What wire to build my own RCA interconnects?

[Speedskater]

You're late to the game, it's already been done.
http://anticables.com/interconnects/analog-rca-interconnects

They may possibly be the poorest RCA interconnect cables ever sold.

The most important features of a good analog RCA cable are:
a] low end-to-end shield resistance.
b] good low frequency shielding of the shield (like a heavy braided shield).

 

[Chris M]

They may possibly be the poorest RCA interconnect cables ever sold.

That is exactly the reason for the name of the product

 

[pma]

For RCA interconnects, I am using RG-59 as a rule. For those who are saying that even the worst poorest cables may be used, then yes, however please read numerous posts in this forum when people are complaining about buzz and RFI pick-up. Each to his own, you get exactly what you have chosen.

 

[Chris M]

Maty has linked some pages on the Star Quad architecture and Blue Jeans Cable gives a good brief overview of both RCA and speakers and digital cables from a technical point of view.

Basically, from my point of view, the matter can be summarized as follows:

Balanced cable: is set up with twisted pair or, even more interference-free, with Star Quad

RCA / Cinch cable: should be coaxial cable with the best possible shielding and low capacitance. This means that the higher-capacity Star Quad falls out.

Loudspeaker cable: it is recommended to have a low inductance, shielding is not necessary. Star Quad would be possible here.

Power cables: stay away from do-it-yourself when you don't know what you are doing. For electricians only! But there are many indications for a well-functioning cable ... I built this myself now ...

In addition to the low-capacity RCA cables mentioned here, I came across two other providers who are very interesting here in Germany / Europe.
http://www.funk-tonstudiotechnik.de/Audiokabel-analog.htm and Amazon Goobay 1.5m 2x cinch plug to 2x cinch plug HQ, black https://www.amazon.de/dp/B000LB7ZMO/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_9J86PJ9GK83XRH2GPTYK? psc = 1.
For this purpose http://www.hifi-forum.de/viewthread-26-24165-2.html
And something else for speaker cables here http://diyaudioprojects.com/Power/Low-Inductance-DIY-Speaker-Cables/

I like to use amphenol as a plug, I didn't like the Neutrik REAN that much.

With these ingredients you can build yourself snake oil-free no nonsense audio cables or have them assembled. If you then also hear that it sounds better, it is all the more pleasant and if you do not hear anything, you can enjoy a technically good and sensible product that you may even have built yourself. In this respect, it is not bad at all if you are looking for components that you think are of higher quality, I am thinking here of Teflon-insulated cables or 'higher-quality' plugs or the welding process of Blue Jeans cable or silver solder for the connector. All of that makes something, in the worst case a wallet is empty and in the best case you have all the desired effects but the bottom line is that you did it right and that also gives a good feeling ...

 

[SIY]

Maty has linked some pages on the Star Quad architecture and Blue Jeans Cable gives a good brief overview of both RCA and speakers and digital cables from a technical point of view.

Basically, from my point of view, the matter can be summarized as follows:

Balanced cable: is set up with twisted pair or, even more interference-free, with Star Quad

RCA / Cinch cable: should be coaxial cable with the best possible shielding and low capacitance. This means that the higher-capacity Star Quad falls out.

Loudspeaker cable: it is recommended to have a low inductance, shielding is not necessary. Star Quad would be possible here.

Power cables: stay away from do-it-yourself when you don't know what you are doing. For electricians only! But there are many indications for a well-functioning cable ... I built this myself now ...

In addition to the low-capacity RCA cables mentioned here, I came across two other providers who are very interesting here in Germany / Europe.
http://www.funk-tonstudiotechnik.de/Audiokabel-analog.htm and Amazon Goobay 1.5m 2x cinch plug to 2x cinch plug HQ, black https://www.amazon.de/dp/B000LB7ZMO/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_9J86PJ9GK83XRH2GPTYK? psc = 1.
For this purpose http://www.hifi-forum.de/viewthread-26-24165-2.html
And something else for speaker cables here http://diyaudioprojects.com/Power/Low-Inductance-DIY-Speaker-Cables/

I like to use amphenol as a plug, I didn't like the Neutrik REAN that much.

With these ingredients you can build yourself snake oil-free no nonsense audio cables or have them assembled. If you then also hear that it sounds better, it is all the more pleasant and if you do not hear anything, you can enjoy a technically good and sensible product that you may even have built yourself. In this respect, it is not bad at all if you are looking for components that you think are of higher quality, I am thinking here of Teflon-insulated cables or 'higher-quality' plugs or the welding process of Blue Jeans cable or silver solder for the connector. All of that makes something, in the worst case a wallet is empty and in the best case you have all the desired effects but the bottom line is that you did it right and that also gives a good feeling ...

Teflon is a technically inferior material for audio cables. Makes up for it by being more expensive.

 

[Jinjuku]

Canare, Mogami, Belden

add Liberty and Gepco to that list.

 

[MCH]

If I understand it well Teflon cables are sometimes required in heavy-duty uses (I.e. military or scientific equipment) because of chemical and temperature resistance. But for normal household audio use... the planet will be happier if we avoid them whenever there is no good reason to use them...

 

[sam_adams]

add Liberty and Gepco to that list

Belden acquired Gepco's assets from General Cable five years ago.

 

[sam_adams]

If I understand it well Teflon cables are sometimes required in heavy-duty uses (I.e. military or scientific equipment) because of chemical and temperature resistance. But for normal household audio use... the planet will be happier if we avoid them whenever there is no good reason to use them...

Extremely concise explanation of the 'why' PTFE is used as a dielectric.

 

[MCH]

Extremely concise explanation of the 'why' PTFE is used as a dielectric.

And why exactly do you need low dielectric constant insulator in an audio interconnect? (honest question)

 

[SIY]

And why exactly do you need low dielectric constant insulator in an audio interconnect? (honest question)

You don’t.

 

[SpeakerFRK]

Can anyone recommend a high quality marine wire to use for building RCA cables? And a connector? Or would any gold plated connector work well? I assume it should. Here’s the combination that I’m looking at:

Sewell gold plated end connections

Anchor tinned copper coaxial cable