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Topic: Max coax length from USB to spdif converter to DAC  (Read 2235 times) previous topic - next topic
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Max coax length from USB to spdif converter to DAC

Hi all. I have an old PM300 Marantz amp and DAC in the living room and I want to put a small "USB to spdif" converter on my PC in the office and run a coax cable to the living room.  It's about 10 meters total distance. This is with RCA type coax connectors at both ends. The spdif converter is USB powered from the PC but can accept an external 5 volt source for some juice. Will there be any signal loss with a 10 meter 75 ohm coax cable ?

Re: Max coax length from USB to spdif converter to DAC

Reply #1 –
Wikipedia says 10M.  

With high frequencies (or digital) the impedance is more important over longer distances so if you don't already have the cable, make sure to buy a "75 Ohm" cable.   (A regular audio cable will work over short distances and it might work over longer distances.  I've used a regular audio cable over 3-4M.)

It should be easy enough to try before you route the cable.      With digital, signal loss that affects the sound will be obvious, so you don't have to "listen carefully'"...   You'll either get no sound because the digital signal can't be decoded, or very bad sound with clicks, pops, dropouts, etc.

Re: Max coax length from USB to spdif converter to DAC

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Wardw on
Hi all. I have an old PM300 Marantz amp and DAC in the living room and I want to put a small "USB to spdif" converter on my PC in the office and run a coax cable to the living room.  It's about 10 meters total distance. This is with RCA type coax connectors at both ends. The spdif converter is USB powered from the PC but can accept an external 5 volt source for some juice. Will there be any signal loss with a 10 meter 75 ohm coax cable ?

I wouldn't expect any problems with a regular RG-6-type cable and a 30 foot run. Most SP/DIF outputs put out twice as much voltage as is specified for a SP/DIF input, ore more.

Re: Max coax length from USB to spdif converter to DAC

Reply #3 –
Getting audio data from your PC to your Marantz can be done over your wireless network; no need for USB/SPDIF converter or long cable.  If you're interested in learning more about this, reply here.

Re: Max coax length from USB to spdif converter to DAC

Reply #4 –
Thanks for the responses all. Apesbrain, you have my attention. FYI, the DAC has only coax in and I don't want to spend much money. I'm an ex-pat Aussie in Brazil so things are not as easy to source here as in the US or UK, but I am all ears ;-)  Cheers.

Re: Max coax length from USB to spdif converter to DAC

Reply #5 –
I was going to suggest a Chromecast Audio player (which is available in Brazil), but it's optical SPDIF only (and stereo analog).  It plus a UPnP server on your PC would do the trick.

What software player are you using?

Found a converter:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002GV876/ref=pd_aw_sbs_23_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=3E9SN9CQP54BY4BCGS6W
 

Re: Max coax length from USB to spdif converter to DAC

Reply #6 –
PC --> USB cable (x meters) --> USB to coax interface --> coax cable (10 - x meters) --> amp
So the coax cable is actually much shorter than 10 meters
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB#Cabling