BlueRigger Subwoofer RCA 15FT Audio Cable

BlueRigger Subwoofer RCA 15FT Audio Cable

The BlueRigger Subwoofer RCA Audio Cable, in this 15 feet length, connects a subwoofer to an AV receiver, amplifier or processor over a single RCA line-level connection. BlueRigger’s published specification for this cable describes dual shielding and gold-plated RCA connectors, a construction aimed at keeping low-frequency signals clean over a run long enough to place the subwoofer where the room needs it rather than where a short cable happens to reach. Subwoofer placement is one of the few genuinely free performance improvements in a home theatre, and cable length is what makes that placement possible.

Key features

• Subwoofer RCA audio cable, 15 feet (approx. 4.6 m) long
• Gold-plated RCA connectors for a secure, corrosion-resistant contact
• Dual shielded construction to reduce hum and interference pickup
• Carries the line-level LFE and subwoofer signal from receiver to subwoofer
• Suitable for subwoofers, amplifiers and home theatre systems with RCA connections
• Also usable for digital coaxial and S/PDIF connections between RCA-equipped devices

What a subwoofer cable actually carries

A powered subwoofer has its own amplifier built in, so the cable feeding it does not carry speaker-level power; it carries a line-level signal, the low-frequency effects channel and the bass content the receiver’s bass management redirects from the main speakers. That signal is small, which is precisely why the cable’s construction matters: a small signal travelling several metres across a room, past mains cables and other equipment, is vulnerable to picking up hum and interference on the way. A cable built for subwoofer duty, with proper shielding, keeps the background quiet so the only low frequencies in the room are the ones on the soundtrack.

Shielding and connectors

BlueRigger specifies dual shielding for this cable: two layers of screening around the conductor, which is the standard defence against the electromagnetic and radio-frequency interference that produces audible hum and buzz through a subwoofer. The RCA connectors are gold-plated, which resists the oxidation that gradually degrades bare metal contacts, and helps the plug keep a firm, low-resistance connection over years of use. RCA connections are friction fits, so a well-made plug that grips correctly also protects against the intermittent crackle of a loose contact when the subwoofer itself is vibrating.

Fifteen feet of placement freedom

Bass behaves differently from the rest of the soundtrack: it interacts with the room’s dimensions, and a subwoofer’s output at the listening seat can change dramatically between one corner and another. Fifteen feet, roughly four and a half metres, is enough to run from an equipment rack to the front corners of most rooms, along a wall to a side position, or behind seating, so placement can be decided by listening rather than by cable reach. Run the cable along skirting or under a rug where possible, keep it away from parallel runs alongside mains cables for long distances, and avoid tight coils of excess length bunched behind the subwoofer.

Connecting it up

On most receivers the subwoofer output is a single RCA socket labelled Subwoofer, LFE or Sub Out; on the subwoofer, the matching input is usually labelled LFE or Line In. One RCA-to-RCA run between those sockets is the complete connection. Because the same RCA cable form also serves digital coaxial duties, this cable can additionally be used between RCA-equipped digital audio devices where a coaxial S/PDIF link is required. Set the receiver’s speaker configuration so bass is directed to the subwoofer, run the receiver’s calibration if it has one, and then adjust the subwoofer level by ear with familiar material.

If your subwoofer is confined to a spot near the rack only because the cable will not reach anywhere better, this 15 feet BlueRigger subwoofer cable is the simple fix: shielded, gold-plated, and long enough to let the room decide.