RCA cables touching each other in inappropriate ways

danger boy
danger boy Posts: 15,722
edited February 2008 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I use locking barrel RCA's for most of my gear. On a stereo pre amp the RCA inputs are pretty close together for the left and right connectors.. is there any kind of problem if they touch each other? the outside barrels are thick enough, where they touch slightly and are made with a full metal jacket. I know it would be best of they didn't.. but these suckers are heavy duty.

This is no way I will swap out the barrel connects on all my interconnects, so that is out. So far I haven't experienced anything wrong or bad. it's just bugging me though.

let me know if anyone has had any ill effects from their manly RCA's touching each other in a inappropriate way. ;)
PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
Post edited by danger boy on
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Comments

  • BottomFeeder
    BottomFeeder Posts: 1,684
    edited February 2008
    Nice headline, Al!
    "Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." Bob Seger
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  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited February 2008
    Let them touch. They need to explore each other eventually. ****, if they arc weld themselves together for eternity, rejoice.

    In all seriousness, it's ok for them to get busy. The outside connection on the RCA is a ground connection. They all end up sharing the same ground connection. Note, this is only 99.9 % true.
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited February 2008
    Push a credit card in between them and see if it makes a difference in sound.
    Never Forget
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  • fumoffu
    fumoffu Posts: 80
    edited February 2008
    The signal in the tip and the ground/shield is on the out side. It shouldn't blow up if they are touching. But it's possible it may sound a little different given that cables can sound different. It's not like banana plugs that can carry a good amount of current and shorting those would be bad!
    Home Theatre: Epson 5020ub, Elite Screen Sable Frame 100", Onkyo 818, Oppo BDP-103, Tivo Series 3, Xbox 360, Sealed Dual Sound Splinter RL-p 15" DIY sub powered by Behringer EP2500 with FBD, QSC RMX1400 powering LSi15, LSiC, LSiFX sides, and Lsi7 for the back, Technics SL-1200M3D
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  • Hi-Buy
    Hi-Buy Posts: 110
    edited February 2008
    Funny title..
    Big thanks to "Neskahi" !
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited February 2008
    that's good news... or yeah like Sal does.. tape would work too. I won't let it bother me anymore.

    tanks!
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited February 2008
    It's only inappropriate if one of them doesn't like it...
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  • johnny42
    johnny42 Posts: 32
    edited February 2008
    I use banana plugs and the barrels are metal. (live) (hot) if they did touch, it would at least blow a fuse in the amp. I sleeved them with plastic hose, like fisk tank hose. they come in all different sizes. I used 5/8" I cut them about 2" long. I want to redo them, if i made them about 3+ inches long they would cover the barrel and the whole amp terminal. It looks cool.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited February 2008
    Alternative cables;):)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Polkitup2
    Polkitup2 Posts: 1,623
    edited February 2008
    It doesn't matter if they touch. I have some Cobalt ICs that touch. I don't approve of it but they do.
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  • MikeC78
    MikeC78 Posts: 2,315
    edited February 2008
    You could get some shrink wrap from the electrical section at your local hardware store. That would look more professional than wrapping electrical tape around it. Just a thought...
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  • vonnie123
    vonnie123 Posts: 326
    edited February 2008
    insulate them with heat shrink tubing to be on the safe side. better yet, consider this an opportunity to buy a new preamp with greater spacing for the input jacks.:D
    [
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2008
    I noticed it's common for MIT's locking RCA's to touch.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited February 2008
    Great, now the inappropriateness is becoming rampant.

    What is happening to connectors these days?
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