I've thought the same thing before, 12' is somewhat useless unless its a regular cab truck. A decent selection of 1-3' multi-channel RCAs would be great.

Even the standard 17' power wire lengths in wiring kits always seem a foot or two short.

 

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I'm not saying you can't get them, I'm just asking why all the 12' length "car audio" RCA's. The majority seem to be that length.

 

Lol I ordered a 12-13ft 4m RCA for my truck. I'm assuming it will be just long enough. I'm only going down the dash and down the centerline of the truck to the rear wall. It has 17ft rcas now and they are way too long likely 8ft to long. I've considered the resonix options but cost is just too much compared to knuconceptz Krystal rcas

 

So, you are the consumer going from head unit to amps? Your car has RCA outs on the headunit, is that right?

 

Hell, most of the high dollar SPL vehicle installs I see come across FB have no problem with 11 extra foot of RCA when the only need 1'. Even the quality automotive RCA manufacturers only offer multiple lengths in their higher end offerings. Nowadays the most common way to generate profit in the car audio world is to do volume. It's much easier if you only have a couple options.

Personally the manufacturers I us don't upcharge for custom length cables. Straight Wires FTW. Also keep in mind I'm a long time dealer.

 

Think @Nemesis87 and @CCole are right. I was just looking for reassurance that I'm not screwing things up somehow. I'm guessing I'll likely end up overpaying for right sized RCA's b/c not everyone is OCD like me.

 

I disagree, I think you're on to something OP. It's fairly common to need short runs of RCAs these days and bundling up excess lengths is annoying. I've ran into this problem the last two installs that I did for friends, ended up settling for multiple 2 channel 1.5' lengths and purposely separated the components to avoid bundling an excess 6-12".

 

That’s just one website, of many, that has 4 different 1.5 ft RCA options, priced at $8, $10, $30 and $45. What more do you want? Lol 🤦‍♂️

Basically the premier car audio website. Like the OP says, in today's age of keeping factory head units and placing the dsp/loc/line driver by the amplifier, I want a greater selection. 6 and 12" would be nice along with short multi channel options.

 

Mono price has nice shorties. Or you could always just make your own using some stranded coax. You don't HAVE to buy the Planet Waves/Resonix stuff, but it does make the job markedly easier.

 

I can end this thread. I'm the OP.

My concern - "I don't need/want a 12' RCA? What am I doing wrong? Everyone is using them? The top sites only sell them?!"
Inferred Answer - "You (we) aren't the commercial factor here. It is too easy to make 12' cables for all of the rest of the world and they are a commodity and we want to make the 12' b/c it is quick and easy. You want a custom cable that is better for your DSP......pay for it."

What else would I like? I'm making a list, but I'm just trying to learn as I don't want to fry any $1000 equipment.

Thanks for all the replies here btw, learning a lot from DIYMA and its members. I was <20 last time I was doing Car Audio. A lot has changed.

 

It's not so much that it's quick and easy. It's that it's the most profitable use of their resources. Seriously, though, just make your own. Get some Belden or Canare stranded coax, and some Sewell Deadbolt connectors, and go to town. It's an easy process, and you'll get a higher quality, custom-length cable for far less money.

 

I just recently ran a 12' stinger 8000 from my amp rack ( right behind my back seats) to an integration unit. Unit sits right under the dash and centre console. It was barely long enough with minimal slack. But, it made it. If I had to go to the back of HU it would not have been long enough. I would have been short like 2' give or take some inches.

 

If you want rcas to suit your install why not diy them? Belden 1505f is easy to work with, flexible and not mega expensive, and rean rca plugs are also cheap

Seriously you will need a decent fine tipped hot soldering iron, mine sits at 375c when doing leads

I also use silver solder just because why not…

 

You don't even need to solder. There are some really decent solderless plugs out there. You could even do compression connectors if you wanted to make it really easy.

 

I prefered soldered connections, especialy in a car system. and like DumDum said, use solder with higher percentage of silver....
I always make my own RCAs except for my last system where I use Kimber cables originally terminated with WBT plugs

 

You're welcome to solder if you like. Too much hassle with those little solder pads for me. And the Planet Waves connections are very sturdy.

 

dont a lot of cables go up by ever 3ft anyways... prob just a standard

 

My local hobby electronics chain store has RCAs starting from 0.5m lengths, all the big box home appliance stores here, tvs, washing machines, etc also carry rcas in short lengths, ranging in quality from wouldn't use them to the audiophile cost more then my amps grade.

 

Make your own RCAs, it's easy. Bc you're right, those lengths are not always useful. And quality is not necessarily great either.

 

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I had a whole rack of shorties, they aren't hard to find.

 

I literally ordered 4 .5m RCA sets from kun last week. Those are 1.5ft.

My order was (1) 4m, (4) .5m and (1) 1m with a pair of male to dual female ys to split my dsp signal to the amp inputs

I had to email knu to get that length though since they evidently had some in store but not available on the site

 

I've been making my own RCA for all audio equipment I own, and once I've done it, I will never buy premade RCA cables again. it's SOOOOO much cheaper and much higher quality.