Thaddeus Smith Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I cannot for the life of me figure out the right google keywords to get the answer I want. Do RCA's need to be relatively straight in order to avoid EMI or is it ok to coil them up? I have one pair of Vampire Wire SC IV (quad conductor, shielded, insulated) that is currently too long, but I'm hesitant to shorten them until I get my electronics and gear rack a little more settled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 If I remember correctly you don't want to coil them, I think you just want to kind of snake them or yes drape them But I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason str Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Wherever they fall is where they stay, never had any noise problems related to cables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 Most of experience has been with HDMI and other digital interconnects. Now that I'm dipping my toe in 2-channel it seems like every little thing has potentially large impact. Now that I think about it, I guess this could easily be a case of "try both and report back". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryC Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 (edited) Do RCA's need to be relatively straight in order to avoid EMI Do you have a problem? Hum or buzz? RFI? If not, I don't think you have to do anything -- I have not picked up EMI even with very long leads, and they're straight as can be and come very close to A/C lines and an electric service entrance panel. They are well shielded, of course. I've had them all coiled up and straight, and never heard a problem either way. RFI is a different subject... Why do you want to shorten them? You might not want to fool with re-terminating them if it spoils an excellent quality, good looking plug by the manufacturer. Edited February 19, 2014 by LarryC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 i have really sensitive speakers with a very efficient amp and potentially noisy source components. I hear a very slight noise when i put my ear up against the tweeter.. i guess it could be far far worse. More of a white noise sound. Not a hum. Not a high pitched squeely noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 electrons don't like to go in circles. do you? Did you google "myths about cables" or "snakeoil" Sorry I couldn't help myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryC Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 i have really sensitive speakers with a very efficient amp and potentially noisy source components. I hear a very slight noise when i put my ear up against the tweeter.. i guess it could be far far worse. More of a white noise sound. OK, kind of sounds like "hiss" or electronic noise. I don't know if shortening or rearranging wires would affect that. I'd look more at gain-matching issues, such as too much gain in your amplifier. Do you have a gain control on your amp(s)? Try turning it down if you do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 electrons don't like to go in circles. do you? Did you google "myths about cables" or "snakeoil" Sorry I couldn't help myself Hey I never said I live by it, you should see the rats nest be hind my cabinet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 (edited) Wire should be laid neatly and not on top of each other. Here is a pic of how I have my wires behind the console. Edited February 19, 2014 by derrickdj1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 No gain controls. I'm currently going straight from my laptop or ipad into the amp. It may just be inherent with the class-D amp and my high sensitivity speakers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Seriously, if all you have is a small hiss/hum, forget about it, lol. It is most likely the amp. There are small resistors that can be used to decrease the gain on the amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 Seriously, if all you have is a small hiss/hum, forget about it, lol. That's pretty much where I'm at on the matter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 i have really sensitive speakers with a very efficient amp and potentially noisy source components. I hear a very slight noise when i put my ear up against the tweeter.. i guess it could be far far worse. More of a white noise sound. Not a hum. Not a high pitched squeely noise. Forget about it! Completely normal. In my book if you have put your ear up to the speaker to hear it your system is quiet. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bracurrie Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 i have really sensitive speakers with a very efficient amp and potentially noisy source components. I hear a very slight noise when i put my ear up against the tweeter.. i guess it could be far far worse. More of a white noise sound. Not a hum. Not a high pitched squeely noise. Forget about it! Completely normal. In my book if you have put your ear up to the speaker to hear it your system is quiet. Having fought these battles I would chime in that if you cannot hear the noise floor from your listening position its quiet enough and whatever is there that you cannot hear is not going to have an impact on SQ. My setup got so quiet that the tape hiss from the masters began to be noticeable, but as soon as the band began you never again noticed it, even during parts when the band was playing very softly. When the song ended and the next one started I would again notice the tape noise because the tape hiss went away briefly before the next song started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksonbart Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Most of experience has been with HDMI and other digital interconnects. Now that I'm dipping my toe in 2-channel it seems like every little thing has potentially large impact. Now that I think about it, I guess this could easily be a case of "try both and report back". You've been bit, get some ointment right away to make sure you don't travel too far down that rabbit hole to point where you can't enjoy the music anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksonbart Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 On a similar topic, if my salad fork is not perfectly aligned below the bread plate, I flip the @#$^!ing table over and stomp up stairs. Seriously how can one enjoy a meal under those conditions? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bracurrie Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 On a similar topic, if my salad fork is not perfectly aligned below the bread plate, I flip the @#$^!ing table over and stomp up stairs. Seriously how can one enjoy a meal under those conditions? Ok, now you have gone and done it. Everyone knows there is no difference in salad forks. Bread plates on the other hand have been shown to have significant size differences given their diameter. IMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 Most of experience has been with HDMI and other digital interconnects. Now that I'm dipping my toe in 2-channel it seems like every little thing has potentially large impact. Now that I think about it, I guess this could easily be a case of "try both and report back". You've been bit, get some ointment right away to make sure you don't travel too far down that rabbit hole to point where you can't enjoy the music anymore. which is why i ask such questions here and not on other "audiophile" forums. this group tends to be more pragmatic and typically does not spew endless amounts of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minermark Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Wire should be laid neatly and not on top of each other. Here is a pic of how I have my wires behind the console. Hey now ! That's not fair, you at least three more wires back there than me..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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