What are Digital Coaxial Cables?
Digital coaxial cables are a type of cable specifically designed for carrying a digital, electronic signal. They can theoretically be used for any type of information, but most consumers will use them for audio/video connections, particularly for surround sound systems.
A standard coaxial cable is simply a cable where there is a central wire wrapped by an insulating material, then a metal shield, and finally a plastic casing. The signal is transmitted along the cable as an electromagnetic wave which travels through the insulating material. Coaxial cables are available with a variety of different plugs at either end for connecting to different equipment such as a TV set or cable box.
Digital coaxial cables usually look and feel virtually identical to a standard coaxial cable used for the same activity. The main differences are that they are better shielded from interference; have a higher impedance, allowing them to handle more energy; and can handle a wider range of electrical frequencies.
Some people argue that the word ‘digital’ is simply a marketing trick for such cables because they work in the same way as a standard coaxial cable. This argument really comes down to how you interpret the wording. Digital coaxial cables aren’t digital in and of themselves, but they are designed to do a better job of carrying a digital signal.
It’s worth remembering that it’s more important to have an effective cable with a digital signal. That’s because, unlike an analog signal where any lost information simply means a worse sound or picture quality, if any information is lost from a digital signal you will get a blip with no sound or picture at all.
As well as showing a cable is designed to carry a digital signal, the phrase digital coaxial cable is often used to distinguish between the two main methods of carrying digital audio signals, particularly those used for surround sound. The other method uses optical cables, which are sometimes referred to as Toslink. These work by sending light signals through a tube rather than electrical pulses down a wire.
There is a long-running debate in the tech world about whether digital coaxial cables or optical cables are better. For most people it simply comes down to which types of socket they have on their equipment. Where you do have the choice, optical may work better over long distances or in areas where there is a lot of electrical interference, while digital coaxial is better if you need to bend cables at tight angles.
Written by John Lister
