Free Shipping on US orders above $49
What You Need to Know
What Is This Cable and What Does It Do?
This cable lets you connect a source with a 3.5mm headphone-style output — a smartphone, laptop, DAP, or computer sound card — to an amplifier, receiver, or powered speakers that use RCA inputs.
The 3.5mm (1/8") mini-plug is the small stereo connector found on phones, computers, and most portable players. It carries left audio, right audio, and a common ground in one small cylindrical plug. The other end of this cable splits into a stereo pair of RCA plugs — the small round red and white connectors that go into "AUX" or "Line In" jacks on a typical stereo component.
Evergreen sits one step up from Tower in the AudioQuest line. It is one of AudioQuest's most popular cables — chosen for the same reason most upgrades happen: a little more refinement at a still-friendly price.
Which AudioQuest Family Is This From?
Evergreen belongs to AudioQuest's Bridges & Falls series — the entry tier of the line. Cables in this family share a common design approach: solid copper conductors, low-loss insulation, and a single-cable stereo build that keeps left, right, and ground tidy until they split for the RCA pair.
The Bridges & Falls ladder steps up through Tower, Chicago, Evergreen, Red River, Golden Gate, and onward. Evergreen is where many shoppers settle for everyday computer-audio and portable connections.
What's Different About This One?
Evergreen uses solid Long-Grain Copper (LGC), the same conductor metal as Tower. "Solid" means a single core per conductor, not a bundle of small strands. AudioQuest's view is that strand-to-strand interaction in a stranded cable can introduce small distortions, and a solid core avoids that entirely. Long-Grain Copper has a higher purity and more uniform crystal structure than ordinary copper.
The insulation around the copper is called the dielectric. Evergreen uses foamed polyethylene — polyethylene with tiny air bubbles foamed in to lower its electrical losses. A lower-loss dielectric helps a small analog signal arrive in better shape.
What separates Evergreen from Tower at the same conductor metal is the build: tighter geometry, refined connector construction, and a more substantial jacket. It's the next confidence step up the ladder, in the same family.
The conductors are direction-controlled — the arrow on the cable points from your source toward your destination. AudioQuest has been making analog audio cables since Bill Low founded the company in 1980, and Evergreen reflects four decades of refinement in conductor metallurgy and termination.
Which Connector Configuration Do I Need?
The answer comes from looking at both ends of your connection. The source is usually a portable device with a 3.5mm jack. The destination is whatever you're plugging into.
If the destination has RCA inputs (small round red and white jacks), you need this 3.5mm-to-RCA version. If the destination has its own 3.5mm jack, you need the 3.5mm-to-3.5mm version.
Where Does This Cable Belong in Your System?
Evergreen 3.5mm-to-RCA is the "step up from the box cable" that most people stay with for years.
- Good fit: smartphone or DAP into an integrated amp or receiver's AUX input; laptop or sound card into RCA-input powered speakers; modern desktop computer into a stereo system; iPod-class portable into a vintage receiver.
- Not ideal: connecting two components that both have RCA outputs and inputs (use an RCA-to-RCA cable instead); systems where a longer step up — Golden Gate, Big Sur — would better match the rest of the gear.
- Different connector configuration? See the Evergreen 3.5mm-to-3.5mm version.
Length: Use the shortest cable that comfortably reaches between the two components. Measure the actual route — not the straight-line distance — and add a little slack.
Pairs Well With
Building your system? Here are some natural companions for Evergreen:
- Integrated amplifiers with RCA AUX inputs — the most common destination.
- Powered speakers with RCA inputs for desktop or computer-audio setups.
- Standalone DACs — a future upgrade path that often replaces the phone or laptop as the source.
- AudioQuest Golden Gate 3.5mm-to-RCA — the step-up cable when you want PSC (Perfect-Surface Copper) instead of LGC.
- AudioQuest Evergreen 3.5mm-to-3.5mm — same model, 3.5mm destination instead of RCA.
Features & Specifications
Evergreen's value comes from refining what Tower starts:
- Solid Long-Grain Copper conductors — purer than ordinary copper and free of strand interaction.
- Foamed-polyethylene dielectric — lower electrical loss than the standard PVC found on generic cables.
- Single-cable stereo construction — left, right, and common return in one tidy cable that splits at the RCA end.
- 3.5mm mini-plug on the source end, stereo RCA pair on the destination end
- Direction-controlled conductors — arrow marks the preferred source-to-destination orientation.
- Multiple lengths stocked at Audio Advisor — see the length selector for current SKUs.
- Limited lifetime warranty — original owner, authorized U.S. dealer (Audio Advisor is authorized).
Quick-Reference Specifications
| Conductor | Solid Long-Grain Copper (LGC) |
| Geometry | Single-cable stereo |
| Dielectric | Foamed Polyethylene |
| Noise Dissipation | Standard shield |
| Connectors | 3.5mm mini-plug (source) and stereo RCA pair (destination) |
| Direction Control | Yes — arrow indicates direction from source to destination |
| Available Lengths | Multiple lengths stocked — see length selector |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime, original owner, authorized U.S. dealer |
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of source can I connect with this cable?
Anything with a 3.5mm headphone-style output: smartphones, laptops, tablets, portable music players (DAPs), older iPods, and computer sound cards. The other end goes into RCA inputs on an amplifier, receiver, preamp, or powered speakers.
How does Evergreen compare to Tower in this same configuration?
Both use solid Long-Grain Copper conductors and foamed-polyethylene insulation, so the basic engineering is the same. Evergreen's build is more refined — tighter geometry and a more substantial jacket. If you're stepping up from a generic cable and want a little more confidence, Evergreen is a friendly next stop.
How does this cable compare to a generic mini-to-RCA cable?
Evergreen uses solid Long-Grain Copper conductors and foamed-polyethylene insulation, where most generic cables use stranded copper of unspecified purity and standard PVC. You're paying for higher-grade materials, careful direction-control, and AudioQuest's lifetime warranty.
Will this cable improve the sound of my smartphone or laptop?
That depends on the rest of your system. AudioQuest designs its cables to "do no harm" and pass the signal cleanly. If your source and amplifier are revealing enough to show small differences, you may notice them. The 60-day return window lets you try it risk-free.
What length should I get?
Use the shortest cable that comfortably reaches between the two components. Measure the actual route — not the straight-line distance — and add a little slack.
Is the 3.5mm connector stereo? Will it carry both left and right channels?
Yes. The 3.5mm plug has three contacts — left audio, right audio, and a common ground — and the cable splits into a left RCA and a right RCA at the other end. Full stereo, not mono.
How do I know which connector configuration I need?
Look at the back of the destination component. RCA jacks are small round single-pin connectors, often color-coded red and white. 3.5mm jacks are small round single-jack connectors of the headphone-plug type. F-connectors are larger threaded screw-on connectors. If your destination has RCA jacks, this is the right cable.
What's the warranty?
AudioQuest cables purchased from an authorized U.S. dealer carry a non-transferable, original-owner limited lifetime warranty. Audio Advisor is an authorized AudioQuest dealer, so you're covered.
Why Audio Advisor?
40+ Years of Expertise — Since 1981, we’ve helped over a million music lovers find the right gear.
60-Day Money-Back Guarantee — Take your time. Listen, enjoy, and make sure it’s right for you.
Real Experts, Real Help — Our team is here to answer your questions at 800-942-0220, weekdays 9am–6pm EST.
Free Shipping — On orders over $49, delivered to your door.
Flexible Payment Options — Financing available so you can start listening now.
Want to learn more about analog interconnects? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.
