affordable shielded cable component suggestions?

[EdipisReks]

i have a problem with RFI in my apartment, and i want to contruct some shielded RCA interconnects and power cables. does anyone have any suggestions on what materials and components to use? i would prefer not to spend more than $20/25 a cable. thanks!

 

[bg4533]

Canare Starquad for cable.

Canare F10 RCAs.

Decent stuff and fairly cheap.

 

[bg4533]

I have been using Volex power cords. The linked cord is 14g and shielded. It costs $11.65. I don't know how it compares to expensive cords, but I have no complaints with it.

 

[EdipisReks]

my current interconnects are made with starquad, and it doesn't seem to be shielded well enough for the amount of RFI in my area. thanks for the suggesions on the power cords, though!

 

[bg4533]

Did you make the Starquad RCAs or someone else?

Starquad is one of the best shielded cable options as it is twisted to minimize interference and shielded. I have read differing opinions of how the shield should be used. Some say connect it to only one RCA and use that on the source side. Others say it should be connected to both RCAs. If the shield isn't connected at all it might not be helping much at all.

 

[EdipisReks]

it was made by MisterX, and i have no idea how it was constructed. i know that Canare really plays up starquad as being very resistant to interference, so i was rather surprised that i am having the problem. the cabling was MisterX's least expensive option, so it very well may not have the shielding connected. do you suggest connecting the shield to both rca's or just one, bg4533?

 

[audiomortis]

you could also try something like canare's GS6. I've had pretty good luck with that. it uses an insulated core with a braided sheild so it's only two conductor. It's pretty nice stuff. I use it on a lot of guitar cables and stuff like that. The signal wire is prety well hidden under the ground so it provides a pretty good amount in sheilding.

really as far as directional sheilding, I think you just have to try it yourself. Get some Starquad if that's what you would prefer, and wire up a cable with the sheild connected at both ends to the ground point. If that doesn't do what you need it to, try it on the source end only. If that doesn't work, try flipping it around.

is it at all possible that it's a problem with a component or the power comming out of the wall? I thought I had a bad sheild and I made and remade a cable several times trying several things only to find out there was a problem with my turntables ground... which I still haven't quite figured out yet.... which is lame.

 

[EdipisReks]

the interference depends on the position of the cable and it basically went away when i wrapped my IC's in aluminum foil. it may very well be that my power cables are putting out a lot of RFI, but i'm pretty certain that it isn't a grounding issue or the electricity in general.