Build Your Own Interconnects

3 days ago by Canopyflyer to c/budgetaudiophile

An Interconnect cable is the patch cable that goes between audio separates. For home use they typcially use "RCA" style connectors. The following post is aimed at those types of cables and not XLR style interconnects which can be found on some home audio components.

Go onto Craigslist, Nextdoor, Ebay, or Facebook Marketplace and look for RG6 75ohm coaxial cable. It's the cable that is run in most houses for cable TV. You might even have this stuff laying around your house in a box somewhere. Either way you can get it for pennies per foot if you look hard enough. There are versions with a solid copper core , or a copper clad steel core. For audio use, either is just fine, but as a personal preference I like to use solid copper core as it's better quality cable. However, it does cost just a bit more, but still cheaper than buying cables in a box store.

Next you'll need RCA compression fittings for RG6: Amazon Link

Then purchase a compression tool and coaxial cutter: Amazon Link

If you have cables with the "F-type" connector on them already, then there are adapters to go to RCA male: Amazon Link

Follow the instructions that come with the tools and enjoy cables that outperform even those that are made of unicorn farts and fairy dust that people with too much money but little sense like to tout. These cables will also last forever as RG6 cable is very tough, especially the solid copper core version. I have cables that are north of 30 years old still in daily use.

The only issue with RG6, it is a stiff cable. So making short runs bend at sharp angles is not an easy thing to do. You will need to come up with a method to keep stereo pairs together, or just run them separately. Plus mark the cables as Left or Right channels. I use either colored heat shrink tubing, or electrical tape for this purpose.

MrWrinkles 2 points 3 days ago

I have 4 tape decks and only a few cables. I have another project now, thanks... 😄

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avidamoeba 2 points 3 days ago

Good idea. I'd add that off-the-shelf cables from the sources for professional music eguipment (e.g. Hosa) are already of great quality and don't cost an arm and a leg.

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systemglitch 1 point 3 days ago

I find off the shelf don't split cables properly, which is a problem going from 3. 5mm to RCA tips. The interference that introduces drives me crazy.

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