RCA interconnect builds: show ‘em off and share techniques/parts recommendations

[RockRolley]

Just built my own RCA interconnects using Jaycar components as a dry run and surprisingly they sound very good. Keen to build some higher level ones as time goes on. I know some people like a high price tag and it feels like they have something prestigious, but I’m more interested in high performance at reasonable, but not stingy, prices. Any techniques and part recommendations to share/show off and describe your builds? 

[RockRolley]

Just found this older thread-guess I may as well just use that one...

 

 

[pete_mac]

I previously played around with solid core copper and silver interconnects in PTFE tubing, coupled with either AECO 'star' RCAs or KLE. 

DIY interconnects using Aurealis 'star' RCAs, KLE Copper Harmony, solid silver, solid copper, teflon tube, and milspec silver plated copper, USB cable | DIY Audio Projects

 

Hard to go wrong with the star RCAs at these prices - insane value for a set of four!!

 

Black polymer star line RCAs

 

Metal body star line RCAs

 

Edited November 29, 2024 by pete_mac

[muon*]

I like the Star-Line plugs too.

 

The white cotton sleeve is cotton rope from Stacks (cheap), you just pull the gray cotton core and are left with a tube, sheath is a cloth type off Aliexpress (cheap). I finish the RCA ends with adhesive heat shrink for a secure finish.

Use whatever wire that takes ya fancy, use the money you saved on the other materials on wire, experiment.

 

Edited November 29, 2024 by muon*

[RockRolley]

Thanks @muon* and @pete_mac,

These look great. I have a pair of cables with the star line RCA plugs-came with a used SP-10MK2 turntable/Univector tonearm that had been put together by Duc @lovetube. I assume he did the cables too. They seem great.

At those prices on Ali Express, I suppose its safe to assume they are not original? Nonetheless, indeed, at that price, its even cheaper than Jaycar plugs and probably pretty decent. Have you bought and used them from Ali Express, or from another supplier? I like the cloth sheath look with the heat shrink. @pete_mac, I've had a brief read of your thread, looks very interesting, I'll give it a more thorough read. Also considering making a decent USB cable for my streamer>Dac.

[muon*]

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/rca-connectors/elecaudio-te-rc85s-rca-plugs-tellurium-copper-gold-plated-o85mm-pair-p-9045.html

Probably from the same supplier, (AECO is a major supplier of connectors to the industry)

 

Sleeve is cotton/nylon, I used the 12mm size, but then I had the bulk of the two cotton tubes to cater for.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002904909707.html

Edited November 30, 2024 by muon*

[pete_mac]

@RockRolley they are all genuine - you’re just bypassing a retail bricks and mortar seller.
 

They are well and truly a class above anything Jaycar offers to my ears and feature tellurium copper conductors, not brass. The bang for buck ratio is huge! There’s simply no reason to buy any other cheap RCA connector over these. 
 

They also make a solid silver version but they are much pricier. 
 

I always keep a spare set of these on hand for a rainy day. Here’s a set where I’ve sanded off the silver plating to reveal the tellurium copper beneath.
 

You will notice that the machining of the centre pin is not perfect (as often happens with this grade of copper) and there’s a small ‘sag’ on the moulded plastic part. I suspect these may not have passed visual quality control, hence being sold for $10 for four. That said, the ones currently for sale may be perfect!

 

Of course, none of these matters affect sound quality. 
 

 

[muon*]

I agree with Pete.

 

They are low mass and made of decent metals.

Edited November 30, 2024 by muon*
typo

[RockRolley]

19 hours ago, muon* said:

I like the Star-Line plugs too.

 

The white cotton sleeve is cotton rope from Stacks (cheap), you just pull the gray cotton core and are left with a tube, sheath is a cloth type off Aliexpress (cheap). I finish the RCA ends with adhesive heat shrink for a secure finish.

Use whatever wire that takes ya fancy, use the money you saved on the other materials on wire, experiment.

 

Any sonic preference between the polymer or metal body version? Is the metal version slimmer than polymer? For one project (Radford SC22P) the rca inputs are incredibly close together and so far have only managed to get cheapo standard plastic ones in there. Wider is fine for other purposes. 

[RockRolley]

8 hours ago, pete_mac said:

@RockRolley they are all genuine - you’re just bypassing a retail bricks and mortar seller.
 

They are well and truly a class above anything Jaycar offers to my ears and feature tellurium copper conductors, not brass. The bang for buck ratio is huge! There’s simply no reason to buy any other cheap RCA connector over these. 
 

They also make a solid silver version but they are much pricier. 
 

I always keep a spare set of these on hand for a rainy day. Here’s a set where I’ve sanded off the silver plating to reveal the tellurium copper beneath.
 

You will notice that the machining of the centre pin is not perfect (as often happens with this grade of copper) and there’s a small ‘sag’ on the moulded plastic part. I suspect these may not have passed visual quality control, hence being sold for $10 for four. That said, the ones currently for sale may be perfect!

 

Of course, none of these matters affect sound quality. 
 

 

Cool, thanks for the extra assurance. Yes, seems like a no brainer to have a crack at a few cables with these

[muon*]

11 minutes ago, RockRolley said:

Any sonic preference between the polymer or metal body version? Is the metal version slimmer than polymer? For one project (Radford SC22P) the rca inputs are incredibly close together and so far have only managed to get cheapo standard plastic ones in there. Wider is fine for other purposes. 

I think they are about the same, I ordered the polymer ones normally but got sent those metal ones from an ebay seller.

The Polymer ones would be better if there is a chance they will contact each other with the Radford. even though if terminated correctly without the earth touching the barrels it should not matter. Just means if you use the metal barrel ones you need to cover the earth connection inside them with heat shrink.

Should be no sonic difference given the barrel is not part of the connection.

Edited November 30, 2024 by muon*

[RockRolley]

16 hours ago, muon* said:

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/rca-connectors/elecaudio-te-rc85s-rca-plugs-tellurium-copper-gold-plated-o85mm-pair-p-9045.html

Probably from the same supplier, (AECO is a major supplier of connectors to the industry)

 

Sleeve is cotton/nylon, I used the 12mm size, but then I had the bulk of the two cotton tubes to cater for.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002904909707.html

Thanks, I’ve bought audiophonics gear before and been VERY happy 

[RockRolley]

On 29/11/2024 at 3:31 PM, RockRolley said:

Just found this older thread-guess I may as well just use that one...

 

Correction: I just read this (almost) in its entirety and it is essentially one person showing his cable build and then an extended haggle/discussion between a few others over which IC construction method is best/real/proven and which is fantasy/likely to introduce unwanted noise. I'm not sure if it ends up anywhere conclusive, but don't want to reopen similar wrangling here.

At this point, for me as a non-engineer, I'd be interested in a few construction methods that are known to produce nice sound that I can experiment with, and good components, i.e. wire, solder, plugs, sleeving that are likely to make nice musical sound at reasonable value. I'm not averse to nice aesthetics either. 

[playdough]

G'day

Made plenty of signal cables over the years.

These days after some trials and tribulations, I buy my cable here, normally a high temp silver/copper type. 

 https://www.ebay.com.au/str/johnssilverplatedptfewireshop?_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l161211

and use Rean or Neutrik connectors only.

Working with normally a DSP Speaker Manager I'll need at least 9 good quality, reliable RCA Cables and making them for around $20 each has a very good considerable cost to excellent quality ratio.  

 

I find the Rean RCA to be a very durable/reliable, compact and elegant I can use in the tightest of spacings.  

[RockRolley]

5 hours ago, playdough said:

I find the Rean RCA to be a very durable/reliable, compact and elegant I can use in the tightest of spacings.  

Ahhhh, for a couple of my preamps they have VERY tight spacing, these could come in handy. Mind if I ask a good place to purchase them? 
 

[playdough]

9 hours ago, RockRolley said:

Mind if I ask a good place to purchase them

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/155540571125?var=455780709603

Not sure if the link will work but I search on Ebay  "Neutrik RCA"

Last night I ordered , 20 off

The cable

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/235468391299

Search "10 feet 16 AWG Shielded Silver Plated Wire Cross-Linked Coax SPC"

I purchased 2 lengths, 6m

Next component to buy is the miniDSP Flex 8, for a new set of speakers I'm building.

When soldering these, use a small sleeve of resin inside type heat shrink, you will see it installed on the above photo, the resin oozing out, it restrains outer coax braid, from shorting the signal. The RCA cables have a tiny 3mm diameter.

I always test my cables before using them, in case of a break or short as occasionally I'll find one that's not quite right.

In the past I've tried lots of other types of RCA's they are pretty well all crap in comparison at this price point

 

Sound quality, well, that;s in the ears of the beholder, however at twenty ea, sensational and look like a two hundred dollar cable.

 

playdough

 

 

Edited December 1, 2024 by playdough

[RockRolley]

Thanks @playdough, I really appreciate all that. Unfortunately, I need to wait till my next pay comes through on Wed, and they are down to the last cable of the type you recommended. 

Nonetheless, looks interesting. So far in chats about cables, I've seen people talk about pure copper and pure silver, both offering different characteristics, and I see these are silver plated copper. What are your thoughts on the characteristics of this combo wire?

[playdough]

1 hour ago, RockRolley said:

What are your thoughts on the characteristics of this combo wire

mmmm, good question.

Bear in mind I have done a lot of work in Pro Audio and an Electrical Technician  a different World to home HiFi, where actual reliability and consistency of patch cabling far out weighs any other attribute. 99% of Pro Audio use Neutrik, period.

Personally try to keep out of these types of remarks on "how a cable can alter sound quality character" 

However firstly and foremost is the actual mechanical character of the RCA connector/cable. reliable easy on easy off, useful for the most delicate RCA back plates of the latest DSP equipment. Lightweight and "loomable" as seen in the photos.

Using coax instead of single strand silver, well, again an electrical character of very low capacitance and noise rejection offered by coaxial.

 

I've had problems with others (complete cables) being too fat, or too long (not customisable) or in some other way a problem, I've also found some RCA's that have a manual clamping arrangement to be an absolute pita to use in these tiny confines.

Sound quality is good, combining a skin of silver on the copper makes the best of both metal elements. The brightness of silver with the mello nature of copper, but again, silver is more resistant to oxidation and in the end, more reliable over extended periods of connection. Copper gold RCA connectors, also in this league, of excellent properties over years and years of a static connection. 

So in conclusion

1, cheap

2, customisable

3, reliable grip on the RCA socket, over extended periods of time, uniform over the whole set of plugs

4, Oxide and corrosion resistant over a decade, set and forget

5, proven and used in Pro Audio as an industry standard of excellence.

6, Quick easy to solder and build, using all parts of the kit + a little ES1 Resin inside heat shrink

7. My speaker systems are fully DSP using 8 separate power amplifier channels, so cost and customisable systems of connection are required and delivered with this methodology 

 

I'm a Tech  my ears have trouble telling the difference between signal cables and I don't get into the cable debates. I'll say this though, a better set of speakers combined with a solid room treatment strategy will trump a better set of patch cables every day of the week,,,,,,,,,

 

Playdough.

 

Edited December 2, 2024 by playdough

[RockRolley]

8 minutes ago, playdough said:

Personally try to keep out of these types of remarks on "how a cable can alter sound quality character" 

Hahaha, good policy

9 minutes ago, playdough said:

99% of Pro Audio use Neutrik, period.

Cool, are the ebay ones original or 'tributes'?

17 minutes ago, playdough said:

1, cheap

2, customisable

3, reliable grip on the RCA socket, over extended periods of time, uniform over the whole set of plugs

4, Oxide and corrosion resistant over a decade, set and forget

5, proven and used in Pro Audio as an industry standard of excellence.

6, Quick easy to solder and build, using all parts of the kit + a little ES1 Resin inside heat shrink

7. My speaker systems are fully DSP using 8 separate power amplifier channels, so cost and customisable systems of connection are required and delivered with this methodology 

Thanks, your posts have pretty much covered my initial parameters for the discussion which is much appreciated. I also like that the wire is similar to what I've already used with the coax style with shielding, so I already know how to manage/solder that onto the plugs. This all looks like a good next step for me and could be a great solution for my amps with the close rca inputs. I think they will also be good to compare/contrast with what I've already built.

Thanks

[playdough]

9 minutes ago, RockRolley said:

Cool, are the ebay ones original or 'tributes'?

Genuine

Don't buy copies, they are trouble. Rean Neutrik, They are only a fiver each, so yea,,,,,,,,,,no risk.

[ray4410]

35 minutes ago, playdough said:

Genuine

Don't buy copies, they are trouble. Rean Neutrik, They are only a fiver each, so yea,,,,,,,,,,no risk.

the link you used in an earlier post for Rean RCA on ebay are Chinese copies you can get genuine Neutrik Rean rca from Cliff Electronics in Qld. 

[playdough]

54 minutes ago, ray4410 said:

the link you used in an earlier post for Rean RCA on ebay are Chinese copies you can get genuine Neutrik Rean rca from Cliff Electronics in Qld. 

Something I didn't know cheers (check the Ebay List again, it states Rean/Neutrik), although the little packet strips and contents reak of a re brand rather than a cheap imitation. 

Edited December 2, 2024 by playdough

[RockRolley]

OK: rookie question. What is 'AWG' 16, 24 etc. and what is generally accepted as good for RCAs?

[playdough]

15 minutes ago, RockRolley said:

OK: rookie question. What is 'AWG' 16, 24 etc. and what is generally accepted as good for RCAs?

awg, Larger the number, smaller the cross section of the conductor.

You can use wire the diameter of a hair or power cable, coax has a fixed impedance. You can use 2 wires or a coax and everything in between.

I feel, Simon you are going down the rabbit hole at this point, meaning a hole I avoid commentary.

Good luck

 

Good luck 

[RockRolley]

6 minutes ago, playdough said:

awg, Larger the number, smaller the cross section of the conductor.

You can use wire the diameter of a hair or power cable, coax has a fixed impedance. You can use 2 wires or a coax and everything in between.

I feel, Simon you are going down the rabbit hole at this point, meaning a hole I avoid commentary.

Good luck

 

Good luck 

Thanks, not really wanting to go down the rabbit hole, its just I was trying to see if the seller you recommended had any more of the spec you recommended to me (16AWG), and they had very little, but a bunch of other AWG and I wasn't sure if that was problematic