RCA Line Guard

PRE-ORDER - targeting shipment in late Q1 of 2026

Protect your amplifier from:

• Bad RCA Cables
• Failing equipment (Radios, DSP's, line out converter, line drivers, equalizers, crossovers, and any other RCA signal path devices)
• Accidental RCA shorts
• RCA overvoltage
• RCA DC bias
• Ground loops and improper grounding

Sensitive amplifier pre-amp sections designed for tightly controlled environments are at risk of damage from multiple sources. A misconfigured DSP, hot swapping, a bad line output converter (LOC), a failed radio, an accidental short, or a DC fault can instantly damage amplifier input stages, often violently and permanently, resulting in potentially thousands of dollars of blown equipment.

RCA Line Guard is a purpose-built inline protection device that prevents that from happening!

Installed between your source and amplifier, RCA Line Guard continuously monitors signal level, DC bias, and ground integrity. If unsafe conditions are detected, it physically disconnects the signal path, protecting your equipment before damage can occur.

What It Does

• User-Selectable Maximum RCA Level / Over-Voltage Protection with Automatic Disconnect

Set the maximum allowed RCA voltage (2 / 4 / 6 / 8 Vrms). If RCA Line Guard detects voltage spikes or signals above this level, it immediately disconnects the RCA path, protecting your amplifier input section from overvoltage damage.

• DC Fault Detection

Sustained DC offset on the RCA line, from a failed head unit, DSP, or wiring fault, is detected and triggers an instant disconnect, protecting amplifier input stages from damage.

• Intelligent Mute & Recovery Timing

Built-in delay and hold logic prevents chatter, pops, and false triggers. Once a fault clears, the signal is restored smoothly and predictably.

• Ground Loop Detection

Monitors current flow through RCA shield connections. Proper installations have near-zero ground current through RCA cables. If RCA Line Guard detects significant ground current (indicating the RCA shield is being used as a ground return path or a ground loop exists), it alerts you and can disconnect to protect your equipment from hum, noise, and potential damage.

Key Features

• Inline RCA input protection
• Selectable max signal level: 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 Vrms
• Ultra-low-distortion buffered signal path (OPA1656, <0.0001% THD)
• Sub-millisecond overvoltage detection
• DC offset detection with sustained-fault filtering
• Ground loop current monitoring
• Solid-state relay signal isolation
• Pop-free mute and restore behavior
• Individual fault LEDs (Bias / Peak / Ground Loop) plus system status
• Transparent operation during normal use

Who It’s For

• High-output DSP and head-unit installations
• Amplifiers with sensitive or undocumented input limits
• Systems where reliability matters more than guessing
• Installers who want protection without compromising sound quality

Peace of Mind, Engineered In

RCA Line Guard doesn’t change how your system sounds, it changes what happens when something goes wrong. It’s the layer of protection you only notice when it saves your equipment.