3/8 & RCA - Quality Difference

[druss]

Hey guys i have read your guides and other very helpful information that has given me great insight into the quality cabling ripoff that is now in full swing, it opened my eyes. I noticed that comments were made saying that if the cable is made with good quality products and has adequate sheilding that quality differences are non existent.

My question is if i were splitting a 3/8 stereo socket (line out) up to RCA (resonable quality cable) do i lose anything in the translation or is what you said about cables and interconnects relevant to sockets and plugs as well.


Any information would be greatly appreciated.....

 

[jaxvon]

Nope, there's no quality lost in a Y-Adapter. Are you referring to a mini-phone plug or a big one? Because the mini is 1/8th and the big one is 1/4th. A 3/8 plug would be HUGE!

 

[druss]

Whoops

thanks i mean the smaller 1/8, so if i buy a good quality 1/8 plug and then y to RCA would i be getting the same quality if i had RCA on the unit that is outputting, as it has a 1/8 stereo plug at the moment.

 

[jaxvon]

Yep, just buy a solidly built one. You should be able to find what you need at your local Radio Shack or similar store. Just don't buy a Monster cable. They're made well, buy they're also Monsterously overpriced.

 

[druss]

Thanks for that, we have no Radio Shack here in Queensland Australia but i know where to get them from thanks

 

[jaxvon]

Ah. T'is a little difficult to recommend stores on the other side of the world...

 

[j_garcia]

The problem is not the cable, it is going to be the voltage sent out by a headphone jack, which is not sufficient to drive an amp. It simply does not work well. So the answer is, no you will not get the same output from a 1/8 jack as you will from a normal RCA line level output.

 

[BMXTRIX]

He said it was a line out jack, not a headphone jack. So, if it is indeed a true line out jack, that has been terminated to 1/8" socket, then there is not going to be a voltage issue. If it is actually a headphone jack, then that is not the same thing as a line out jack and there will be some voltage issues.

So, that's just something to double check on.

Otherwise, the info Jaxvon gave is correct. It should not matter and you can pick up adapters at Radio Shack that should be of decent quality. You could also pick up some raw materials at Parts Express . com and make your own adapter if you were up to the task.

 

[j_garcia]

What is the output from? Don't see too many 1/8" output jacks that aren't headpone jacks, but without knowing what it's from, it's hard to say. I was just guessing.

 

[markw]

What is the output from? Don't see too many 1/8" output jacks that aren't headpone jacks, but without knowing what it's from, it's hard to say. I was just guessing.

I,ve got a computer and a walkman that has 1/8" mini jacks for both headphone and line level outputs.

Ineither case, a headphone output is morethan adequate to drive a power amp. In fact, if he's not careful with a headphone output he could easily overdrive a power amp's inputs.

 

[j_garcia]

In either case, a headphone output is morethan adequate to drive a power amp. In fact, if he's not careful with a headphone output he could easily overdrive a power amp's inputs.

I've the headphone jack a few times from a CD player and a soundcard via a stereo cable adapter 1/8" to RCA, and it sounded like crap each time.