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Tchernov Standard Coaxial IC Review: Entry-Level RCA Interconnect for Car Amplifiers

Writer: Akansh Garg
Akansh Garg
Oct 2
7 min read

Updated: Oct 6

The Tchernov Standard Coaxial IC is the entry-level analogue RCA interconnect in Tchernov Cable's 2026 Indian line-up: a single 0.22 mm² (24 AWG) stranded copper conductor, three-layer CAFPE insulation and a braid shield covering more than 90% of the cable, all inside a slim 6 mm jacket. Indian MRPs run from ₹11,990 for 1 m to ₹21,990 for 5 m, which makes it the most affordable interconnect in Tchernov's Indian catalogue. It suits anyone fitting an amplifier who wants a properly shielded, well-terminated cable without high-end prices. Each length has its own listing in our store, starting with the Tchernov Standard Coaxial IC product page for 1 m.


Tchernov Standard Coaxial IC RCA interconnect cable, 1 m store product photo

At a glance

  • A coaxial design: one 24 AWG stranded conductor, with the braid doubling as the return, in a 6 mm jacket that hides easily under trim.

  • Four lengths in India, from 1 m (₹11,990) to 5 m (₹21,990), to suit a short processor-to-amplifier hop or a full dash-to-boot run.

  • On paper its strengths are shielding and a layered jacket. It won't fix a grounding fault, and the maker's noise-floor claim hasn't been independently tested.

  • No owner or press reviews of the current version as of October 2026; the only test we found covers its predecessor in a home system.


Tchernov Standard Coaxial IC specifications

Specification

Standard Coaxial IC

Type

Streamlined coaxial analogue interconnect

Wave impedance

75 Ω

Conductor

0.22 mm² (24 AWG), 7 x 0.20 mm multi-stranded BRC copper

Insulation

3-layer CAFPE®

Shield

BRC braid, more than 90% coverage

Jacket

2-layer SPVC: air-foamed inner layer, solid outer layer with antistatic treatment

Outer diameter

6 mm

Linear capacitance

65 pF

Signal attenuation

Max 0.03 dB/m at 10 MHz; max 0.3 dB/m at 1 GHz

Termination

RCA/RCA with Standard S plugs

India MRP

₹11,990 (1 m) to ₹21,990 (5 m)


Figures come from Tchernov Cable's official Standard Coaxial IC page and the 2026 Indian catalogue. The catalogue photo shows a stereo pair with red and white rings, but the listing doesn't state whether each price covers a pair, so confirm the contents when you order.


How it's built, and what the numbers mean

This is a classic coaxial layout. Seven 0.20 mm strands form the centre conductor, the three-layer CAFPE insulation keeps it centred, and the braid around it works as both shield and return path. The jacket pairs an air-foamed inner layer with a solid, antistatic outer skin, and the whole cable is just 6 mm across.


Some figures need context. The attenuation ratings are for 10 MHz and 1 GHz, radio frequencies; across the audio band, a 5 m run's loss is negligible. The 75 Ω wave impedance likewise matters for radio and digital signals, not analogue audio over a few metres.


Capacitance is the figure that can affect analogue audio, and it's low. Taking Tchernov's 65 pF linear capacitance as per metre, a 5 m run adds about 325 pF. From a processor output of a few hundred ohms, such as the 450 Ω JL quotes for the JL Audio TwK88, that puts the treble roll-off above 1 MHz, far beyond hearing.


Where an RCA cable sits in an Indian car

Factory touchscreens rarely have RCA outputs, so in many Indian cars the signal reaches a processor through speaker-level inputs, and the RCA cables only link the processor to the amplifier, often a metre or two apart in the boot or under a seat. With an aftermarket head unit that has pre-outs, the run goes from dash to boot instead, which in a hatchback or compact SUV usually calls for the 5 m length.


The Zapco REF 150.4 has four RCA inputs, and JL's VX600/6i accepts 200 mV to 16 V RMS at its RCA inputs, wide enough for anything from a modest pre-out to a hot processor output.


What a better RCA cable can and can't fix

The case for this cable is practical. A dense braid helps keep radiated interference out, and in an Indian car you also want plugs that stay seated over rough roads and a jacket that survives being pulled through trim and baked in a summer boot. Tchernov publishes no plug-retention or ageing figures, so judge those two in use. Thin leads bundled with budget amplifiers often fail on these points, and an intermittent plug can sound like a faulty amplifier.


What it can't do is fix a grounding fault. Whine that rises and falls with engine speed most often comes from a difference in ground potential between head unit, processor and amplifier, and no shield removes that. Nor should you expect a new interconnect to change a system's tonal balance the way speakers, door damping or a DSP tune do; at line level, a short, competently built cable is close to electrically transparent.


The product description says the 24 AWG conductor resists interference and lowers the noise floor, and Tchernov suggests at least 100 hours of uninterrupted playback for burn-in. Treat both as the maker's claims. We know of no measurement showing a copper cable changing with use, and a car's noise floor is set by its electronics and grounding long before the interconnect.


What owners and reviewers say about the Tchernov Standard Coaxial IC

Independent coverage is thin: when we checked in October 2026, we found no owner reviews or press tests of the current cable. The nearest is SoundEX's May 2017 review of the older Standard 2 IC RCA, an editorial test on a Russian audio-club site. That cable held the same entry-level slot but is a different design: SoundEX describes a 0.5 mm² centre conductor, where today's version uses 0.22 mm².


In that home hi-fi test, at roughly 3,000 roubles, the reviewer heard a wide soundstage with precise instrument placement, a neutral, even balance and convincing timbres for an entry-level cable. The attractive jacket and well-fitting plugs earned praise too, and the cable never became the weak link in a Naim-based system. The reservations were mild: it lacked the extra magic of high-end cables, which the reviewer expected at the price, and its balance between airiness and density may not suit every listener. None of this involved a car, so if you've fitted the current cable in yours, we'd like to hear how it went.


How it compares with Tchernov's balanced cables

The step up within the Standard series is the Standard Balanced IC: a twisted pair of 0.22 mm² conductors inside the shield instead of a braid return, 100 Ω in the catalogue, 6.5 mm thick and available with RCA or XLR plugs. It costs ₹3,000 more at 1 m (₹14,990) and 2.65 m (₹17,990), and ₹6,000 more at 5 m (₹27,990). That two-conductor design has the most to offer when the amplifier or processor has a differential input; into a plain unbalanced input, the advantage shrinks.


Further up, the Special Balanced IC moves to 0.35 mm² conductors, PTFE tape wrapping and an 8.5 mm jacket at ₹39,990 for 1 m, and the Reference MkIII IC is a ₹1,69,990 high-end design. For a digital S/PDIF link, Tchernov's flagship is the Ultimate Coaxial IC, a different kind of cable.


Who it suits, and who can skip it

Choose it if you're adding an amplifier or processor and want a slim, well-shielded RCA cable in a length that matches your route. The 1 m and 1.65 m lengths suit tidy processor-to-amplifier links.


Skip it if you're hoping a cable will cure an existing whine; fix the grounding first. If your processor and amplifier have differential inputs, the balanced version is the better fit. And if a factory head unit drives your speakers directly with no amplifier, there's no RCA run to upgrade.


Installation notes for Indian cars

Run the RCA cables down the opposite side of the car from the main power cable, and where the two must meet, cross them at a right angle. Our posts on the Tchernov 4 AWG power cable and the 8 AWG version cover the battery feed. Keep signal cables clear of seat rails and sharp floor-pan edges, where rough roads slowly wear through a jacket.


Leave a little slack at each end and tie the cable down a short distance from the sockets, so the plugs aren't carrying its weight over every speed breaker. Avoid tight bends; a common installer rule of thumb for coax is a bend radius of at least ten times the diameter, about 6 cm here. VA3 Car Studio in Ghaziabad plans and routes signal cabling as part of a professional installation.


Price and where to buy

The 2026 Indian catalogue prices the Standard Coaxial IC from ₹11,990 for 1 m to ₹21,990 for 5 m. VA3 Car Studio often sells below MRP, and every Standard Coaxial IC we sell is a genuine Tchernov Cable product, made in Russia.



Each length has its own product page:



Tchernov Standard Coaxial IC interconnect cable - another view

The bottom line

The Standard Coaxial IC is a well-specified RCA cable: proper shielding, a slim jacket and four lengths that cover most car installs. Buy it for shielding and a tidy install rather than a dramatic change in sound, and sort out grounding before blaming any cable for noise. With no owner reviews of the current version yet, it's a choice made on construction, which on paper is sound.


Tchernov Standard Coaxial IC FAQ

Will the Tchernov Standard Coaxial IC cure alternator whine?

Usually not on its own. Whine that follows engine speed is most often a grounding problem, so check the amplifier and processor grounds first. A well-shielded cable keeps radiated interference out, but it can't remove a ground-potential difference between components.


Which length do I need for my car?

Measure the actual route along the trim, not the straight-line distance. A dash-to-boot run in a hatchback or compact SUV usually needs the 5 m length, while a processor-to-amplifier link in the boot normally needs 1 m or 1.65 m.


Can I use it as a digital coaxial cable?

Tchernov sells it as an analogue interconnect. Its 75 Ω wave impedance matches the nominal figure S/PDIF digital links use, but the dedicated digital cable in Tchernov's 2026 Indian range is the Ultimate Coaxial IC / Digital, so ask us before using the Standard version for a digital run.



Buy the Tchernov Standard Coaxial IC Interconnect Cable in India

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