MCM_Fan
AK Subscriber
About six months ago, I picked up a pair of 10' long Blue Jeans Cable interconnects at my local Goodwill. I don't really need anything that long. So, I want to cut them down and make three pairs 3' interconnect cables. I'm looking for some nice, but inexpensive non-locking RCA plugs for this project.
I REALLY like the Amphenol APCR series that is available at Parts Express:
https://www.parts-express.com/amphe...ca-connector-red-with-gold-contacts--092-0136
https://www.parts-express.com/amphe...-connector-black-with-gold-contacts--092-0134
They seem well made, well reviewed and I like that the painted die cast bodies will make easy to tell the left channel from the right channel connector in the poorly lit area behind my amp.
Only one potential issue. The spec for the cable diameter is listed at 3mm - 7mm. I measured my cables and the outside diameter came in at just under 7.5mm. Obviously, the rubber grommet they use allows some flexibility in acceptable cable diameter. I'm hopeful they can stretch enough to accommodate that extra 0.5mm.
So, has anyone tried these particular Amphenol RCA plugs with the Belden LC-1 cable? If not, I'll volunteer to be a guinea pig. I also picked up a 25' Blue Jeans Cable video cable that is made from Belden 1694A coax cable. It's not as good for interconnects as the LC-1. Slightly higher capacitance per foot (16 pf vs. 12.2pf) and notably stiffer, but the outside diameter comes in at just under 7mm. This will be my fallback plan for the Amphenol plugs, if they don't work with the LC-1 cable.
Should the Amphenols not work with the LC-1 cable, what other RCA plugs would be a good choice (under $3 each readily available from someplace like Parts Express, Mouser, Digikey, Newark, etc.). The Rean RCA plugs from Parts Express are often recommended, but they only support cable with an outside diameter between 4mm and 6mm. So, a no go for the LC-1 cable. Same problem with the Switchcraft RCA plugs - max. diameter 5.6mm. Any other recommendations for affordable RCA plugs that can handle a cable with an outside diameter of 7.5mm?
I REALLY like the Amphenol APCR series that is available at Parts Express:
https://www.parts-express.com/amphe...ca-connector-red-with-gold-contacts--092-0136
https://www.parts-express.com/amphe...-connector-black-with-gold-contacts--092-0134
They seem well made, well reviewed and I like that the painted die cast bodies will make easy to tell the left channel from the right channel connector in the poorly lit area behind my amp.
Only one potential issue. The spec for the cable diameter is listed at 3mm - 7mm. I measured my cables and the outside diameter came in at just under 7.5mm. Obviously, the rubber grommet they use allows some flexibility in acceptable cable diameter. I'm hopeful they can stretch enough to accommodate that extra 0.5mm.
So, has anyone tried these particular Amphenol RCA plugs with the Belden LC-1 cable? If not, I'll volunteer to be a guinea pig. I also picked up a 25' Blue Jeans Cable video cable that is made from Belden 1694A coax cable. It's not as good for interconnects as the LC-1. Slightly higher capacitance per foot (16 pf vs. 12.2pf) and notably stiffer, but the outside diameter comes in at just under 7mm. This will be my fallback plan for the Amphenol plugs, if they don't work with the LC-1 cable.
Should the Amphenols not work with the LC-1 cable, what other RCA plugs would be a good choice (under $3 each readily available from someplace like Parts Express, Mouser, Digikey, Newark, etc.). The Rean RCA plugs from Parts Express are often recommended, but they only support cable with an outside diameter between 4mm and 6mm. So, a no go for the LC-1 cable. Same problem with the Switchcraft RCA plugs - max. diameter 5.6mm. Any other recommendations for affordable RCA plugs that can handle a cable with an outside diameter of 7.5mm?
