Interconnects. Do you buy them or make your own!

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Interconnects. Do you buy them or make your own!

NZRobin

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#26668 29-Sep-2008 23:19

I quite like making my own cables be it Antennae, Video, or Digital-audio. I can't afford the more exotic named ones but I don't really trust the cheaper ones. Of late though I've had a look at the cheaper ones such as Concord from Jaycar or the Harmony brand etc and on paper they don't look too bad, with a price not too far removed from what I could make them for.
So I'm interested in whether you make your own and with what cable and connectors. If you buy them made, what brand.
I'm just about to make RCA Video and Digital audio coax leads and cant decide what cable and connectors to use. I'd like to use component's I can get easily in Auckland but maybe you have a better suggestion?

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SepticSceptic

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#167965 30-Sep-2008 12:06

The Concorde and Harmony brands are fine, priced fairly, as well as most AV Cables from Surplustronics ( in Auckland).

Like you, I used to make my own AV cables, but in the end the effort to get all the connectors, cables, etc and make them up just wasnt worth the effort, and there was always the issue of wiring up wrong, or getting slivers of copper / solder adjoining pins.

Solder joints would break due to weight and movement of the cables, etc. Just became a PITA

In the end, it's just better to get ready made and have a known quantity -)

Have a few cheapie cables for proof of concept, or for a quick hookup, but then they get replaced by a better quality interconnect - Concorde or Harmony, or equivalent from other places, like TradeTech, etc.

I will build up a cable if pushed, for a special length or requirement, or if the shops are all shut ...

richms

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#168004 30-Sep-2008 14:59

I just use cheap ones, not seen any difference other then 1080i over a 10m piece of string component cable I got off trademe for $5,

For video around the house I got a whole lot of CCTV RG6 off trademe a while back, 3 of them for video and 2 for audio does the job fine arount to different tvs, crimp on an F connector and then a F to RCA adapter takes care of terminating them. CBF with soldering or anything.

Richard rich.ms

Jaxson

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#168006 30-Sep-2008 15:18

Yeah was going to say same richms, RG6 is shielded well and has a decent solid core which makes it great for analogue transmission. RG59 probably more bendable and cheaper. Any specific one like hdmi or dvi etc is probably best to get something pre made.

richms

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#168017 30-Sep-2008 15:43

Has to be CCTV grade stuff tho, not sat grade since that has a steel core and less braiding.

Richard rich.ms

bazzer

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#168057 30-Sep-2008 17:09

Jaxson: Yeah was going to say same richms, RG6 is shielded well and has a decent solid core which makes it great for analogue transmission. RG59 probably more bendable and cheaper. Any specific one like hdmi or dvi etc is probably best to get something pre made.

Are you suggesting anyone makes their own HDMI cables? Really doubtful.

paradoxsm

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#168095 30-Sep-2008 19:01

I have had a good run from the Concord ones, cheap (or cheaper) than making them yourself yet still reasonably decent and perfectly adequate for all the the most discerning ears and eyes. Same for the surplustronics ones great vaue for the price.
Beware the cables like "monster" and other ones the retailers will try to sell you, the extravagant price is cerainly no reflection of the quality, it's better than the cheap stuff but very marginally. and there are massive markups to be made on these "extras" hence the push.

I still make my own interconnects if critical but am doing it less and less now due to lack of time these days :-S

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Jaxson

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#168248 1-Oct-2008 09:40

No not suggesting making hdmi type cables, I'm suggesting that you get an off the shelf solution for these types.
DIY good option for any non standard run where commercial options get very costly at odd/longer lengths etc.
The above comments are all good too, make sure you're paying for quality, not brand marketing, and also make sure the extra thickness relates to what's inside, not just a fat insulation cover over the same tiny core/sheilding inside.

Radiotron

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#168470 1-Oct-2008 21:43

Go ahead and make your own cables, the soldering iron is the ultimate weapon of free choice - dunno how many times I have found an interesting looking bit of cable or wire and gone "wonder what that would sound like" and given it a go.
In my world that would mostly apply to audio interconnects, but still applies a bit to video too, have a handmade SCART from recorder to TV that produces very fine pics and sound and carries RGB switching signal (hit title list button on recorder and it automagically switches to RGB SCART on TV - and this is before CEC compliant HDMI hookups, HDMI waits on a new TV).
Much fun can be had rolling own audio cables, trying all sorts of odd bits of coax, then finding some really cool teflon insulated hookup wire and plaiting 3 conductors together for line level pre-power interconnect, sounds good, (audibly different to coax, however, your mileage may vary:) Do not be afraid, unlikely you will break anything, and the results may suprise and entertain!

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