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Any reason NOT to use rg59 for rca interconnects?

Ordered. I'm in Canada so I ended up paying $200 (when taxes added) for 250 feet. Should be plenty to run all the interconnects I need with a good 50-odd feet left over.

Lets see if it gets here now or if someone "pinches it" somewhere in the shipping process for the copper...... :rolleyes:
 
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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?
Not doing it now with some "cheapo" cables in the system so I'm not overly worried about it....
 
Not doing it now with some "cheapo" cables in the system so I'm not overly worried about it....
Are your cheapo cables using cables intended for balanced connections so that they only have one overall shield for the two signal wires. Or is each signal wire individually shielded?
 
a] don't know why a Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) with a braided shield has a drain wire. Drain wires are for foil shielded cables.
b] microphone cables are a sub-set of STP cables. They are optimized for robust construction, flexibility and low handling noise.
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If you are really going to use it for RCA to RCA interconnect cables, I would:
Connect one central wire pin to pin.
And the shield, drain and the other wire to the shells at both ends.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The lower the end-to-end resistance of the shield/shell, the better.
 
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?
That will work, but a single conductor coax will work as well or better.
 
a] don't know why a Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) with a braided shield has a drain wire. Drain wires are for foil shielded cables.
b] microphone cables are a sub-set of STP cables. They are optimized for robust construction, flexibility and low handling noise.
* * * * * * *
If you are really going to use it for RCA to RCA interconnect cables, I would:
Connect one central wire pin to pin.
And the shield, drain and the other wire to the shells at both ends.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The lower the end-to-end resistance of the shield/shell, the better.
A) I didn't quite understand that either. But not an issue in my application
B) noted

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Noted. Even if the single wire is a 20-22 AWG, it will still be larger than some of the wires currently in the interconnects.

****


I honestly could be just fine with what's in there now as there's no (at least to my ears) audible artifacts. The new cables and ends are as much about "making it look nice" as anything else and I freely admit that.

I've settled on the components and its highly probable nothing will change (until my wife ends up getting rid of it after I'm gone).

But the cabling is a mix and match of different bits, so I'm just feeling it's time to just "clean things up" and then enjoy it until the end....;)
 
That will work, but a single conductor coax will work as well or better.
I have tried some experiments with microphone cable between RCAs, carrying single ended signals. I've experimented with using the twisted pair as the core and even tried one central conductor bonded to the shield at both ends. I've not found any benefit, and the downside is quite high because it's harder to make the cable. These days I just stick with the obvious - and theoretically better - and use a standard coaxial cable into RCAs.
 
Noted. Even if the single wire is a 20-22 AWG, it will still be larger than some of the wires currently in the interconnects.
Just to put the wire gauge and resistance thing into context, a friend of mine posted music files where the interconnects were copper, a potato, a banana, and mud. Correct ABX identification rate: zero.
 
Just to put the wire gauge and resistance thing into context, a friend of mine posted music files where the interconnects were copper, a potato, a banana, and mud. Correct ABX identification rate: zero.
OK.

But 20-"ish" gauge wire is a lot more convenient than a potato or banana between...say...a receiver and a CD player......;)
 
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.....

FWIW, I chose Belden 8218 coax to go with the solderless TS connectors I use for guitar cables. It's small diameter 75 ohm cable designed for video applications and should work fine for unbalanced audio with RCA plugs.
 
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?

Certainly less of it than with a typical 3.5mm TRS-to-TRS stereo cable -- and probably inaudible other than with an extremely long run, which is inadvisable for an unbalanced connection anyway.
 
OK.

But 20-"ish" gauge wire is a lot more convenient than a potato or banana between...say...a receiver and a CD player......;)
Sure. Just don't get hung up on gauge for any reason other than mechanical.
 
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).
For RCA on both sides you need only one conductor plus shield, like this one.
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
The cables I had in mind are all 6 mm wide.
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":


View attachment 423588
This is overkill. If you want 2 conductors this one is sufficient. It comes in several colours.
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?
Yes, but it's not necessary.
 
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?
It was not my intention to use one cable for left and right channel.
 
Just to put the wire gauge and resistance thing into context, a friend of mine posted music files where the interconnects were copper, a potato, a banana, and mud. Correct ABX identification rate: zero.
The test part two:

 
The test part two:

I actually got a little giggle out of that. Not in an "at them" type of way, but a "with them"....
 
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":


View attachment 423588

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?
It is a very bad idea to transport both stereo channels within a shield, among other things because of crosstalk, as mentioned by @antcollinet.

You can find a selection at Sommercable, but you will also find some from other brands for €/$ 1-3. The prices given are only RRP and can be up to 50% lower in stores.
Here you can find some dual coaxial cables: Sommercable
 
The RG45 is bulky, stiff, and heavy for my taste. The last thing I want around me in my living room :)
 
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