RCA Cable Opinion

So, I have always used Kicker RCA cables, but they dont really make a 6ft cable, only 3' and 13'. Also, I had some issues with ground noise in previous vehicle.

I have been looking at Rockford RCAs, like http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_16509_Rockford-Fosgate-RFIT-6.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_16511_Rockford-Fosgate-RFI-6.html

I know Tacoma's with LOCs typically have that hum, and I have some ideas on how to fix that, but people with aftermarket HUs, any thoughts that reduce hums, bad signals, shitty ends, etc....

I will be keeping my stock HU and using a LOC.

I really didnt want to spend more than ~$15 a cable, but I also dont want crap.

What do you guys use......?

 

I'm using StreetWires cables. But I have an aftermarket deck, and no noise. I hope you can eliminate it from your system as well.

 

Using cables with some kind of shielding will help block out the interference that causes that humming. Also, a lot of people notice the hum goes away when they run their audio cables along the passenger's side of the car and the power cables along the driver's side of the car. Here's an inexpensive cable that has some shielding and gold connectors. I've purchased from MonoPrice before, but I haven't used this exact cable. However, this cable has 4.5 out of 5 stars from 176 people so its probably pretty good. And for the price, you really can't beat it. And if you need a different length, here are all the various lengths.

Edit: I just remembered I bought one of these cables in the 35ft length for my father. Its a nice thick cable and he really likes it.

 

If you want good stuff it costs good money.

 

I don't know about $15 but I found a good deal on Stinger RCAs when I was doing my build...

 

Just like HDMI cables... The $10.00 cable looks and sounds as good as the $60.00 cable. I use cables from monoprice. They sounds fine and no sound interference.

Chances are you will not be able to hear the difference, other than you credit card crying.

But if you happy with the brand name cables.... spend it.

 

Incorrect as you are comparing apples to oranges.

RCA is analog.
HDMI is digital.

Totally different how they handle audio and what can affect their performance.

Analog cable quality makes a big difference. Do you need Monster Cables? No. But can you run down to the dollar store and get RCA's from there that sound as good as Monster? No. There are brand names, great cables, good cables, and crap when it comes to analog cables. Brand names like monster are good quality cables, but over priced. There are better cables out there than monster that cost less that's for damn sure. But cables are EXTREMELY important when it comes to an audio build.

Don't believe me then run the left side of your vehicle with crappy cables and the right with good cables. Adjust the balance of a song left and right and hear the difference. The reason why most people "can't" hear the difference is that they have never heard the difference side by side and most people just don't give a shit. Or is your stereo is that bad (stock, 10 years old blown speakers, etc) then you won't hear the difference anyways. But on a good system with good speakers/HU/Amps, cables are very important.

Stinger is a good 'bang for the buck' product IMO.

 

Great info! Thanks.

I know sometimes you get what you pay for, but like you said, so brands are way over priced. I was just curious what other people thought. Stinger does was the next brand besides the Rockford ones I was looking at.

 

Stinger and Rockford are good. Rockford are typically overpriced as well at shops like Best Buy. But online they have good deals.

 

+1 for StreetWires. I've been running them in my civic for years and will be putting them in the new Tacoma when I start upgrading that stereo.

People talk a lot about the difference in sound quality, but they neglect to mention the difference in shielding, which plays a big role in keeping alternator whine out of the audio signal. Sure, cheap cables will probably carry the signal just as well, but they won't keep other noise out nearly as well. It's worth spending a few extra bucks on a good RCA cable.

As Riverdog mentioned, you should always be running your audio and power wires on opposite sides of the vehicle (Usually power on the driver side, audio on the passenger side). The whine is from left over A/C current running through the power cables that gets induced into the audio signal.

 

I will just say this about Monoprice cables. I had them in my home audio setup, running to my subwoofer. I had to purchase a ground loop isolator and run it inline, then I went to a more expensive cable later on, and the ground loop was gone. Monoprice makes good cables for a great price, but sometimes you can introduce noise in a system, and in a car audio environment, there are plenty of opportunities to introduce noise. I would stick to something made for the car audio environment. Even if it means you have to bundle the excess, because they are too long. Just better off IMO.

 

+1 for good advice.

 

You don't need to spend a lot on a RCA cable that will work. NOT ALWAYS, but the more you pay usually the more flexible the cable is.

If you listen side by side, there are sound differences between one brands cable that retails for $30 and another brands cable that retails for about $30 also. Obviously quality can be different too depending on the name of the company. Its what small differences between cables sound. From my experience, there has been no dramatic differences (but I have only tried just several side by side. I don't remember brands, but I do remember that these ranged between $10 and $30-ish.

It is obvious that not everything is created equal. I usually look on Amazon customer reviews for RCA cables and listen to people who know nothing about them other than "works/sounds good/looks pretty" say. LOL. If there is a cable with a lot of reviews and good ones, chances are that there is decent shielding in it and the composition of it is decent also.

 

I split the difference. I use Monoprice RCA's for patch cables- the 1.5 ft. ones. If it's a long run I use Rockford Fosgate. IME a Rockford Fosgate double amp install kit is only a few bucks more than a single, and comes with two 20' shielded RCA pairs.

 

Not at all true. There is a difference. Audio and Video are different. Signal interference is a major problem in cheap cables. Audio is also degraded greatly. maybe not at a level that your ears can comprehend but if your already using cheap hardware then it doesnt matter much. A sound system is only as good as your weakest link. A $5000 amp is pointless if your going to run $1 cables. Just sayin.

X2



And to the OP, I run Rockford RCAs for my audio and they have been great. I run Monster cable for my Video. Keep in mind that home and car audio products are made differntly based on the enviornment they will be used in. Home audio products may appear to be higher quality but that does not mean they will perform better in a mobile enviornment. Id suggest you get a name brand cable such as Rockford or Stinger and if they have differnt lines of RCAs id recommend at the very minimum the middle quallity option or higher. Typically your "value" options or entry level options are pretty cheap. My Rockford cables have been through 3 different vehicles. 5 different head units, and 2 different amps, and still work flawlessly with no signal interference.

 

This.

Rockford cables may seem expensive until you look at top end home audio cables. $100/ft is not unheard of. I've made signal and speaker cables for home use at $6/ft that are equal in quality- however noise is barely an issue. At home I can use solid silver strands with no shielding, but in a car it would be a disaster.

Vibration is also a major issue, considering too that we're not talking about audio in a Rolls Royce. Rockford Fosgate are good, durable and affordable if you buy in a kit as I mentioned above. Pay 10X if you want, but you're only getting .01% better, even on a fantastic system.

The more time I spend on this forum the more I like it. Best bang for the buck is a pretty consistent basis for advice.

 

DB Link CL12Z Double Shielded Competition Series 12-Feet RCA Adapter

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NCDB14/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I used these and have had great luck with them

 

I ended up going with the Kicker K Series RCAs. I was too hesitant to use anything else. I kind of wish I had bought the Rockford ones. But oh well. I did get a pretty good deal from Sonicelectronix on them. If i end up having issues, i really like those black and white Rockford ones, the RFIT series.

 

i just got these and im in love best sound iv ever had http://www.knukonceptz.com/mobile-audio/rca-cables/krystal-rca-kables/
knukonceptz has the best products in my opinion

 

Kimber is good as well

http://www.needledoctor.com/Brand-Stores/Kimber-Kable-Speaker-Cables