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Gear / Technical Help => Cables => Topic started by: moondust.and.solitude on March 27, 2022, 06:10:08 PM

Title: digital coaxial audio cable to 3.5mm
Post by: moondust.and.solitude on March 27, 2022, 06:10:08 PM
I am wanting to transfer some DAT's to the Tascam DR-100mkIII using the digital input. Can someone recommend a good digital coax cable to 3.5mm (SPDIF) input off Amazon? I've looked and can't dial in one that I think is any good.
Title: Re: digital coaxial audio cable to 3.5mm
Post by: goodcooker on March 27, 2022, 07:31:32 PM

Is the digital input on the DR100 TRS or TRRS?
Title: Re: digital coaxial audio cable to 3.5mm
Post by: moondust.and.solitude on March 27, 2022, 09:17:36 PM

Is the digital input on the DR100 TRS or TRRS?

That is a good question. I am almost positive that it's TRS. I looks just like this one (see picture)

Title: Re: digital coaxial audio cable to 3.5mm
Post by: darby on March 27, 2022, 10:49:09 PM
here's what you need for a DR-100mkIII
https://www.ebay.com/itm/392084915534
Title: Re: digital coaxial audio cable to 3.5mm
Post by: moondust.and.solitude on March 28, 2022, 03:14:40 AM
here's what you need for a DR-100mkIII
https://www.ebay.com/itm/392084915534

This is perfect. Thank you!
Title: Re: digital coaxial audio cable to 3.5mm
Post by: moondust.and.solitude on March 28, 2022, 09:11:39 AM
here's what you need for a DR-100mkIII
https://www.ebay.com/itm/392084915534

This is perfect. Thank you!

Since the 3.5mm only has one ring, does that indicate that it's "mono" and do I need to find one with 2 rings for stereo? Or since it's SPDIF does it follow the same "ring rule" as analog cables. Sorry for the newbie questions.
Title: Re: digital coaxial audio cable to 3.5mm
Post by: darby on March 28, 2022, 09:40:10 AM
here's what you need for a DR-100mkIII
https://www.ebay.com/itm/392084915534

This is perfect. Thank you!

Since the 3.5mm only has one ring, does that indicate that it's "mono" and do I need to find one with 2 rings for stereo? Or since it's SPDIF does it follow the same "ring rule" as analog cables. Sorry for the newbie questions.

I've even used a typical "Y" cable with the Left channel only in a pinch
look at the cable that is included with Tascam... it has (1) ring
Title: Re: digital coaxial audio cable to 3.5mm
Post by: moondust.and.solitude on March 28, 2022, 12:04:31 PM
here's what you need for a DR-100mkIII
https://www.ebay.com/itm/392084915534

This is perfect. Thank you!

Since the 3.5mm only has one ring, does that indicate that it's "mono" and do I need to find one with 2 rings for stereo? Or since it's SPDIF does it follow the same "ring rule" as analog cables. Sorry for the newbie questions.

I've even used a typical "Y" cable with the Left channel only in a pinch
look at the cable that is included with Tascam... it has (1) ring

Thank you. I just wanted to check. You learned me sometin' today. I appreciate it.
Title: Re: digital coaxial audio cable to 3.5mm
Post by: gormenghast on March 28, 2022, 12:05:36 PM
What DAT deck are you coming out of?  I'm using a Sony D10ProII which has a proprietary AES digital cable.  I had to have a custom AES>SPDIF cable made.  Here is the cable that goes to my Tascam DR100MKII.  Seeing the photo above it looks like one ring.  I'd contact Tascam and confirm.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967423830_779227b46e_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nbbCA3)
Title: Re: digital coaxial audio cable to 3.5mm
Post by: audBall on March 28, 2022, 12:35:31 PM
The red single ring cable above is likely just an unbalanced 75 ohm cable (sleeve + ring). I suspect the D10 AES (presumably balanced) cable ^ is not utilizing one of the rings, while remaining a balanced (sleeve + ring + ring). A regular 75 ohm SPDIF cable with RCA connectors at the ends only (no TRS/3.5mm) needs only a single connector to send a stereo signal, not two RCAs as would be required for splitting L and R analog signals.

This 75 ohm cable below shows two rings on the connector end; however, the description notes that one is not connected, effectively making it akin to the red cable linked above.

https://www.amazon.com/Micca-Premium-SPDIF-Digital-Coaxial/dp/B00V436UQU
Title: Re: digital coaxial audio cable to 3.5mm
Post by: jefflester on March 28, 2022, 01:46:11 PM
The red single ring cable above is likely just an unbalanced 75 ohm cable (sleeve + ring). I suspect the D10 AES (presumably balanced) cable ^ is not utilizing one of the rings, while remaining a balanced (sleeve + ring + ring). A regular 75 ohm SPDIF cable with RCA connectors at the ends only (no TRS/3.5mm) needs only a single connector to send a stereo signal, not two RCAs as would be required for splitting L and R analog signals.

This 75 ohm cable below shows two rings on the connector end; however, the description notes that one is not connected, effectively making it akin to the red cable linked above.

https://www.amazon.com/Micca-Premium-SPDIF-Digital-Coaxial/dp/B00V436UQU
You're kind of confusing things when you say that has two rings, as it only has one.
Tip-Ring-Sleeve (TRS) is the terminology for a plug like that.

Tip-Ring-Ring-Sleeve (TRRS) would be 2 rings and look like this (and the one gormenghast showed) :
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Kg9gzl1oL._AC_.jpg)
Title: Re: digital coaxial audio cable to 3.5mm
Post by: audBall on March 28, 2022, 02:22:50 PM
 :facepalm: Woops, thanks for the correction. Post stricken.

Are the 75 vs 110 ohm and only one ring necessary assumptions for OP's needs correct?
Title: Re: digital coaxial audio cable to 3.5mm
Post by: Melanie on March 31, 2022, 10:11:21 AM
I bought a dr100mkIII used from someone here, it came with the same plug as the red one pictured above, TRS, one ring, works fine.
Title: Re: digital coaxial audio cable to 3.5mm
Post by: commongrounder on March 31, 2022, 02:28:51 PM
Just to clarify, the TASCAM DR-100mkiii(3) digital input is a 3.5mm TS (tip-sleeve) jack. The plug can be a simple TS type. S/PDIF digital is a single bitstream carried on 75ohm coaxial cable. I’ve used decent quality RCA terminated coaxial video cables with no problems. An RCA female to 3.5mm male adapter on one end allows it to interface with the DR-100mkiii digital input with no issues. Attached is a photo of the RCA to 3.5mm TS adapter that came with my DR-100mkiii. It’s basically a pigtail version of a one-piece RCA-F to 3.5mm-M adapter.