AudioQuest RCA interconnects or MonoPrice RCA Interconnects - Which?

[lifestyle]

I could save myself a small fortune if my suspicions are right. To the Audiophiles out there - "Which?" The AudioQuest "Evergreen" interconnects are About $35 for a 2Ft length, the MonoPrice "Premium Analog RCA" interconnects are about $3.00 for a 2ft length. WOW! quite a savings if the Monoprice will suffice. Help me decide please - only "Well Seasoned" Audiophiles need apply... Thank you guys.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Audioquest cables are a waste of money. Go with Monoprice. If you want a more upscale solution than Monoprice (custom lengths, fancier connectors) try Blue Jeans Cable.

 

[Speedskater]

Yes exactly:
Audioquest cables are a waste of money.

Monoprice is a good budget provide.

But Blue Jeans Cable hits the sweet spot in price and quality.

 

[Alexandre]

I have bought a few audioquest cables and they're generally reasonably priced on Amazon. Definitely a lot less than $35 for 2'. My were more along the lines of $20 for 15'.

 

[highfigh]

I could save myself a small fortune if my suspicions are right. To the Audiophiles out there - "Which?" The AudioQuest "Evergreen" interconnects are About $35 for a 2Ft length, the MonoPrice "Premium Analog RCA" interconnects are about $3.00 for a 2ft length. WOW! quite a savings if the Monoprice will suffice. Help me decide please - only "Well Seasoned" Audiophiles need apply... Thank you guys.

Do you know how to solder? Buy the parts and make your own unless it just doesn't make financial sense. However, if you want custom lengths and don't want to coil the excess in a place that's inconvenient or where it might be visible, it's the best way.

 

[lifestyle]

Do you know how to solder? Buy the parts and make your own unless it just doesn't make financial sense. However, if you want custom lengths and don't want to coil the excess in a place that's inconvenient or where it might be visible, it's the best way.

Hi Highfigh, I used to Solder for a living! Yes, i'll be doing my own speaker cables but I thought RCA interconnects were a different creature - better left to the professionals....? Kurt.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Hi Highfigh, I used to Solder for a living! Yes, i'll be doing my own speaker cables but I thought RCA interconnects were a different creature - better left to the professionals....? Kurt.

It's no different, if you know what you're doing, in terms of choosing cable and connectors and doing the assembly. Parts Express is a good source for materials, to name one. Frankly, I just use Blue Jeans Cable, even though I can make my own balanced cables. BJC just does an awesome, reliable job and saves me time and annoyance. You have to decide the right balance of time spent versus money spent for you.

 

[lifestyle]

It's no different, if you know what you're doing, in terms of choosing cable and connectors and doing the assembly. Parts Express is a good source for materials, to name one. Frankly, I just use Blue Jeans Cable, even though I can make my own balanced cables. BJC just does an awesome, reliable job and saves me time and annoyance. You have to decide the right balance of time spent versus money spent for you.

Thanks Robinson, I have the time, but what kind of cable do you use? I heard Gene say it needs to be 75 Ohm - got that, but is it just any old shielded coax? What are the connectors called? Please share if you know these things... Thanks

 

[GeneC]

For those who don't want to go the DIY route, look for component video cables. They're dirt cheap with the advent of HDMI. They're good for audio as well. As an example...

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/mcv600cv4/monster-cable-600-thx-ultra-component-video-cable-4ft/1.html

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/mcultv1000cv8/monster-cable-ultra-v1000-component-video-cable-8ft/1.html

 

[highfigh]

Hi Highfigh, I used to Solder for a living! Yes, i'll be doing my own speaker cables but I thought RCA interconnects were a different creature - better left to the professionals....? Kurt.

If you soldered for a living, I have no idea why you wouldn't make your own. It's the same as any other joint- not too hot, not too cold and don't move the wire or plug as it's cooling.

 

[lifestyle]

For those who don't want to go the DIY route, look for component video cables. They're dirt cheap with the advent of HDMI. They're good for audio as well. As an example...

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/mcv600cv4/monster-cable-600-thx-ultra-component-video-cable-4ft/1.html

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/mcultv1000cv8/monster-cable-ultra-v1000-component-video-cable-8ft/1.html

So GeneC, these can be used for interconnects between my Integrated amp & CD Player, Tuner... Yes?

 

[Escott1377]

I have used Mogami for the DIY route (http://www.redco.com/Mogami-W2330.html).

I used Switchcraft for my connections (http://www.parts-express.com/switchcraft-3502a-rca-plug-connector-nickel--093-148).

I ultimately found that my time was better spent purchasing from Blue Jeans. I make all of my other cables - speakers and power. Blue Jeans is too much of a bargain on the RCA side to pass up. Good luck!

 

[Irvrobinson]

Thanks Robinson, I have the time, but what kind of cable do you use? I heard Gene say it needs to be 75 Ohm - got that, but is it just any old shielded coax? What are the connectors called? Please share if you know these things... Thanks

If you insist on making them yourself, which I still think is a waste of time, I'd use BJC's recommendation of Belden 1505F, and connectors are to your taste. You can search the internet for sites that sell it by the foot. If staying cheap is really the objective, I'd just order the Monoprice cables and be done with it. IMO, all of this DIY talk is just a needless diversion over a few dollars.

 

[Speedskater]

The only coax cables that need a 75 Ohm Radio Frequency Characteristic Impedance are digital audio cables.
No analog audio cable needs a particular impedance. But as it turns out, most aftermarket analog audio coax cables do have a 75 Ohm impedance. It's the sweet spot in cable manufacturing, any other impedance costs more and gains nothing.

 

[KEW]

Sorry, late to the game. I generally avoid any thread with the term AudioQuest in it.
You've gotten excellent advice from eveyone who has posted.
I'm most in alignment with Irv.
Unfortunately, I have mostly Monoprice interconnects (which were dirt cheap). They are so stiff, I have had problems with a connection working it's way off the terminal (to the point of hearing distortion and wondering if a tweeter was damaged). I have resolved the issue by pulling apart the right and left wires about 10-12" back so both wires can flex easily to the terminals without "fighting" against each other.
From all I have heard BJC produces high functional-quality cables which would be nice to own without being outrageous in price.
Since you have the background for DIY, it makes sense to price it out and see how much you can save...or you may just want to make your own because you can! You should be able to save money over BJC. It just depends on what your time is worth and whether you would look at it as a task vs, something you would enjoy.
GeneC's option looks pretty interesting, but I am not sure if you can remove the third cable!

 

[j_garcia]

If you aren't going to DIY, BJC gets my vote. Price vs quality these are the best cables I've used, and I've been using them for many years now.

 

[GeneC]

Component video cables can be used as audio interconnects. I've been using component cables between my cd/dvd/br players and receivers for years. And yes, the third cable be can easily removed. Do it twice and you have a third set.

 

[avliner]

^^

I've been using VC cables for audio since a long while now, with excellent results, so far

 

[highfigh]

The only coax cables that need a 75 Ohm Radio Frequency Characteristic Impedance are digital audio cables.
No analog audio cable needs a particular impedance. But as it turns out, most aftermarket analog audio coax cables do have a 75 Ohm impedance. It's the sweet spot in cable manufacturing, any other impedance costs more and gains nothing.

And even that works just fine with just about any cable that's available. I bought "digital audio baluns" that connect to Cat5e a few months ago, just to see if they work- they did and I'm connecting one AppleTV to an optical-coax adapter that sends the feed to the basement rack via Cat5e and splitting that feed to a DAC at the distributed audio amp and another goes to the Krell in the theater, so they can hear the same music when they want. Works perfectly an the first leg is almost 50', while the feed to the theater is closer to 100'.

 

[lifestyle]

If you insist on making them yourself, which I still think is a waste of time, I'd use BJC's recommendation of Belden 1505F, and connectors are to your taste. You can search the internet for sites that sell it by the foot. If staying cheap is really the objective, I'd just order the Monoprice cables and be done with it. IMO, all of this DIY talk is just a needless diversion over a few dollars.

Thanks robinson, this is important info for me...