RCA Cables

[mongobot]

Also these from Ghent:

Agree that cables from Gent are also nice and might be within the OPs budget depending on what length he needs.

 

[gvl]

I don't know for sure, but there is a "direction" to the cables which I think implies a floating shield?

The benefit of star quad? For me it's the flexibility when using a 1-3ft cable to connect components. The right angle is nice on my subs which keeps things flush against them.

I suspect the shield is connected to ground on one end only, so technically the cable is shielded. For 1-3ft there isn't much benefit of using star-quad even for true balanced connections, let alone single-ended as they don't benefit from SQ at all at any lengths. I guess the question is why the company makes single-ended cables with star-quad at all, I suspect they just use what they have for no real technical benefit.

 

[infinitesymphony]

For 1-3ft there isn't much benefit of using star-quad even for true balanced connections, let alone single-ended as they don't benefit from SQ at all at any lengths. I guess the question is why the company makes single-ended cables with star-quad at all, I suspect they just use what they have for no real technical benefit.

Yeah, star-quad is great for EMI rejection, flexibility, and decreased handling noise due to the cotton yarn, all of which make it great for live situations. Of course, the cost is significantly increased capacitance. For such a short run it probably doesn't matter either way, but I'd probably order up some Belden 1505F or BJC LC-1 if I were making my own, or just use the 110 ohm cable I have for balanced purposes like Belden 1800F or Canare DA206.

 

[Chromatischism]

Yeah, star-quad is great for EMI rejection, flexibility, and decreased handling noise due to the cotton yarn, all of which make it great for live situations. Of course, the cost is significantly increased capacitance. For such a short run it probably doesn't matter either way, but I'd probably order up some Belden 1505F or BJC LC-1 if I were making my own, or just use the 110 ohm cable I have for balanced purposes like Belden 1800F or Canare DA206.

Yeah the capacitance makes no difference until way beyond the lengths we use in our homes.

 

[Chromatischism]

I suspect the shield is connected to ground on one end only, so technically the cable is shielded. For 1-3ft there isn't much benefit of using star-quad even for true balanced connections, let alone single-ended as they don't benefit from SQ at all at any lengths. I guess the question is why the company makes single-ended cables with star-quad at all, I suspect they just use what they have for no real technical benefit.

That is my understanding as well.

I explained the benefits to me, and while they may not be "technical", they are practical.

 

[DSJR]

UK based, I wanted a cheap RCA set of 1.25m or so, took the plunge and bought a set of Amazon Basics for six quid or so. I'd have laughed at myself twenty years ago for stooping so low but now the audio retail bullsh*t's dissipated substantially in me these days, I took an open mind, not expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of them both tidy sound and neat solid appearance. Does the basic job required for me and the card packing is recyclable! I'm sure there's better and some up to £/$30 for a 1.2m set may well publish proper specs too, but these do the job just fine and won't throttle smaller systems at all!

 

[fieldcar]

I thought we were about to start talking about cable directionality.

I still believe that grounding the sink/shield only at one end helps, as it's a common wiring technique used in industrial analog sensors. The direction is irrelevant, but it's important to ground the sink/shield at one end as to not promote a ground loop.



EDIT: Here is a better illustration of the grounding the shield at a single point.

 

[Vasr]

@Vasr Sounds like a custom order or DIY if you want to avoid adapters. You might get color coded boots, too.

I am thinking perhaps re-purposing my guitar patch cables I had when I was using discrete effects unit long ago replacing the 1/4' jacks with right-angled RCA might work for my situation. These are usually very well shielded given their use and are very flexible and space efficient because of the coil.

They look something like this. But then some audio wizards might start grumbling about those acting like an inductor because of the coils....

 

[infinitesymphony]

I am thinking perhaps re-purposing my guitar patch cables I had when I was using discrete effects unit long ago replacing the 1/4' jacks with right-angled RCA might work for my situation. These are usually very well shielded given their use and are very flexible and space efficient because of the coil.

They look something like this. But then some audio wizards might start grumbling about those acting like an inductor because of the coils....

View attachment 86801

Careful or you'll force all of the ham radio operators to watch your movie with you.

 

[gvl]

I still believe that grounding the sink/shield only at one end helps, as it's a common wiring technique used in industrial analog sensors. The direction is irrelevant, but it's important to ground the sink/shield at one end as to not promote a ground loop.

View attachment 86799 View attachment 86800

EDIT: Here is a better illustration of the grounding the shield at a single point.
View attachment 86804

This doesn't work too good for unbalanced audio cable as the ground remains a part of the circuit even if shield is grounded on one end only.

 

[fieldcar]

This doesn't work too good for unbalanced audio cable as the ground remains a part of the circuit even if shield is grounded on one end only.

Yeah. I guess you're probably right. The outer ring is still shared between devices, so it may not benefit at reducing a ground loop. I'd still think that the single ended shield would be a bit more immune to noise from nearby devices. I'll have to compare my cheapo cables to my WBC interconnects when I'm home.

 

[infinitesymphony]

My understanding is that with properly designed equipment connected to common ground (for example on the same circuit), there are no benefits to floating ground because there is no difference in potential between devices that might cause ground loop hum.

 

[Jose Hidalgo]

So, how about really short stack RCA cables ? (25 cm max). At the moment I know the Topping TCR-1 25. It looks nice. I just find it a little overpriced at 30 €, especially from a company that has built a good reputation on providing a great price/performance ratio.

Cheap shipping to France would be a plus.

One last thing : ANY mention to cable directionality (like these that were suggested on page 1) and other snake-oil stuff is a NO-GO for me. The cable itself may be the best in the world, but I won't support companies claiming that their cables do things that they don't. It's time we put an end to such practices. I'm saying this because I've found some nice-looking & cheap cables on eBay and AliExpress, but their recurrent mentions to snake-oil stuff discarded them all for me.

 

[Martin]

So, how about really short stack RCA cables ? (25 cm max). At the moment I know the Topping TCR-1 25. It looks nice. I just find it a little overpriced at 30 €, especially from a company that has built a good reputation on providing a great price/performance ratio.

Cheap shipping to France would be a plus.

One last thing : ANY mention to cable directionality (like these that were suggested on page 1) and other snake-oil stuff is a NO-GO for me. The cable itself may be the best in the world, but I won't support companies claiming that their cables do things that they don't. It's time we put an end to such practices. I'm saying this because I've found some nice-looking & cheap cables on eBay and AliExpress, but their recurrent mentions to snake-oil stuff discarded them all for me.

JDS Labs and Schiit both make 6” (15.24cm) RCA cables. Not sure about their availability in your location.

Martin

 

[Veri]

So, how about really short stack RCA cables ? (25 cm max). At the moment I know the Topping TCR-1 25. It looks nice. I just find it a little overpriced at 30 €, especially from a company that has built a good reputation on providing a great price/performance ratio.

Cheap shipping to France would be a plus.

Highly recommend these: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B08BTPNVNK (or one of these: https://www.amazon.de/s?k=Worlds+Best+Cables+rca&i=electronics don't forget, free shipping from 29EUR )

 

[Jose Hidalgo]

Highly recommend these: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B08BTPNVNK (or these: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B089NM8S6Y

Sure, they look nice... but... I'm sorry to insist, but have you forgotten about this part ?

ANY mention to cable directionality [...] is a NO-GO for me.

Look at both their pictures, with their huge stickers with "Signal source > Signal direction" written all over them...
So unless signal directionality has suddenly become a scientific reality, I'm afraid I just can't support that crap, sorry.

 

[Chromatischism]

One last thing : ANY mention to cable directionality (like these that were suggested on page 1) and other snake-oil stuff is a NO-GO for me. The cable itself may be the best in the world, but I won't support companies claiming that their cables do things that they don't. It's time we put an end to such practices. I'm saying this because I've found some nice-looking & cheap cables on eBay and AliExpress, but their recurrent mentions to snake-oil stuff discarded them all for me.

There is a "direction" because the shield is connected at one end and not the other.

 

[Helicopter]

I usually use more expensive stuff for feel, durability, and strong grip, but in a short run, performance should be fine with an inexpensive cable with molded connectors. Especially if you don't want to pay for nonscientific BS.

 

[Veri]

Sure, they look nice... but... I'm sorry to insist, but have you forgotten about this part ?

Look at both their pictures, with their huge stickers with "Signal source > Signal direction" written all over them...
So unless signal directionality has suddenly become a scientific reality, I'm afraid I just can't support that crap, sorry.

Well I understand not supporting bullshit, on the other hand the cable will.. work, fine.

 

[Martin]

Sure, they look nice... but... I'm sorry to insist, but have you forgotten about this part ?

Look at both their pictures, with their huge stickers with "Signal source > Signal direction" written all over them...
So unless signal directionality has suddenly become a scientific reality, I'm afraid I just can't support that crap, sorry.

As others have said - there is a valid reason behind it's directionality: