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Any reason NOT to use rg59 for rca interconnects?

flightops

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I have a simple home system. mostly analog, mostly "vintage":

Sansui 8080 DB, Dual 1249 and 1229Q TT, a couple ART precision phono pre's (thank you amirm for the reviews! They're great for my application), Kenwood CD player, etc. All RCA cable connected. RCA switch box in there too as I run it all through the 8080DB's aux in.

This is pretty much the way it's going to be until I'm not on this planet anymore, so I'd like to clean up the assorted types of RCA cables that are moving the signals around. This is purely just for appearances sake as it sounds fine with the assorted different cables, ends, etc. I'm not chasing noises or anything like that. It's just a "personal satisfaction thing" of making things look nice, even though no one is ever to ever see it. Think of it as finally finishing that hot rod out in the garage and putting the final paint job on to make it look nice.

I've got a 1000' spool of RG59 sitting unused in the garage, leftovers from a different life. 20 AWG copper core, copper braid shield. Real copper, not CCA or steel, so it's decent stuff. I'd really not rather spend more money on cable if this is fine for use. Copper in any significant length gets expensive quite fast! Is there any (good) reason NOT to use the RG59 to build interconnects for my various components?

The ends will be soldered on locking RCA plugs.The type with barrels that tights down and clamps around the outer female RCA connector. Nothing exotic, they're just brass knockoffs of WBE connectors.

Longest run would be approx 12-15 feet to a Pioneer CT-F750 cassette deck that I keep in the system to occasionally play some old cassettes.

My apologies in advance if this starts one of those "cable debates". That's not my intent. I'm just asking if there's any negatives to using RG59 for interconnects, other than it not being as flexible as some other wire choices.

Cheers
 
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RG59 should be fine for RCA interconnects, but it can be a bit rigid, in which case it might be tricky when using very lightweight devices or perhaps some turntable suspensions.
 
I have a simple home system. mostly analog, mostly "vintage":

Sansui 8080 DB, Dual 1249 and 1229Q TT, a couple ART precision phono pre's (thank you amirm for the reviews! They're great for my application), Kenwood CD player, etc. All RCA cable connected. RCA switch box in there too as I run it all through the 8080DB's aux in.

This is pretty much the way it's going to be until I'm not on this planet anymore, so I'd like to clean up the assorted types of RCA cables that are moving the signals around. This is purely just for appearances sake as it sounds fine with the assorted different cables, ends, etc. I'm not chasing noises or anything like that. It's just a "personal satisfaction thing" of making things look nice, even though no one is ever to ever see it. Think of it as finally finishing that hot rod out in the garage and putting the final paint job on to make it look nice.

I've got a 1000' spool of RG59 sitting unused in the garage, leftovers from a different life. 20 AWG copper core, copper braid shield. Real copper, not CCA or steel, so it's decent stuff. I'd really not rather spend more money on cable if this is fine for use. Copper in any significant length gets expensive quite fast! Is there any (good) reason NOT to use the RG59 to build interconnects for my various components?

The ends will be soldered on locking RCA plugs.The type with barrels that tights down and clamps around the outer female RCA connector. Nothing exotic, they're just brass knockoffs of WBE connectors.

Longest run would be approx 12-15 feet to a Pioneer CT-F750 cassette deck that I keep in the system to occasionally play some old cassettes.

My apologies in advance if this starts one of those "cable debates". That's not my intent. I'm just asking if there's any negatives to using RG59 for interconnects, other than it not being as flexible as some other wire choices.

Cheers
You will be fine.

20 gauge is lower resistance than the miniature cable used for audio phono cables - that is good. A foil shield with a drain wire or a foil shield with a braided shield as the drain wire is going to be better than a braided shield, but if you don't live in a high RF environment, it won't matter.

I have used RG59 as a composite video extension cord. I terminated it with standard crimp F connectors, then there are F to RCA adaptors. RG59 is a bit stiff. My walls are filled with RG6 to keystone bulkheads which will never be used.

I have used a lot of RG174 with those great and expensive Lemo connectors on the bench and in physics systems.
 
RG59 is a great choice as long as the cable stiffness is not a problem.

I would use compression crimp ends. I found these on Amazon.

There are plenty of inexpensive crimp tools on Amazon too.
 
an RG-59 coax with a heavy braided shield would make a great RCA interconnect cable.
For an audio cable, a braided shield is much better than a foil shield. At 100 megahertz the opposite is true.
 
Thanks gents.

I was pretty sure the stuff I have was going to at least be ok. It's all really just copper wire after all. Just wanted a little backup on it. Seemed like a waste to let that spool sit out there gathering dust if I had a valid use for it.

Stiffness isn't a big issue with routing, at least not with RG59. I have lots of space for wide, even bends.

I also plan to CAD/3d print custom clips and supports anywhere it wants to "hang" off any of the RCA connectors once final installation is complete. Essentially, no stress/gravity to pull on any of the connection points.
 
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RG59 is considered stiff? I guess after running miles of RG6 (and cat5) back in my AT&T technician days, RG59 just always seemed way more flexible by comparison.
 
RG59 is considered stiff? I guess after running miles of RG6 (and cat5) back in my AT&T technician days, RG59 just always seemed way more flexible by comparison.
It isn't super stiff. However, once I started using Canare that stuff is so supple, it is more desirable for that than I anticipated. Compared to many snake oil cables even RG6 is not stiff. Other snake oil cables aren't all that stiff, but large and heavy enough with some lightweight DACs it is a bit much. Also, some RG6 and RG59 made for outdoor use is stiffer than others. I've also seen such cable UL fire rated for plenum use that was quad shielded with smokeless insulation that is pretty stiff.
 
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Well.....carp.

My spool of rg59 is gone. Nowhere to be found. In the house, in the garages or in storage.

I must have tossed it or given it away and forgotten.

So now on to looking for suitable wire for RCA interconnects.

Only thing is I need somewhere around 250 feet in total to do all the systems in the house I wanted to. That's going to get pricey pretty fast.....
 
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Well.....carp.

My spool of rg59 is gone. Nowhere to be found. In the house, in the garages or in storage.

I must have tossed it or given it away and forgotten.

So now on to looking for suitable wire for RCA interconnects.

Only thing is I need somewhere around 250 feet in total to do all the systems in the house I wanted to. That's going to get pricey pretty fast.....
Good excuse to switch to balanced.
 
I think balanced cables is good for RCA interconnects. I use the mesh shield as ground, and both conductors as (+).

Normally, balanced cables are very flexible.
 
Good excuse to switch to balanced.
No idea how I'd do that with a vintage receiver. I don't think it's even possible.

Sansui 8080DB:

fr_4720.jpg



Edit: ah, i think I misunderstood. Probably meant use the actual physical cabling, not make it a balanced connection.....
 
Well.....carp.

My spool of rg59 is gone. Nowhere to be found. In the house, in the garages or in storage.

I must have tossed it or given it away and forgotten.

So now on to looking for suitable wire for RCA interconnects.

Only thing is I need somewhere around 250 feet in total to do all the systems in the house I wanted to. That's going to get pricey pretty fast.....
Get decent cheap microphone cable. Use different colors for left/right or whatever helps to keep an overview over the different connections.
 
I think balanced cables is good for RCA interconnects. I use the mesh shield as ground, and both conductors as (+).
Normally, balanced cables are very flexible.
While it will work fine.
There are better choices in coax cables with heaver braided shielded for less money and you only have one central wire to deal with.
 
I have some other receivers in the house I'd like to clean up with new interconnects as well. Prob more like 170-180 feet. Looking for 250 foot spools as that seems to be more common.
 
Get decent cheap microphone cable. Use different colors for left/right or whatever helps to keep an overview over the different connections.
Looking at some on amazon at the moment. Two inner conductors and a braided shield. The insulation seems a little thick though: OD 8mm. It's Mic cord and there seems to be some complaints about while being flexible, it's also heavy. But I'm no using it as a mic cord (IE: not moving it once done).

My RCA connects can take 9 mm though so the 8mm shouldn't be an issue. They mic out to an ID of 9.16mm

Says 16AWG, but some comments saying maybe that if the two center wires are combined. More like 22 AWG a piece, A braided a copper shield and a "drain wire":


51936m2NjBL._AC_SL1200_.jpg


So a couple schemes have been bounced around here in short order, so let me make sure I'm not all turned around: Since I only have unbalanced RCAs on both ends, combine the two center wires for RCA pos and the shield for RCA neg sound about right?
 
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Quick re-ref to some stuff I have saved:

rca.jpg


Yep. Two centers together and the shield is the neg
 
Get decent cheap microphone cable. Use different colors for left/right or whatever helps to keep an overview over the different connections.
Isn't there risk of some crosstalk from sharing the return (shield) between the two channels? Especially with some of the longer runs being talked about?
 
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