I think you're a bit confused - an RCA connector is not balanced, it's designed for single-ended signals. If you connect either of the two inner conductors of a balanced signal to the outside shell, you've just unbalanced the whole thing in a rather poor fashion.
If you have a truly balanced signal, with a shield, you need to use something designed for that, with two signal pins and a grounded shell.
Bill
If you have a truly balanced signal, with a shield, you need to use something designed for that, with two signal pins and a grounded shell.
Bill
my problem is that I do not know "where" to solder the ground wire on the RCA jack. I tried to solder with the wire passing through the fissure present on the jack, but then I cannot screw the RCA cap (I apologize for my terrible English).
What I would like to build is a single ended interconnect according to the suggestions of Van der Hul cable builders (I also found this proposal somewhere else). Indeed he suggests to use a balanced cable even for a single ended connection. The two internal wires are devoted one for the signal and one for the ground. The shield shoul be connected to the RCA ground just on the source side, while it should be insulated on the amp side.
Renato
Ok, I understand. The picture is sort of from the wrong view, but it looks like the shell/shield is the cylindrical part with the cut-out. Solder the shield and one wire to it and the other (signal) wire to the center pin (I can't see it in pic, but it's there somewhere).
On the amp end, just solder the one ground wire to the same shield ring and cut the cable shield back so it doesn't contact the metal. A bit of heat-shrink over the cut end of the shield would ensure that doesn't come in contact with the connector shell.
Bill
On the amp end, just solder the one ground wire to the same shield ring and cut the cable shield back so it doesn't contact the metal. A bit of heat-shrink over the cut end of the shield would ensure that doesn't come in contact with the connector shell.
Bill
Member
Joined 2002
if you solder your ground on the inside, i wouls suggest some hot glue to secure the connection, this way if you have to move it in any way, your connection is solid! Just check before use of the glue, there is no real way to clean it again. Best of luck. Mav
Is it really supposed to be soldered
Looks more like the shield is supposed to be screwed together while assembling
Theres an open slit at top
Maybe the shield goes in there
Before soldering the positive lead in the middle, put a small piece of plastic isolation onto the lead, maybe heat shrink tubing
Push it up while soldering, and push it down when done
Always handle the finished cable very carefully, no pulling, no bending, dont ever turn it while connecting, etc
Looks more like the shield is supposed to be screwed together while assembling
Theres an open slit at top
Maybe the shield goes in there
Before soldering the positive lead in the middle, put a small piece of plastic isolation onto the lead, maybe heat shrink tubing
Push it up while soldering, and push it down when done
Always handle the finished cable very carefully, no pulling, no bending, dont ever turn it while connecting, etc
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Exchange it for a nice Neutrik instead? 
Well, that one you pictured solders like a PL-259 RF connector... you trim and tin the centre conductor and shield, insert, then solder through the slot.
Cheers!
Well, that one you pictured solders like a PL-259 RF connector... you trim and tin the centre conductor and shield, insert, then solder through the slot.
Cheers!
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Hi,
thank you for your suggestions. I had no problems in the past with cheap RCA jacks (it was very intuitive). I verified on the net that most of the "expensive" connectors are shaped like the Cardas RCA I have, with a slot that I also assume is the place where the ground should be soldered. But I found very difficult to allow for the screwing of the connector cap.
Renato
thank you for your suggestions. I had no problems in the past with cheap RCA jacks (it was very intuitive). I verified on the net that most of the "expensive" connectors are shaped like the Cardas RCA I have, with a slot that I also assume is the place where the ground should be soldered. But I found very difficult to allow for the screwing of the connector cap.
Renato
Hi,
just to tell you that a more careful read of the Cardas web site already gives the official answer. Quoting from the Cardas web site:
It seems that my problem is that I have not a sufficiently hot solder or... a sufficient patience
thank you again
Renato
just to tell you that a more careful read of the Cardas web site already gives the official answer. Quoting from the Cardas web site:
It seems that my problem is that I have not a sufficiently hot solder or... a sufficient patience
thank you again
Renato
Member
Joined 2002
Exchange it for a nice Neutrik instead?
Well, that one you pictured solders like a PL-259 RF connector... you trim and tin the centre conductor and shield, insert, then solder through the slot.
Cheers!
These are very nice, i just ordered many pairs 🙂
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