Is it safe to use phono interconnects as regular interconnects?

[apj]

Hi everyone, I am currently looking to integrate a KEF KC62 subwoofer into my system and I have a couple of pairs of Nordost flatline RCA phono interconnects they're both terminated in RCA on both ends.
I was wondering if this is safe to do? I don't imagine its an optimal thing to do by any means just if its safe to do whilst I save up for some more cables.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Nagraboy]

A phono interconnect is a regular interconnect. If the sub takes a rca/phono plug for it’s input then there’s no problem, safety-wise or any other.

 

[rabski]

I'm not really sure what the question is here. As Greg says, a phono interconnect is an interconnect with phono plugs on each end. If you need to connect two things that have phono sockets, then there is no 'safety' issue. Apart from possible hum problems with low signal levels (not the case with a low-level sub feed), any interconnect will do the job.

 

[apj]

I'm not really sure what the question is here. As Greg says, a phono interconnect is an interconnect with phono plugs on each end. If you need to connect two things that have phono sockets, then there is no 'safety' issue. Apart from possible hum problems with low signal levels (not the case with a low-level sub feed), any interconnect will do the job.

Thankyou for the assistance, the KC62 is a DSP sub so it has 2 RCA's in and 2 out between the DAC/Pre and the Integrated Amp/Power Amp so there could be a hum issue though I hope not.
I think what makes it a "phono" interconnect rather than a normal interconnect is mostly a very low capacitance and resistance but as long as this won't be a danger to the KC62 I don't mind for the time being.

 

[Lawrence001]

I suspect you're confusing a phono cable (ie RCA to RCA) with a cable to a phono stage, which is still the same unless you really mean a tonearm cable which does have more stringent requirements.

 

[apj]

I suspect you're confusing a phono cable (ie RCA to RCA) with a cable to a phono stage, which is still the same unless you really mean a tonearm cable which does have more stringent requirements.

Possibly, I've never really learnt anything about vinyl so I really have no idea about anything on that end of the spectrum and just seeing "phono" throws me off do people call all interconnects phono interconnects?

Here's an article I read, not sure how relevant it is.
https://www.maplatine.com/en/conten...ce-between-phono-cable-and-interconnect-cable

 

[rabski]

If the only 'issue' is low resistance and capacitance, then it's a benefit not a problem!

 

[apj]

If the only 'issue' is low resistance and capacitance, then it's a benefit not a problem!

I see, Thankyou very much for the help and reassurance.

 

[Lawrence001]

Possibly, I've never really learnt anything about vinyl so I really have no idea about anything on that end of the spectrum and just seeing "phono" throws me off do people call all interconnects phono interconnects?

Here's an article I read, not sure how relevant it is.
https://www.maplatine.com/en/conten...ce-between-phono-cable-and-interconnect-cable

Never come across the concept of a "phono cable" as defined by the article I'd be interested to know if anyone else thinks of a phono cable as being only for specific use with phono stages!

 

[montesquieu]

The site shown sells cables ... they are making a slightly confusing distinction between plain old interconnects, and phono cables which in their definition both may and may not have additional features like a connecting plug for a tonearm and / or a separate earth - indeed in some cases they seem to look like plain old inteconnects.

The site also seems to make the case that cables for phono use should have low capacitance, which makes sense in the moving magnet world, perhaps a bit less so in moving coil, though I suppose moving coil benefits more from low resistance because the singal level from a moving coil cartridge is an order of magnitude less than a line-level source like a CDP. (Apologies for my noddy half-understanding to those who can express this in maths).

Anyway I assume the 'answer' to the question is there because they have been asked what the difference is between a phono cable and an interconnect. In my world, at least a phono interconnect is simply part of a subset of all interconnects, configured or optimised (in theory at least) for tonearm to phono stage use.

 

[rabski]

That website is a little confusing, and also not always technically accurate. Basically, any interconnect, no matter what it's connecting together, has the simple function of transferring an electrical signal. Any interconnect has electrical properties of inductance, capacitance and resistance. Ignoring the relevant formulae (I did say 'basically'...), these electrical properties would ideally be as near to zero as possible, to stop them having an effect. However, see below.

These properties will be more important for connecting between a cartridge and phono stage, but they are important in any connection. With a cartridge, moving magnet designs are affected by capacitance and need capacitive 'loading' to even out the frequency response. Moving coil cartridges are similarly affected by resistance. Capacitance in such cables is thus important, but provided it is low enough, all that matters is that you need to know how much it is. Most MM cartridges 'want' a capacitive load of about 100-200pF. Although a phono stage will have an inbuilt loading, it is often lower than this, so the total capacitance of the cable(s) between the cartridge and phono stage can actually be an advantage if is it more than zero (and it will always be more than zero).

The comment 'made for impedances....' is sort of incorrect. Every source and everything a source is connected to has an impedance, but within reason, a cable will have little effect on this, unless it has one or other property that is much greater than ideal.

The 'resistance' is a red herring. Most MC cartridges need a resistive load of around 100 ohms. No cable will have anything like that, by a factor of a million or so. For all intents and purposes, you can ignore cable resistance in this regard (though it should be extremely small no matter what). Unless a cable has been deliberately engineered to have resistive properties (it shouldn't), you can forget about it. It won't have any effect.

Lastly, the most important factor is the one that website actually fails to mention: screening. The lower the level of the signal, the greater the possible effect of picking up electrical interference. Therefore, with a cable used to connect a turntable/cartridge, decent screening is crucial, for the connection between a preamplifier and power amplifier, or a CD player and amplifier, it is far, far less important and may not even be necessary at all.

TLDR? Assuming it's properly made and decent enough quality, any cable with an RCA plug at each end will be absolutely fine.

 

[savvypaul]

I'd be looking for thin, flexible and shielded (aka screened). I would avoid diamond encrusted hosepipe... unless you have a really posh garden(er).

 

[Lawrence001]

I get all this but what I'm wondering is have I been confused for the last 30 years, I've been calling general RCA cables phono cables but the article suggests this only applies to a limited subset of RCA cables designed specifically with lower than usual impedance and capacitance for use with phono stages. I'm sure Noel Keywoood talked about the confusing terminology in just this last issue of Hi Fi World (and used the same terminology as me) I'll have to check.

 

[Nopiano]

I get all this but what I'm wondering is have I been confused for the last 30 years, I've been calling general RCA cables phono cables but the article suggests this only applies to a limited subset of RCA cables designed specifically with lower than usual impedance and capacitance for use with phono stages. I'm sure Noel Keywoood talked about the confusing terminology in just this last issue of Hi Fi World (and used the same terminology as me) I'll have to check.

I think it’s potentially confusing, because many of us tend to use ‘phono plugs’ interchangeably with ‘RCA plugs’. Hence phono cables are used to connect any line level source like a CD player or tuner, as well as signals from a phono cartridge or phono stage!

(In the 1970s when I wanted a slightly longer than the freebie phono cable to connect a tuner, I bought some Audio Technica phono cables, complete with earth wire, designed for a turntable. Perfect length, just over a metre. I still have them!)

 

[rabski]

I get all this but what I'm wondering is have I been confused for the last 30 years, I've been calling general RCA cables phono cables but the article suggests this only applies to a limited subset of RCA cables designed specifically with lower than usual impedance and capacitance for use with phono stages. I'm sure Noel Keywoood talked about the confusing terminology in just this last issue of Hi Fi World (and used the same terminology as me) I'll have to check.

We all ought to use the term 'RCA connectors'. Of course we don't. We call them phono plugs, hence some fun confusion.

 

[Gray]

Yes, just an age thing.
An RCA plug to me has always been a phono plug, regardless of what it connects.

(There's a fair chance the OP may be a whippersnapper).

 

[TIU]

Phono cable is fine if you don't mind the occasional pop and crackle.