a proper 75 ohm coaxial cable.

Coaxial cables can also be used to make analogue interconnects. This is popular e.g. with balanced audio cables or cables for turntables.

If your question is wether the digital S/PDIF is better or analogue RCA connection then nobody can answer that but you. S/PDIF sends a digital signal to your external DAC. Analogue RCA sends an analogue signal from the WiiM's DAC to an analogue amplifier or powered speaker input.

 

[alpha_zulu]

I think he ment differences between coax vs. optical.

 

[harkpabst]

I think he ment differences between coax vs. optical.

In that case your answer is still the correct one, of course.

 

[jkdjedi]

Sorry guys, was just thinking out loud about this stuff. Things that made me go hymn....