Wire for Headphone Cables

Wire

For stereo RCA patch cables, Mogami w2965 and Rean NYS373 plugs, with a little heat shrink, will look like a professional cable. This is "dual coax" wire, so it look great when you need to run two wires (left and right). Redco sells it by the foot.

For mono RCA cables, including for SPDIF or a subwoofer, Mogami W2964 looks good. Redco sells it by the foot.

Belden 1505A RG59/20 is also a fantastic choice for RCA interconnects, as well as for digital coax and subwoofer LFE. Markertek sells it by the foot.

Good article from Belden about what wire is good for what.

Summary of choices:

  • Mogami w2965 (dual coax)
  • Mogami W2964 (single coax)
  • Belden 1505A RG59/20 (or 1505F for flexibility) (BlueJeans Cable uses "F")
  • Belden 1694A RG6 (BlueJeans Cable uses this)
  • Van Damme Standard 75 Ohm Plasma Grade
  • Canare GS6 (note warning about shorts on the Markertek site)
    • Note, if you want 3' RCA cables, this ebay seller is worth looking at. He sells 2 cables for $28.74. The raw materials are $19.18 from Markertek, so not that much more to get then pre-made.

Van Damme Pro Grade Classic XKE Pro-patch cable has also been recommended (Bare silver plated ultra pure oxygen free copper wire).

Update: A good friend commented: Mogami: "soft and warm". Belden: "RG stuff is not so hot". "Silver plate over copper is usually worse sounding than silver for some reason". He recommends https://www.venhaus1.com/diysilverinterconnects.html

Some interesting wire on AliExpress:

I have no idea if the quality of the wire is any good.

Note: 19 x .12mm is about 23AWG (I think). 23AWG times 2 is 20AWG

AWG Calculators and Charts

Fancy wire