Is it okay to have one end of interconnects not connected?

[sawdin]

<!--[if gte mso 9]><![endif]--> I would like to use a DAC/Headphone Amp combo in my home office (desktop > DAC/Amp via USB> Senn HD 650), and also use it in my living room with my Denon AVR 3806 (laptop > DAC via USB > AVR via RCA > speakers) or with my Denon 1920 DVD/CD Player (DVD > Headphone Amp via RCA > HD 650). I would like to do this with a minimum of connecting and removing interconnects, especially those that connect to the back of my AVR and DVD player. My questions are:

Is it okay/safe to have a pair of RCA interconnects with one end ALWAYS connected to the RCA outs of my DVD player and leave the other end just laying on top of my audio/TV stand? Will this be a problem when I am using the DVD player with my AVR (DVD player > AVR via coax digital > speakers)? If it is not a problem, then I won’t have to get at the back of the DVD player (which is a hassle) every time I want to use my headphone amp + HD 650’s when playing a CD; I can just plug the interconnect ends directly into my headphone amp. However, I do not know if having the RCA outs not connected to anything while the DVD is feeding the AVR via coax will have a negative impact on the sound quality that I hear via the speakers or whether the unconnected RCA’s will cause some type of other problem (e.g., noise, feedback, somehow blow an amp, circuit, etc.).

When I plug the RCA interconnects from my DVD player into my headphone amp, will it be a problem that the DVD player also has a coax going into my unpowered AVR? I do not think so, but I am not sure.

Is it okay/safe to have a pair of RCA interconnects with one end ALWAYS connected to the CD inputs of my AVR and leave the other end just laying on top of my audio/TV stand? Then, if I want to stream music from the internet or play some downloaded music or ripped CD’s, I can just connect my laptop to the DAC via USB and connect the RCA interconnects from the AVR to the RCA outs of the DAC. Same questions as before: can I just leave the RCA interconnects connected to the CD inputs of the AVR and leave the other end unconnected when I am going directly from my DVD player to the AVR via coax? Will the ‘unconnected’ end of the RCA inputs to the AVR cause problems?

One obvious solution would be to have two separate outboard DAC’s/Headphone Amps, one downstairs in the living room and one upstairs in the office. However, why go to that expense if I can just move one combo back and forth, and just plug in the ends of the appropriate RCA interconnects when needed. Are there simpler solutions to my perceived dilemma of how to make the required connections?

TIA!!

 

[Actran]

If the exposed ends are female, I would think you're lower risk, but if they are male you might have a shorting risk. However, the power output through that port is probably pretty low. I wouldn't do it, but I'm overly conservative with my poor baby Denon.

 

[Sgratien]

Not an issue, just take precautions to keep the exposed ends from shorting.

 

[sawdin]

Is there some type of insulated 'cap' that one could put on the exposed end of male plugs? If not, I could probably make some type of 'cap'.

 

[Actran]

You could buy a really cheap (2-3 dollar) female RCA cable, clip the wires off to the strain relief and use those female terminations as your "caps". It would even look intentional. Just make sure none of the wire on the "caps" protrude.

 

[Grador]

The only thing I'd worry about is connector wear on both the DAC and cables. RCA connectors don't necessarily deal with being removed that well.

 

[sawdin]

Actran: Good idea...thanks...

Grador: Yes, it is not a good long-term solution. If just used the headphone out on the AVR, then I could add a Y-Cable coming out of the DAC to connect to the AVR; that would at least reduce the strain on the connectors inside the DAC. I am going to look at other DAC/AMP combo's, as more outputs would be useful. However, larger units are more a pain to move around.

 

[sawdin]

Thanks!...I'll just pick up some cheap female to female connectors:

and to be extra careful, add some blank rca caps to the other end:


I may pick up some covers for hdmi ports, usb ports, etc., just to keep dust and dirt out.