Exactly!
As for why? I don’t know… I would probably use one per channel, signal and ground to one of the inner conductors, connect the shield on one side. It will probably work as well as any other cable.
-
WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
Need help identifying old interconnects
- Thread starter Briank
- Start date
- Status
- Thread Starter
- #22
Thank you!
Killingbeans
Major Contributor
Because they want to stand out from the crowd.
Maybe it works just like any other RCA cable, or maybe it actually does something to the sound. But that "something" is guaranteed to have nothing to do with quality. Just a convoluted way of applying EQ.
Recoton RCA Cable Review (Ultra Cheap Cable)
This is a review and detailed measurements of the ultra cheap, "vintage," retail RCA cable. A member kindly sent it to me. It is not available anymore but I see two-packs on ebay for $4. The cable reminds me of the free ones you used to get in audio gear. It fits rather loosely on especially...
www.audiosciencereview.com
We are simply pointing out that you are at an extreme risk of chasing ghosts. If that's not helpful to you, we can't do much more than sit back and watch in bewilderment.
DSJR
Major Contributor
I don't know the type as pictured, but I've frequently used twin core microphone cables similar in construction (braided screen and sometimes an extra inner shielding layer as here) for RCA interconnects. The two inners I connected as 'hot and return' and the shield was connected at one end to the 'return' and soldered to the 'outer' of the RCA plug. Works for me... Obviously fine for balanced XLR use as originally intended.
Some interconnect makers twisted the two inner cores together, using both as 'hot' with the shield/screen as return as is conventional for RCA plugs but I believe it fecks with the capacitance.
Thickest coax I ever used (and I still have them although almost impossible to use as they hardly bend) was an install cable called Ecoflex 10 (flex, my a***e
). I imagined it had a refined 'clean' sound with no splatter or splash on cymbals and so on. Finding an RCA plug to take the 10+mm outer diameter was an issue and I eventually found one but had to ream the shell out a bit more. To be honest, an Amazon basics RCA (double screened I gather and a good 'wire' inside the basic looks) is just as good subjectively for audio frequency use and only costs a few quid...
Latest version of the Ecoflex 10 -
www.ssb.de
These days I use whatever I can find in my substantial cables box that is the right length and my gawd, I have a goodly few I've made up over the years
Some interconnect makers twisted the two inner cores together, using both as 'hot' with the shield/screen as return as is conventional for RCA plugs but I believe it fecks with the capacitance.
Thickest coax I ever used (and I still have them although almost impossible to use as they hardly bend) was an install cable called Ecoflex 10 (flex, my a***e
). I imagined it had a refined 'clean' sound with no splatter or splash on cymbals and so on. Finding an RCA plug to take the 10+mm outer diameter was an issue and I eventually found one but had to ream the shell out a bit more. To be honest, an Amazon basics RCA (double screened I gather and a good 'wire' inside the basic looks) is just as good subjectively for audio frequency use and only costs a few quid...Latest version of the Ecoflex 10 -
Ecoflex 10 PLUS HTX Coaxial Cable
Ecoflex 10 Plus Heatex is a halogen-free and flame-retardant coaxial cable for use in buildings, plants, ships and hazardous areas. The strong increase in demand for low-loss cables, which meet all the relevant requirements with regard to flame retardancy and low emissions in the event of fire...
www.ssb.de
These days I use whatever I can find in my substantial cables box that is the right length and my gawd, I have a goodly few I've made up over the years
Last edited:
- Thread Starter
- #25
Forgive me if I’m misunderstanding but do you mean one cable per channel and then configure the terminations as you stated vs using one cable for both channels? I failed to mention, there are two cables, one cable per channel with both conductors in the center pin and only braided shield for ground.
- Thread Starter
- #26
This is one of my theories as well.Because they want to stand out from the crowd.
Maybe it works just like any other RCA cable, or maybe it actually does something to the sound. But that "something" is guaranteed to have nothing to do with quality. Just a convoluted way of applying EQ.
Recoton RCA Cable Review (Ultra Cheap Cable)
This is a review and detailed measurements of the ultra cheap, "vintage," retail RCA cable. A member kindly sent it to me. It is not available anymore but I see two-packs on ebay for $4. The cable reminds me of the free ones you used to get in audio gear. It fits rather loosely on especially...
We are simply pointing out that you are at an extreme risk of chasing ghosts. If that's not helpful to you, we can't do much more than sit back and watch in bewilderment.
I wholeheartedly agree, there’s no doubt to me that cables can change the way things sound. Applying a sense of eq as you say. As for my personal opinions, I don’t think “expensive cables” are required for that but I am very interested in the science behind different conductor materials and why silver sounds brighter to me than copper. And I am much in favor of science over feelings, if there’s science behind that feeling, that’s exciting to me.
I’m very much aware of the hifi cable rabbit hole and I’d like to avoid it. I spent $150 on my speaker cables and I think that’s bordering on absurd, tho they are 10ga.
That seems like a curious construction, but that should also work. In the end, especially for short runs, it is inconsequential for the audio quality.
Short interconnects used at line level? Nope.
Do you recall if the inner insulation appeared to be extruded onto the wire or slipped over?
I recall many audiophile cables back when used Teflon jackets but because Teflon required a very high temperature to extrude, and high temps did bad things to high-purity copper, it was fairly common construction to slip Teflon tubing over the conductors.
I recall many audiophile cables back when used Teflon jackets but because Teflon required a very high temperature to extrude, and high temps did bad things to high-purity copper, it was fairly common construction to slip Teflon tubing over the conductors.
- Thread Starter
- #30
I'm glad you mentioned that. I forger where now but I saw someone post on a similar "need help" post showing a similar cable that it was microphone cable as well. I just find its use in analog interconnects very curious.
And this is exactly what they've done. Could you expand your thoughts on capacitance? Curious to know as my experience here is limited.
haha it does seem a bear to work with!Thickest coax I ever used (and I still have them although almost impossible to use as they hardly bend) was an install cable called Ecoflex 10 (flex, my a***e
Very interesting, thank you!Latest version of the Ecoflex 10 -
Ecoflex 10 PLUS HTX Coaxial Cable
Ecoflex 10 Plus Heatex is a halogen-free and flame-retardant coaxial cable for use in buildings, plants, ships and hazardous areas. The strong increase in demand for low-loss cables, which meet all the relevant requirements with regard to flame retardancy and low emissions in the event of fire...
These days I use whatever I can find in my substantial cables box that is the right length and my gawd, I have a goodly few I've made up over the years
- Thread Starter
- #31
Yes! My thoughts exactly. I just want to try and get a better understanding as to why they might have done that or if it was just to be different. Im indifferent on the quality aspect as I have no experience with them putting noise in my ear holes.
The science looks like this (not wondering about subjective perceptions of silver or your other writings here):
- Thread Starter
- #33
Ok, sure. lol. Im not trying to be facetious, I cant tell you or anyone else how they perceive sound. All I can say is that copper and copper based connectors sound VERY much warmer TO ME, than silver and silver plated, in 1 meter connects. But im not here to get into all that jazz.
JeremyFife
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Might be these? https://hometheaterhifi.com/volume_6_2/ultralinkdiscoverycables.html
Not that it matters much, cables are just wires (really). Use what you like, don't spend much money or time worrying about them.
Not that it matters much, cables are just wires (really). Use what you like, don't spend much money or time worrying about them.
- Thread Starter
- #35
Thank you. And yes, perceptions aside.
- Thread Starter
- #36
Definitely extruded, yes, and pretty hard. I could not peel any of the outer core of insulation away from the two individually shielded wires with my fingernail.
Twinaxial coax is not uncommon and is often used for high-speed differential interconnects or when the additional shield is beneficial to provide greater noise rejection than standard unshielded twisted-pair cables. For audio it is used for microphone runs and long XLR interconnections.
IME/IMO - Don
IME/IMO - Don
- Thread Starter
- #39
Thank you. So since a microphone cable is essential in recordings, why not use it to transfer the analog signal in the same way a studio does? An interesting theory, fueled by a desire to create the most accurate recreation for sound I suppose. Now whether or not it worked is here nor there lol.
DSJR
Major Contributor
I'm sure there's charts an pics in how to make up RCA cables using twin core screened cables and I'd respectfully suggest that using the twin iner conductors combined as 'hot' is not the way I was told to do it - many audio-foo brands sold through dealers do this though to give some kind of added 'character' to the wires but I'm sure capacitance is increased.
I have loads of home made mic cables with one conductor as hot, the return soldered to the RCA shield and one end only of the braid coupled to the shield at one end. No issue for me... It's arguably silly to do this if low capacitance standard single coax is available, but I'll leave it to more technically competent peeps to explain it better and put me to rights if they think I'm wrong.
I have loads of home made mic cables with one conductor as hot, the return soldered to the RCA shield and one end only of the braid coupled to the shield at one end. No issue for me... It's arguably silly to do this if low capacitance standard single coax is available, but I'll leave it to more technically competent peeps to explain it better and put me to rights if they think I'm wrong.
- Status
Similar threads
