DIY RCA cables

[Ita0101]

Hi,

I'm interesting to make my own cables.
I need cables for speakers and for subwoofers right now. In the future it would me more speakers cables and interconnects.

I understand that I can use crimper/soldring/compression for making it and I got confused.
It seems that the crimping/compression option is better.


I'm planning to buy a ratcheting crimping tool soon (Pressmaster MCT) to help me crimp speaker's wire and cables and car audio in the near future, I can put dies set for f-type connectors and RCA.
Or, should I buy some compression tool ?(Jonrad CT200 looks very nice!)

If I understand correctly there are types of RCA connectors for each option (crimp/solder/compress).

Which way to go?
Compression or Crimping?
And Which RCA plugs are recommended? I could not find a lot RCA connectors for compression or crimp, only few in Amazon and Parts Express.

I have a great coaxial stripping tool (Pressmaster Corex) and some Chinese soldering station.
I'm planing to use coaxial rg6 cable and found a lot of info in the forum.

Any advice or link if this subject discussed before, would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Itamar.

 

[JMFahey]

RCA connectors for speaker duty?
Haven´t seen that for a long time, think the 60´s, and that at lowest end stuff (cheap record players or radios).

 

[Ita0101]

RCA connectors for speaker duty?
Haven´t seen that for a long time, think the 60´s, and that at lowest end stuff (cheap record players or radios).

What is the best way to make speaker cables? Banana plugs?

 

[scottjoplin]

Banana plugs are popular, I don't like them though, too easy to reverse and short. Speakon connectors are what the pros use. RCA connectors would be ok so long as you don't get them confused with the inputs, so not really recommended

 

[Ita0101]

Banana plugs are popular, I don't like them though, too easy to reverse and short. Speakon connectors are what the pros use. RCA connectors would be ok so long as you don't get them confused with the inputs, so not really recommended

Thanks!
Is it possible to connect Speakon connectors to my current speakers?
I attached a photo

 

[rayma]

Is it possible to connect Speakon connectors to my current speakers?

You should be able to use bare wires with those binding posts,
and that's much better than connectors for a long term installation.
If you have to disconnect them regularly, use banana plugs.

 

[Ita0101]

You should be able to use bare wires with those binding posts,
and that's much better than connectors for a long term installation.
If you have to disconnect them regularly, use a dual banana plug.

I'm using right now with bare wires. Is it better than banana? Are banana plugs just more convenient?
Thanks.

 

[rayma]

I'm using right now with bare wire. Is it better than banana?
Are banana plugs just more convenient?

I much prefer stripped bare wire to any connector attached to the wire.
It's just a matter of convenience to use a connector with the binding posts.

Every year or two or three you'd want to cut off an inch or so from each end,
and re-strip to keep the bare copper fresh. If the wire is tinned, not even that.

 

[Ita0101]

Thanks!
Maybe I will make a banana plug just for fun.

Is there a good 12-16 awg wire you can recommend?

 

[rayma]

Is there a good 12-16 awg wire you can recommend?

The brand isn't important, but bigger is better. Keep the wires short and both of equal length,
even if one side can be much shorter than the other.

 

[Ita0101]

Great tips!
Thanks!

I found that the Belden 5T00UP (10-AWG) is recommended and not expensive for my needs.

 

[scottjoplin]

If you tin the wire to use with the binding posts tighten them occasionally, the solder can slowly flow meaning the connection can weaken

 

[rayma]

I found that the Belden 5T00UP (10-AWG) is recommended and not expensive for my needs.

That sounds fine, I'd use that.

 

[rayma]

If you tin the wire to use with the binding posts tighten them occasionally,
the solder can slowly flow meaning the connection can weaken

Yes, I use bare wire wirh the very tip end of the wires tinned just to keep the strands together.
The part of the wires that touches the binding post is bare and free of solder, and remains flexible.

 

[mchambin]

Equal length is a myth.
I have 1.5 meter left, 3.5 meter right. It cannot make any significant difference.
Low resistance is all that matters. I have 2.5 square millimeter witch is well on the overkill side.

 

[rayma]

Equal length is a myth.
I have 1.5 meter left, 3.5 meter right. It cannot make any significant difference.
Low resistance is all that matters. I have 2.5 square millimeter witch is well on the overkill side.

You are free to use whatever you want.

 

[avtech]

Maybe I will make a banana plug just for fun.

I made a set of banana leads with some Nakamichi plugs for my test bench. They assembled pretty quickly and had two grub screws to hold the wire.

Bare wire to binding post is good for long term installs, but if you frequently swap equipment around (as I do on the test bench), bananas are great for the efficiency.

 

[mchambin]

You are free to use whatever you want.

I was answering a non sense that became removed.....Equal length is a myth.

 

[Ita0101]

I made a set of banana leads with some Nakamichi plugs for my test bench. They assembled pretty quickly and had two grub screws to hold the wire.

Bare wire to binding post is good for long term installs, but if you frequently swap equipment around (as I do on the test bench), bananas are great for the efficiency.

Looks very nice!



I saw some posts about coaxial speaker cables, mostly for ESL speakers..
Is there a reason to make coaxial speaker cables or is it too over kill, especially for my current speakers?
I'm planning on making Satori 2-way with TW29-R ring dome tweeters and maybe some matching center channel in the near future.

 

[JMFahey]

I am still baffled as to why you mentioned cheesy obsolete RCA plugs, when your apparently good quality and modern speakers clearly show 2 sets each of screw down terminals of good quality for bare wire, and with center holes and proper separation for banana plugs, which is again a high quality type of speaker connector.

Why would you even consider anything else?

As of wires, just use reasonably thick copper parallel wire and call it a day.

Leave RCA connectors and shielded wire for the "signal" side of your setup where they belong.