WTB: RCA Connectors - Best Value (1 Viewer)

[MarcoP]

What's the least expensive and best RCA connectors that I can buy (best value)? I need them for audio and video cables. Who has the best prices on this stuff? I heard canare connectors are the best for the price- is that true? I have Belden 1505 & Belden 1694 cable if that helps.

Thanks!

 

[Cornelius]

Is this for audio or video? If video, Canare is your best bet. You can get lesser priced ones for your audio.

CJ

 

[MarcoP]

I need connectors for audio AND video cables. You recommended canare- who carries them the cheapest?

 

[Vince Maskeeper]

Canare is not cheap, but they are good and have the appeal of being a crimp system, which will save tons of time. However- to do them "correctly" you need to buy the right tools, for example I just added Belden 1505 cable to my list of supplies I build with- and the dies to make belden 1505 with the appropriate canare connector cost me $135. This is just for the crimp dies- is before i buy a connector or cable, or hell even the handle frame for the dies!

You can get canare connectors from most major supply houses, and the prices are within pennies of each other... I have ordered from HAVE and MARKERTEK without issue- I have recently switched the majority of my business to Joseph Electronics, but they are slowly pissing me off to the point that I'll probably go back ot HAVE.

If you're serious about using Belden 1694a and 1505f coax, let me know and I'll post the tools you'll need and the right connectors (although, again, to do it right you're looking at an investment of about $250-300, expcially if you buy the canare stripper!)

-V

 

[MarcoP]

I am serious about using 1694 and 1505 cables, so please provide the dies that I will need. Wow, $250-$300... Is there another connector that is less expensive but more work and same quality when completed as canare? If so, please list it here. I know how to solder, so that won't be a problem if I have to do that.

 

[Cornelius]

Do a search on this forum for Paladin tools. Alot of people use their dies and frames, which are a lot less expensive than the Canare ones. I'm not sure if they make a die to fit the 1505 (a or f?) or not. I'm pretty sure that they make one for the 1694a. Personally, however, I prefer to use Canare tools so that I know that it is done right.

CJ

 

[MarcoP]

Any other help on the canare dies?

 

[Rob Formica]

I've used inexpensive Neutrik solder connectors with belden 89259 for most of my audio connectors without any problems. They don't require any special tools because they are soldered, but I found that they do require a slight adjusting of the outer contacts to get a snug fit.

Sorry, I never tried them for video connectors
Later...
Rob

 

[David_Rivshin]

I use the following for all my audio/video cables (with Belden 1694A):
gold crimp on connector at $1.80 a piece
Required tools:
stripper
ratcheting crimp handle
crimp die
Total: about $36

A coax cutter is optional, but handy at about $6.

Much cheaper than Cannare stuff as far as tools, and produces quite satisfactory results for my needs. Also has the benefit of working fine with standard RG6 F connectors for satellite/cableTV. I'm not sure how Canare tools do in the regard. BTW, if you do use F-connectors then I highly recommend this handy tool to make life just that much easier.

Hope this helps
-- Dave

PS. While all my links are to PartsExpress, there are other places (such as MCM) that carry many of the same or similar items. PE is just convenient, and I happen to shop there most often for this type of thing.

 

[MarcoP]

Thank you all for your responses. Anyone else - feel free to respond and share your advice.

 

[Rob Formica]

In case you didn't find the link... these are the connectors i used: NEUTRIK RCA PLUG at PartsExpress. Construction Quality is quite nice for the price.

 

[Ted Drain]

I built all of my cables w/ Canare connectors and Canare and Belden cable using the cheaper Paladin tools. It takes a little more time to do correctly but you can get the tools for around $100.

You can see the details (including where I purchased everything) at:

http://www.geocities.com/teddrain/diy_cables/index.html

 

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

If you’re going with soldered, consider these Dayton Super RCAs, also from Parts Express.





I have extensive experience making custom cabling, and these are the best RCAs I’ve ever used. The interior is really roomy, so they are easier to solder than most RCAs. I especially like the set-screw cable clamp. You can get them in red, yellow or black with cable entrances of 6.3 of 8.3mm.

Price wise they are not much more than the Neutrik connectors Rob recommended.

Regards,
Wayne