Cable Asylum

Posted by Chris Sommovigo (M) on August 05, 2003 at 17:25:41

In Reply to: Difference between i2Digital X-60 and Stereovox HDXV?? posted by basstwo on August 05, 2003 at 02:30:37:

Hi Basstwo!

There is an appreciable difference between the HDXV and the i2Digital cable.

The X-60 is a more complicated cable in terms of its construction. In fact, it is a sub-cable within a floating cable. The X-60 employs a very small coaxial cable that uses a helical shield, all of which is mechanically and geometrically stabilized by the forces of an outer maypole-braided metal sheath radially constricting a sub-layer of insulation. Because of its shielding construction and radial constriction the X-60 could edge out the HDXV in terms of absolute bandwidth for what would be considered normal run-lengths for a digital cable.

The HDXV is a simpler design that is not a floating cable-within-a-cable. It uses a slightly faster dielectric (greater velocity, lower capacitance) and a larger signal conductor - allowing it to work very well in much longer lengths typically found in video installations. It relies on the multi-filar dielectric (air-teflon) for mechanical damping instead of the radial compression of a passive sheath constricting a damping layer. Because the HDXV is a less complicated design, its production costs would be lower than the X-60.

Both cables employ 4GHz BNC connectors made by the same company, although the HDXV uses a different model due to the larger shield OD and larger signal conductor OD. Both cables use similar BNC:RCA interseries adapters.

I hope that this helps to clear up the differences!