ok I have been doing some reading on rca cables ,
I was thinking about making my own cables for my next install.
any of you make your own cables maybe give a guy a few pointers or show me a good place to start.

I hate having the extra cable left over or not having enough .
I thought it may be best if I made my own (I'm a techie guy) and will try almost anything once.
the install will be in the caravan so I'm thinking the distance could be long.
making my own keeps it clean .

thanks
chimera

 

making RCA cables are easy. I've made a ton for friends for home audio. Nothing I can really point out though, just make sure the wires are not crossed. And get a good soldering iron. Flux is always good too.

 

Yep, a pair of wires, or 2 pair really, a drill, some ends and a soldering iron and you're in business.

I'll offer this: When soldering the ends on, if you are using good ends with a teflon insulator between the pin and the barrel, find a cheap RCA jack (female) to plug the end into while you solder and as it cools. This will keep the pin centered in the barrel in case you accidentally get stuff a little too hot and the teflon goes soft..

 

^^ Thats good advice.

I made my own cables, trying to do as much as possible to reduce/eliminate noise.
You may have noticed the really expensive home or car audio cables are called 'double balanced'. They use 2 positive and 2 negative wires with an overall shield. The sheild is connected at the source end only and they usually have direction arrows on the cables.
I used Belden 'Star Quad' microphone cable and Canare R-Cap connectors. But rather than attaching the shield (drain) wire at one end only, I attached a ground lead to each cable in the middle and grounded it to chassis under the rear seat.
I have amazingly little alt noise considering its a 6 amp system, external active crossover, multiple interfaces, external tuner, 2 changers and an antenna amp. Thats not to mention the car came with more electronics than most.