rca cable vs coax rca adapters
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=104990
Printed Date: May 13, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Topic: rca cable vs coax rca adapters
Posted By: spinbad
Subject: rca cable vs coax rca adapters
Date Posted: May 25, 2008 at 2:18 PM
hi everyone I am a newb to this site and would like to say i love it. I am working on a sysytem install for my truck consisting of an aftermarket head unit, an EQ, an electronic crossover, and two amps one for my highs and the other for the bass. My question is what is a better connection, a set of regular 15 dollar monster brand rca cable or RG6 triple shield CATV coax cable with a gold compression rca adapter at the end of the cable. I was asking about this because i have 2 1000 foot spools of coax cable. Is it worth the extra 30 dollars spending on buying the monster rca cable, or is the coax adapter connection a better buy. Thanks everyone
Replies:
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: May 25, 2008 at 8:12 PM
The big problem with the RG6 is it's total lack of flexibility. If you have RCA jacks that are mounted to the rear of your deck, or to your EQ or on your amps, They will not last long with the tension of the Cable constantly applying pressure to them. In a home installation, you generally have much more room for the cable to bend and not cause any damage to your equipment. Other than that the RG6 and compression fittings make a great patch cord.
Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: May 25, 2008 at 9:34 PM
i am mentions some very valid points, but I have used coax cable in many installs, both home and car, with FAR better than acceptable results. RG6 is very non-destructive to high frequencies, simply due to the faomed insulation; after all they are DESIGNED to non-destructively carry RF... WELL above the audible band.
If you have it, go for it, just be aware of the potentially short life of your interconnects... They can fail fairly quickly with vibration.
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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."
Posted By: teenkertoy
Date Posted: May 25, 2008 at 10:39 PM
The RG6 is fantastic for line level audio, agreed in all respects. It's also a true 50ohm transmission line, whereas the typical RCA lines and connectors found in stores are not. Plus it's triple shielded! Try finding Monster cables that claim the same.
But how much do you plan to spend on connectors for it? Being triple-shielded, it's also a pain to terminate. Add in the stress it (might) put on your RCA jacks ... add it all up and the $30 monster cables don't look so bad. It's a bit of a tossup, but I'd go with the cable on-hand because I'm such a do-it-yourself kind of guy. And I can print some labels onto heat shrink for a more custom look : )
-J
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Malcom: "This is the captain. We have a...little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and then...explode."
Jayne: "We're gonna explode? I don't wanna explode.
Posted By: spinbad
Date Posted: May 26, 2008 at 2:08 AM
Thanks for you feedback. I am only using the coax connections from the eq to the crossover and from the crossover to the amps. i already have rca cable but are about 3 feet short from where the crossover and amps will be mounted on and wanted to use coax in order to get and exact measured lenght and not repurchase a whole new set of rca cable. If i rebuy new rca cables i am looking at spending $120 as opposed to spending $70 for high quality gold plated adapters. Besides i have all the tools required to strip, insert, and compress the fitting. I am doing a proffesional install and would like to do it the right way or not do it at all. I am even using the SPDT relay for the addition of extra remote turn leads for the additional equipment i am REINSTALLING back into the truck after finding out the poor wiring skills performed from a shop i went to 2 years ago. Thanks everyone for you help more feedback is highly accepted and appriciated.
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