Setting up an active system

[TKoP]

So, I need to get my speaker project completed -- it's absolutely retarded that I haven't done ANYTHING since IG and BD were over.

Anyway, in complete ignorance, I had assumed that the crossover I had accepted RCA plugs -- it takes 1/4" connection.

But, does it matter if it's the balanced or unbalanced variety?

Also, seems like the best places I'm finding (granted, I'm a little tired right now) are the music stores (e.g., zzounds.com). Anybody have a better source.

Off to bed... way too tired for only 10pm

 

[Flint]

Music stores are fine, that's where I get most of this type of stuff. I like the Hosa brand of cables and adapters for being affordable and reliable.

In most cases unbalanced connectors are fine.

 

[DIYer]

I bought some things from Zzounds and were good to me. For used stuff, ebay is good. I would go with diy for cables. Look up Neutrik connectors and Canare cables here.

 

[PaulyT]

Which crossover do you have? If you're going from RCA on your preamp to 1/4 on the crossover, you'd use the TS (unbalanced) style connector. And yeah, assuming you've got a relatively short distance between these, you can use any basic cable for it; you can probably find them at a Guitar Center or some such place. You can also use a 1/4<->RCA adapter and a regular RCA cable.

 

[Yesfan70]

......You can also use a 1/4<->RCA adapter and a regular RCA cable.

That's probably the route I would go if I have extra RCA cables around the house.

 

[yromj]

......You can also use a 1/4<->RCA adapter and a regular RCA cable.

That's probably the route I would go if I have extra RCA cables around the house.

Personally, I wouldn't go that route because it introduces another connection in the circuit. The RCA-1/4" cables can be had fairly inexpensively and that's one less headache down the road.

:twocents-mytwocents:

John

 

[Flint]

I do both.

I keep plenty of 1/4 M to RCA F adapters around and lots of RCA cable around for testing, prototyping, playing, and experimenting. When I first setup a system, it is with adapters and RCA cables. Then, after I am 100% happy with a setup I am going to installer permanently, I buy or build the right cables with appropriate connectors for long term install use. Then the adapters and RCA cables go into storage.

I found over the years that keeping track of both RCA and RCA-to-1/4 cables is a real pain in the rear.

 

[soundhound]

I use either barrier blocks or computer "D" connectors for everything I design for myself. The 1/4" phone plug is, in my experience, one of the most unreliable connectors there is (unreliable in the sense that they develop poor connections over time and drop signal or create a noisy signal);. I have found that RCA connectors are even more reliable than phone plugs. The XLR connector is very reliable.

Barrier block: