RCA A/V cable vs Coaxial RCA cable

[Tonglebeak]

Is there any difference in quality between using standard rca a/v cables and using a coax cable with an rca connector on it? If not I'd rather use the coax method since it's so much cheaper (being a cable tech makes this possible :P) and it's much easier to replace fittings on coax than a regular a/v cable.

[sickcallawayc12]

Don't quote me on this, but I believe quality is affected only if the material is different (i.e. gold plugs are better for quality than others). Even then, it usually isn't a big difference.

[PlayStation3]

are the coaxial one twisted ?

[PaulD]

a coaxial cable, by definition, is not a twisted pair. Most RCA's are coax anyway, the problem with coax is that it's a noise antenna for freq's below 500 MHz. That means it has NO noise rejection characterisitics for audio freq's.

[Tonglebeak]

Oh forgot to mention I'm referring to RG6 cable. Center conductor is wrapped by dielectric which is wrapped by a grounding braid to protect against noise.

[PaulD]

yes, the bigger around the plastic dielectric is ... the more of an antenna the coax cable will be at audio frequencies. RG6 is designed for VIDEO - normal freq's are around 4,000,000 Hz, audio is 20-20,000 Hz. RG6 is NOT designed to reject noise in the audio band.

[Tonglebeak]

Alright, so conductivity won't be different. I am a cable service tech and test downstream and upstream noise constantly, ranging from 4khz to 55mhz through this tests. With good cable that has good fittings, the noise floor remains well on the bottom with no differences from frequency to frequency.

I'm just going to use the rg6. Snap-n-seal F fitting with an F-to-RCA adapter on the end, wrenched tightened. Should work out just fine.

[PaulD]

if you make them up and don't have noise, then everything is cool. As far as signal, copper is copper.