Alternative to Monoprice for 3.5mm to RCA cables [in USA]

raccoon · 2018-09-16T15:23:07.000Z

So I'm impatiently waiting for some headphones from China.

There's a chance that the Right and Left audio channels are switched with these headphones.

The simplest solution I can think of, without opening up the headphones, would be to buy one of each of these:

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=666

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=5612

All together, with shipping, the cost would be less than $5.

The problem is that one of the cables is out of stock, and won't be back in stock until October 4th.

My question is...

What is a good (and cheap) alternative to Monoprice in the United States?

(By the way, I don't want to do eBay because I don't think the quality will be very good.)

I would like each cord to be as short a possible, and for it to be obvious which RCA jack is Right and which is Left.

raccoon · 2018-09-16T15:34:44.000Z

Forgot to mention:

I could do Amazon, and get good quality items, but it would cost quite a bit more than $5 shipped.

raccoon · 2018-09-16T17:41:29.000Z

Well, I Googled:

Alternative to Monoprice

and didn't find anything that's high quality and cheap.

So I will wait until the part at Monoprice is back in stock.

Lightbringer · 2018-09-16T18:52:08.000Z

No soldering allowed?

Hie thyself to Rat Shack and get a headphone plug and headphone jack, solder 3 jumper wires appropriately. 10min work.

raccoon · 2018-09-16T19:05:40.000Z

Sounds like a great fix for other people, but alas, I do not solder.

Ronin42 · 2018-09-16T23:29:19.000Z

check head-fi.org for advice

raccoon · 2018-09-17T00:00:44.000Z

Ronin42:

check head-fi.org for advice

Good idea.

(Seems like I've been spending a lot of time there.)

I searched for all threads with

3.5mm RCA

in the title, and then skimmed all threads that might be relevant, and couldn't find a good alternative to Monoprice.

I'm not going to make a thread there, but the search gave me the info I was after.

toddcshoe · 2018-09-17T00:52:57.000Z

Lightbringer:

No soldering allowed?

Hie thyself to Rat Shack and get a headphone plug and headphone jack, solder 3 jumper wires appropriately. 10min work.

Radio Shack still sells parts and electronics? Been ages since I been in one. The one I was in last sold cell phones and tablets. No cool parts at all. I use to spend hours in Radio shacks as a kid. Had a parts list and a few dollars in my pocket. I could build anything with a few bucks at The Shack. I have a large electronics surplus/warehouse fairly close to me, about an hour away, so I haven’t been into one lately.

Lightbringer · 2018-09-17T01:07:01.000Z

Whichever ones are still left…

What used to be walls filled with parts became 1-2 cabinets with shallow drawers to hold a few of each item.

But yeah, when I accidentally yanked off the plug on my Senns when the cable got hooked on a doorknob (don’t ask…), a quick trip on my way home got me a 2pk or 3pk.

Overpriced, but convenient.

nkresho · 2018-09-17T01:16:25.000Z

partsexpress is a decent alternative to monoprice. Not sure if the shipping will make or break the deal though.

parts-express.com

Y Adapter Cables

Y Adapter Cables at Parts Express. Play mobile device music to PA or powered speakers - great quality & price. Try Talent Y35Q210 Stereo "Y" Adapter Cable.

Been around forever. I used to order rca cables and car audio stuff from them in the late 90s.

raccoon · 2018-09-17T01:18:24.000Z

nkresho:

partsexpress is a decent alternative to monoprice. Not sure if the shipping will make or break the deal though.

https://www.parts-express.com/cat/y-adapter-cables/2149

Been around forever. I used to order rca cables and car audio stuff from them in the late 90s.

Thanks for the link.

They have low prices with a decent amount of customer feedback, but in this small of an order, shipping kills the deal.

raccoon · 2018-09-19T23:58:40.000Z

The cables at Monoprice are in stock.

Now I'm ready in case my new headphones have the problem I described in the OP.

DavidEF · 2018-09-20T02:17:54.000Z

Wait. Why would the channels be switched?

raccoon · 2018-09-20T02:20:55.000Z

DavidEF:

Wait. Why would the channels be switched?

The headphones are supposed to be extremely nice for the money, but due to Chinese quality control, some of them have switched channels.

DavidEF · 2018-09-20T02:23:37.000Z

Oh. So, it’s a crap-shoot. Like buying ‘genuine’ Li-Ion cells on eBay?