RCA splitter colors

[spaghetti]

Why most RCA splitter cable colors are male black/female red+white? If I want to split a stereo RCA signal from a DAC to add a subwoofer logically I would want 1 white male to 2 white females and/or 1 red male to 2 red females connectors so that I can attach 2 stereo RCA cables. What is the point of marking the male side black and the female sides W + R? Are splitters only intend to manage a mono signal? What happens if I fork each stereo RCA channel to 2 sets of speakers (or a subwoofer and a set of speakers).

 

[AudiOhm]

The colours are irrelevant, a male to 2 females could be orange to green/blue, they are still wired the same.

Female to male, same colors...

Ohms

 

[Chrispy]

You can always attach a label if you aren't keeping track of colors....this article might be of interest https://www.ranecommercial.com/legacy/note109.html

 

[kongwee]

Right for right, white for left. Black is mono. For you case, connect black to DAC output. One adaptor gonna be right, another gonna be left. Red or white will received the same channel output. However, I doubt you are using the right adaptor. As DAC and subwoofer inputs and outputs are using RCA female connector normally. You should used male connector on both end. Of course, you can use them as splitter as you have different length for DAC and sub.

 

[AudiOhm]

Maybe they should all be black...

Ohms

 

[spaghetti]

Right for right, white for left. Black is mono.

This is why I got confused. I was wondering if there were signal or power limitations in just splitting each channel to 2 different sets of speakers.

 

[kongwee]

This is why I got confused. I was wondering if there were signal or power limitations in just splitting each channel to 2 different sets of speakers.

Normally no problem for splitting line level signal.

 

[Zek]

This is why I got confused.

The colors are so marked because these cables are primarily intended for connecting stereo devices to mono devices.

 

[Chrispy]

The colors are so marked because these cables are primarily intended for connecting stereo devices to mono devices.

It's just a line level splitter, could be mono devices, could be stereo. I primarily use them for mono devices (subs)...maybe to split a signal between a sub and something else, and have the sub sum it to mono. The cable isn't meant to be used to create a mono signal from stereo, tho.

 

[Zek]

The cable isn't meant to be used to create a mono signal from stereo, tho.

It is not stated anywhere, but according to the colors of the connectors (red and white on one side and black on the other side), it indicates that the stereo signal is switched to mono.

 

[Jimbob54]

Personally I'd get T splitters that are metal and go one male to two female rca. Then use whatever length standard male to male cables you need to go to amp and sub.

Slight downside is you need space behind the dac to accommodate the T shape with cabled attached.

 

[Speedskater]

The colors are so marked because these cables are primarily intended for connecting stereo devices to mono devices.

Not a good plan to 'Y' or 'Wye' two outputs into one input. Each of the outputs will see the other output as a low impedance load.
It sorta works, but it adds distortion.

Why Not Wye?
Dennis Bohn, Rane Corporation
RaneNote 109 written 1991; last revised 4/04

Splitting Signals
Subwoofing in Mono
Unbalanced Summing
Balanced Summing
Output Impedances

RANE Commercial - Knowledge Base

Rane Commercial

www.ranecommercial.com

 

[spaghetti]

Each of the outputs will see the other output as a low impedance load.

What does this mean?

 

[Speedskater]

It means that each output is designed for about a 10 k Ohm input load. But in addition it will see the source impedance of the other output (it is about 200 Ohms). Which means that the output is overloaded and distortion will increase.
The except is, if both outputs are playing the same mono signal, than there won't be a difference problem.

 

[Gringoaudio1]

It is not stated anywhere, but according to the colors of the connectors (red and white on one side and black on the other side), it indicates that the stereo signal is switched to mono.

You cannot just use a cable for that. You would need a mixer. A mixer could just be resistors used correctly in a passive mixer circuit. But this could split a mono signal into two mono signals.

 

[Gruesome]

That note linked to earlier talks exactly about that. I guess that link went unclicked...