Coaxial SPDIF cables provide a dedicated digital audio connection, commonly used between CD players, DACs, games consoles and AV receivers where an audio-only digital link is needed rather than the combined video and audio of HDMI. Despite superficially resembling an analogue RCA cable, coaxial digital cables are built to a different specification, with an impedance specifically matched to reliably carry the digital audio signal.

Using a genuine coaxial digital cable, rather than a standard analogue RCA cable, matters more than many people realise - an incorrectly specified cable can still work, but may be more prone to signal errors or reduced reliability, particularly over longer cable runs. Coaxial connections remain a popular choice for connecting a CD transport to an external DAC, or linking older equipment that predates widespread HDMI adoption.

For a reliable, dedicated digital audio connection between compatible components, a correctly specified coaxial SPDIF cable offers a straightforward and dependable solution.