RCA cables?

  • Thread starter Thread starter hungovermorning
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hungovermorning

Dr. Caveman.
Can anyone reccomend some nice RCA cables? I know this is pretty vague, but it beats using the ones that came with the VCR if you know what I mean. Seems a shame to be using tube preamps into an open reel machine with shadio rack cables. Online buying is preferrable, ebay is even peachy. I need a few. Green chicklets for suggestions.
 
Hey, green chicklets for answering! Yippee!!! :D :D ;)

Okay, I'll give it a shot! :D :o

How about Hosa branded cables ? I've used these with great, reliable results and they're pretty cheap too and available in most places. Their cost / performance ratio is a winner in my book. I'm not saying they're the best but I don't own a Studer either. ;)
 
Radio Shack's a decent cable.

As long as cable runs don't exceed (appx) 20'.
 
Hosa I use them, I purchased a whole bunch from musiciansfriend a while back.

3' and 6'. I try not to exceed 6'.

:)
 
If you can wait until Friday, I should be able to provide you with the name of a company that sells all kinds of quality cables for cheap.

I bought 4 RCA-RCA snakes from them. They were pretty cheap (although I can't recall the exact cost) and most importantly have really held up well.

I have the order slip in my parents' basement and would be able to get you the name of the company and their website Friday.

-MD
 
Yeah, I can definitely wait. I'll have a Hosa/mystery company RCA-cable off. Let me know when you get it.
 
I’ve made most of my own cables with Canare since the 80’s. Anything with dense braided shielding, 90% or more will do the trick. Cheap cables have inadequate shielding and thin gage center conductor, so you have a nice antenna at certain lengths. :eek:

For short runs here and there you can get away with something from RadioShack. But if you have a lot of cable you’ve got to bite the bullet and spend the bucks on good quality stuff. It’s cheaper to make your own if you’re handy with a soldering iron. I bought a roll of clear Canare a few years back. It just makes me feel better to see the shielding.

Hosa does make good snakes. I got lazy and bought two 8-channel snakes and they work well... no interference or anything. :)
 
I don't think that there's such thing as "Radio Shack" brand RCA-RCA cable that is longer than 12ft. So , I suppose, one should not worry about facing potential problems of using a "too long" cheap RadioShack cable - :D
Also radio shack sells all sorts of not so cheap at all cables of various brands and claims to be Top-Of-The-Top. Radio Shack sells what people buy :)
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From my experience HOSA are fine cables. Also, I'd say, DIY-made cables are the best, mostly because you make exactly what you need for your specific set-up. I've used Pro-Co parts, which are good parts from what I see, but that's all I can see, so I can't really compare. I'm sure there are other fine brands.
 
Thanks for everybody's repsponse so far. This is the RCA cable 101 thread right now. I think I'll get some Hosa for immediate useage and also try my hand at making/mangling a few. I've never been the best with the soldering iron, but I picked up a Weller and I think it'll make life a lot easier than that $15 Craftsman nightmare...
 
Dr ZEE said:
I don't think that there's such thing as "Radio Shack" brand RCA-RCA cable that is longer than 12ft. So , I suppose, one should not worry about facing potential problems of using a "too long" cheap RadioShack cable - :D
Also radio shack sells all sorts of not so cheap at all cables of various brands and claims to be Top-Of-The-Top. Radio Shack sells what people buy :)
*********
From my experience HOSA are fine cables. Also, I'd say, DIY-made cables are the best, mostly because you make exactly what you need for your specific set-up. I've used Pro-Co parts, which are good parts from what I see, but that's all I can see, so I can't really compare. I'm sure there are other fine brands.
Click to expand...

In actual fact, Hosa makes the worst cables from the standpoint of strain reliefing. They will work fine BUT they must be strained relieved or they definitely will fail. I am talking about the ones with the molded ends at the connectors. Radio Shack are even cheaper and suck the same.

Hosa should be avoided in favor of better ( and more durable cables) because good quality RCA cables won't cost a fortune like 8 or 16 channel balanced TRS snakes.

Almost all troubleshooting I have done involving cables also invariably involved Hosa cables. It is the first question I ask.
 
hungovermorning said:
Thanks for everybody's repsponse so far. This is the RCA cable 101 thread right now. I think I'll get some Hosa for immediate useage and also try my hand at making/mangling a few. I've never been the best with the soldering iron, but I picked up a Weller and I think it'll make life a lot easier than that $15 Craftsman nightmare...
Click to expand...

YES. A good soldering iron station will make soldering very easy to learn as well as make good solid joints.

Just remember to crimp the wire firmly and don't let the solder be the only thing holding the wire to the connector. Bad technique I see all over the place.
 
I get mine at the dollar store.

I've never been swayed by the cableage hype.
 
I paid $2 for a bag full of RCA cables...

at the Salvation Army! :eek: ;)
 
Which reminds me that I think the Wal-Mart ones carry the RCA brand name.
 
Hey,
I found the cable name, manufacturer, etc.

The cable is made by Pulsar Technologies - www.pulsartech.net

A 10' 8 channel RCA-RCA (male) snake costs $18.90. 20' costs $19.90. Both prices are direct from the manufacturer.

Shipping is decent, and is proportionately better when you're buying several of them.

I have 4 of the 10 footers and they've all held up really well. Warranty is 10 years, but I have no idea what's "really" involved with that.

Hope that helps,
-MD
 
Hey Maddog I checked out that Pulsar-Tech website, and they got some damn good prices for cables, and snakes :eek:

what's the quality like, are they any good?
 
The Pulsar RCA-to-RCA snake looks just like the Hosa, only different length and the gold plated connectors. Comparing the specs from Hosa, the individual coax is likely form the same source.

That’s the best price I’ve seen anywhere for a 10’ 8-channel snake. Like Hosa, they would best be used in a permanent system with the snake supported with wire ties or brackets… plenty of slack.

Personally I would shy away from using the 20’ length for an unbalanced cable. 10’ would be a max for me. I’ve arraigned my system so I’m using a 6.6 feet Hosa. With unbalanced, shorter is better as long as there’s no strain on the connectors.

:)
 
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