Toslink optical cable and RCA digital cable are both used to carry digital audio signals. Using digital rather than analog allows for better quality audio and surround sound that is determined by the audio creator, such as a movie studio producing a DVD, rather than through audio equipment simulating and creating the surround effects. The two cabling systems have some practical differences, and there is some debate about which is best. RCA refers to a specific type of connector that uses a standard size and design of a circular pin in a jack. RCA can carry many different types of audio and video information, including digital audio. Though strictly speaking it is factually correct, the term “RCA digital cable” is not used as commonly as alternatives such as “digital coaxial” or simply “coaxial.” Rather confusingly, people sometimes use just “digital” to distinguish RCA/coaxial cabling, even though Toslink is also a digital system. While coaxial cable uses the RCA format plug, Toslink cables have a transparent connector that is almost square rather than circular. Writer Bio
