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DIY RCA interconnects with Locking Plugs

invenio

invenio

Member
I made some custom RCA interconnects for my system as I could not find ideal cables for less than $500. I really like how they came out. Matter of fact the sound improvement over standard monoprice premium cables was so great that I made another set. I was always somewhat skeptical about interconnect cables making a "significant" influence on the overall sound, but now I'm a believer! :) Check out the gallery for full step by step instructions and many pictures... I had a fun time making them!

Step by Step instructions

Comments and suggestions always welcome!

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Nice. I got some fancy AR cables for really cheap that have nice locking plugs like that. I paid less for the whole cable than I could have gotten the plugs for. My plan was to see how they sound as-is, and if I don't care for them, just strip the cables down for their connectors and rebuild them with some other sort of cable.
 
Thanks for the comments.

-gadget73
I used Belden LC-1 for the cable itself which turned out great. You can buy it from rawcable.com at any length you want. I highly recommend it.
 
Would you mind listing where you purchased the materials and the part numbers?

Very nice looking set of ICs!!
 
For the cable you can go to rawcable and buy whatever length of the LC-1 cable you want, the plugs are GLS audio. Unfortunately, they are out of stock. Locking Plugs

Heatshrink you can buy anywhere (monoprice sells a nice cable kit that has multiple sizes include techflex braiding). I found this particular techflex braiding "rattlesnake" design on ebay.

As a side note. Do NOT buy the Nakamichi locking plugs that they are selling on ebay, they're garbage. I bought some as I wanted to make another set of cables (and GLS audio won't have new plugs in stock for another 2 months) and I ended up returning them.
 
invenio said:
Thanks for the comments.

-gadget73
I used Belden LC-1 for the cable itself which turned out great. You can buy it from rawcable.com at any length you want. I highly recommend it.
Click to expand...

The Belden LC-1 cable is the same wire Bluejean Cable uses. Very nice wire.:yes:
 
bob06 said:
The Belden LC-1 cable is the same wire Bluejean Cable uses. Very nice wire.:yes:
Click to expand...

After doing extensive research I found that everybody that reviewed their cable loved it. I really wanted locking plugs as it doesn't put any wear and tear on equipment and has a much stronger connection. Unfortunately, blue-jeans didn't off this option. So I got their cable, some really great locking plugs, and was able to do a "cool design" (their standard techflex braiding is simple black).

But the best part is the sound improvement. Once again, it turned me into a true believer that cables "really" do make a difference.
 
mhedges said:
Very nice looking cables. I am not at all a fan of locking connectors but if you like them then cool!
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Out of curiosity, may I ask why? I like them much more than standard push on plugs (IMHO, but I respect all people's views). I like that their is no friction when taking them on and off, and you can tighten them up so that the connection is far tighter than any push on plug.
 
I don't care for locking plugs, I would rather they came off if sufficient force is applied, rather than stress the cable or RCA connector on the pcb of the device.

I guess its fine if all of your cables are locking so you won't pull on one thinking it should come loose, and there's no way anything is going to fall, or otherwise pull on a cable.
 
I see your point. For me, all my cables are behind my equipment so there is no risk of me "accidentally" stepping on a cable or getting it caught on something. I never pull the "cable portion" of my interconnects (locking or push on/off type), I only hold the plugs when moving taking them on and off, so stressing the cable is not really a concern.
 
Understood... I just don't feel there is anything to be gained, and a margin of error that I'm not willing to accept.
 
mackat said:
What is a locking plug?


Ben aka MacKat
Click to expand...

A locking plug is like a regular RCA plug except that you twist the housing to make it tight or loose. Basically, you slip on the loose/open RCA plug onto the female connector and turn the outer housing which retracts the body at the tip, causing the connectors to clamp down and become tight. You basically adjust how tight you would like it from "completely loose" to "much tighter than standard connectors".
 
invenio said:
Out of curiosity, may I ask why? I like them much more than standard push on plugs (IMHO, but I respect all people's views). I like that their is no friction when taking them on and off, and you can tighten them up so that the connection is far tighter than any push on plug.
Click to expand...

Well my issue with them is that they are very hard to get on or off receivers or preamps with closely spaced RCA jacks. I much prefer reasonably tight regular connectors where all you have to do is push on or pull off, rather than contorting around to twist a tightening ring while simultaneously holding the other part of the connector to keep it from turning.
 
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