Coax Cables

These coaxial cables are for digital audio rather than TV antennas: S/PDIF leads, mostly 75 ohm with RCA plugs, that carry a digital signal from a CD transport, streamer or TV to a DAC, receiver or amplifier. The range covers AudioQuest, Kimber Kable, Inakustik and Montaudio, with RCA, BNC and XLR terminations for different inputs.

What makes digital coaxial cables different

A digital coaxial cable looks like one half of an RCA pair, but it is built as a true coaxial line: a centre conductor, a surrounding shield and a characteristic impedance of 75 ohms to suit the S/PDIF standard. Kimber Kable's V21 is based on RG59 and the DV30 on RG6, coaxial families with a long history in video. AudioQuest's models use hard-cell foam insulation, aimed at keeping that impedance consistent along the run.

Silver, copper and connector choices

AudioQuest's audio coax cable range steps up by silver content. Forest uses 0.5% silver conductors, Cinnamon 1.25%, Carbon 5% and Coffee 10%, while Diamond uses solid 100% Perfect-Surface Silver. Kimber Kable's Summit Series D60 is a 75 ohm pure silver tri-axial design, and the Inakustik Premium Digital Cable pairs a solid OFC copper inner conductor with double shielding.

Connections vary too. Montaudio Waitaki DH-1 is offered with RCA or BNC terminations, for transports and DACs with BNC sockets, and the Inakustik 2405 AIR Reference Digital with RCA or XLR, the XLR version suiting AES/EBU inputs. Lengths run from 0.75m up to 6m on the Kimber Kable D60 and V21.

Questions we get asked

What's the difference between RCA, BNC and XLR digital cables?

RCA is the usual S/PDIF plug on home components. BNC is a locking bayonet plug designed to hold 75 ohms through the connector itself, which is why some transports and DACs use it. XLR digital cables are for AES/EBU, a balanced format that runs at 110 ohms, so they only suit gear with an AES/EBU input. The sockets on your gear decide it.

Coaxial or optical for digital audio?

Both carry S/PDIF. Coax is an electrical connection with RCA or BNC plugs, while optical cables send the signal as light, which keeps the two components electrically isolated. Many DACs accept both, so the choice often comes down to which sockets are free.

Can I use a normal RCA cable for digital coax?

An analogue interconnect will often pass a signal over a short run, but it isn't built to 75 ohms, and avoiding that impedance mismatch is the point of a coaxial digital cable. For the lead into one of our DACs, a proper 75 ohm coaxial cable for audio is the sensible choice. Our RCA cables are the analogue side of the story.

Tell us what's at each end and how far apart they sit, and we'll talk through RCA, BNC or XLR and the length that fits. Call the team or visit our Murarrie showroom, and call or message first if you'd like a demo arranged.