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Cable help? I think I have it but maybe not?

post #1 of 10
12/18/09 at 5:28pm
Thread Starter 
I am going to be building some cables soon and I want to make sure I have it right in my head before I start.

I am making 3 cables:

1) 3.5mm to RCA. I have drawn a diagram below to show how I think it goes. I am most likely wrong.


2) RCA to RCA. I looked at the How to make an interconnect sticky and I am pretty sure I am good there.

3) 20' 1/4" extension. I am pretty good on this one as well.

My main question is parts/wire. I have found these plugs I like, below, all from Neutrik. And I have no clue for wire, I am pretty sure I need 4 wire but not sure. Thanks.

Audiogear.com
Audiogear.com
Audiogear.com
Audiogear.com (In appropriate color rings.)
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post #2 of 10
12/18/09 at 5:58pm
choose either the red or black to be ground.. then whichever u choose to be ground, both of those are soldered to the ground on the 1/4" plug. then each red goes to signal - either left or right on the 1/4". Then just use a multimeter to figure out which RCA is left and which is right and somehow mark that on the rca end.

for the mini-RCA you will need to have four conductors in your cable.
for the RCA-RCA you will only need two conductors.
for the 1/4" extension, you will only need three conductors.

but you could just simply use some starquad and double up for the rca-rca and double up the ground for the 1/4" extension cable.

just a heads up on that mini plug - the diameter of wire that the barrel will accept is pretty small. so if you get it, plan on drilling the barrel to get it wider.
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post #3 of 10
12/18/09 at 6:40pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bik2101 View Post
choose either the red or black to be ground.. then whichever u choose to be ground, both of those are soldered to the ground on the 1/4" plug. then each red goes to signal - either left or right on the 1/4". Then just use a multimeter to figure out which RCA is left and which is right and somehow mark that on the rca end.

for the mini-RCA you will need to have four conductors in your cable.
for the RCA-RCA you will only need two conductors.
for the 1/4" extension, you will only need three conductors.

but you could just simply use some starquad and double up for the rca-rca and double up the ground for the 1/4" extension cable.

just a heads up on that mini plug - the diameter of wire that the barrel will accept is pretty small. so if you get it, plan on drilling the barrel to get it wider.
Would I be better off ordering all of the wire as 4 wire of the same kind and just slit and sleeve it with some Tecflex I have? And any suggestions on wire? Brand and gauge.
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post #4 of 10
12/19/09 at 5:27pm
Thread Starter 
Anyone else?
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post #5 of 10
12/19/09 at 5:29pm
It's up to you.. mogami or canare starquad is always a pretty popular choice. inexpensive and easy to work with. if you want you could also just strip it, braid the wire yourself, and sleeve if you want.
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post #6 of 10
12/19/09 at 5:49pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bik2101 View Post
It's up to you.. mogami or canare starquad is always a pretty popular choice. inexpensive and easy to work with. if you want you could also just strip it, braid the wire yourself, and sleeve if you want.
That is what I planned on doing. But maybe not sleeving because the braided looks better . So is it this? And is Redco Audio a good site to buy from?
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post #7 of 10
12/19/09 at 7:16pm
yeah that'll work. the mini starquad is a thinner and could be better for the mini plugs. but if you're going to strip and braid the wires it shouldn't really matter much. and yeah, Redco's pretty good for all that.
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post #8 of 10
12/19/09 at 9:32pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bik2101 View Post
yeah that'll work. the mini starquad is a thinner and could be better for the mini plugs. but if you're going to strip and braid the wires it shouldn't really matter much. and yeah, Redco's pretty good for all that.
Okay sweet, thanks. Are the plugs I posted pretty good?
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post #9 of 10
12/19/09 at 10:20pm
they should all be fine..
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post #10 of 10
12/20/09 at 12:44am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bik2101 View Post
they should all be fine..
Okay thanks so much for the help. I will post pics when I am done.
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