Will I reduce amp/receiver performance if I use extension cord? (1 Viewer)

[Rich Malloy]

Will I reduce the performance of my amp/receiver if I use an appliance-rated (heavy duty) extension cord? (You know, the kind they sell for air conditioners and the like.)
Also - and I hate to start a whole new thread for this, so maybe someone can confirm - can I use a video cable (the yellow one!) for an audio digital coax connection? I've got a Monster video cable collecting dust at the moment, and I've heard tell these are identical to so-called "audio digital coax". I'd like to try it out in place of the optical cable I'm currently running to see if there's any improvement in sound.
Thanks!

 

[Brian_C]

Not likely.

Yes, assuming your Monster video cable is a 75 ohm cable.

 

[Rich Malloy]

Thanks, Brian!

What I'll do is to run it with and without the extension to see if I can hear any difference, but I wanted to ask just in case there was a hard-and-fast "rule" as it were.

And I'm guessing that Monster video-cable (yellow w/RCA jacks) must be a 75 ohm cable - they all are, right? And, so, since this is the same type of cable as "audio digital coax", it ought to work!

 

[JohnRice]

Rich,

As long as you use a heavy enough extension cord, you should have no problem. Avoid letting it run along next to your speaker cables. Are you talking just your receiver, or a receiver and external amp? Regardless, a 14 gauge cord should be plenty good, but you could also go with a 12 guage. Don't be fooled by appearances, many heavy looking extension cords are only 18 gauge or even worse. The gauge will be on the label as well as pressed into the insulation.

The Monster video cable should be just fine. If it was a brand-x I would be less certain. I only have one genuine "digital" cable. The rest are Monster video cables.