John Curl's Blowtorch preamplifier

[john curl]

Some connectors look fascinating, but they seem to put more into the 'bells and whistles' than the solidness and purity of the contact. I'm for a good solid contact with an RCA connector.

 

[h_a]

Hi,

thanks for the pic, however if you look closely, you will see these are just the stock female RCAs mounted into their standard XLR-housing. Maybe they're better fastened though.

Have fun, Hannes

 

[scott wurcer]

I would think it is important where the money is spent on an expensive connector. I figure the mfg is getting the most return on making mission critical connections that are reliable under extreme abuse and where the customer has a high cost of failure. I don't see a $200 connector using that cost to get better "sound". As with many things there is not a direct connection between cost and all interesting properties.

I just saw on the web all my Cramolin outdated years ago.

 

[jan.didden]

Hi,

thanks for the pic, however if you look closely, you will see these are just the stock female RCAs mounted into their standard XLR-housing. Maybe they're better fastened though.

Have fun, Hannes

Indeed! They also sell the empty 'buckets' for you to mount your own RCAs if you want that.

Jan Didden

 

[Allen Wright]

Before we started making commercial interconnect cables, we listen tested every RCA plug we could find. In an extremely high resolution system, the Eichmamm solid silver Bullet plugs came out on top, followed by the Eichmann copper Bullet plugs.

We had hoped the new WBT "Next Gen" plugs would win out as they are even more aligned to out theories, but they were quite a way down the list - until we tried them without their metal outer locking cover. Then they became almost as good as the silver Bullets, but impractical to use that way.

But the Eichmann's are poorly constructed and easily melt during assembly if you are not careful.

The best audio connector IMO/IME is the LEMO range - a la ML/JC of the first productions. We now use the plastic bodied version of the LEMO called the Redel as our balanced connector of choice on our top balanced equipment, with XLR, and RCA for paralleled unbalanced connections.

Regards, Allen

www.vacuumstate.com

 

[john curl]

Thanks Allen, for some 'real' input. Eichmann connectors score very high with my associates, too. WBT is lower on the list. So much for show, and bulk. I have stuck with Vampire, because I have used them for decades, and they work OK. Send me an e-mail with your personal e-mail address, and I can send you a PDF of an article that will knock your socks off, AND prove a few things, with measurements, denied here. I think it was originally sent to me by someone here, I will have to check.

 

[scott wurcer]

Refereed proof of some claims made here would be great. It would clear the air, and I for one would welcome it.

 

[john curl]

I don't think so.

 

[Wavebourn]

As connectors came up: does somebody have a suggestion for well made RCA/Chinch connectors?

I would prefer military silver BNC, but I can't replace them on all devices I see!

Also, as soon as the law demands grounding through outlet, I would go with balanced interconnects everywhere in audio path. XLR is fine, but some military sockets would be better, as well.

 

[nicoch58]

Thanks JC

 

[scott wurcer]

Re: Getting what you pay for.

Tellurium is added to copper in small percentages to enable faster machining and less tool wear (up to 5x), I guess to lower cost. There is a max 10% degradation in conductivity, at least from one major source.

"High conductivity Tellurium copper conductor exposes more detail "

 

[auplater]

Te.. ugh

Te -Cu is a b&^%$ to get any plating to adhere metallurgically to reliably....

especially on high precision machined components that can't be etched to oblivion

I'm surprised someone hasn't investigated the sonic benefits of quartz vs. glass valve envelopes, tin vs. nickel pin plating on toob sockets... type of tungsten in filaments.. grid /plate materials... etc...

maybe a new market??

John L.

 

[dimitri]

Hi John L.,
Can you please advise a good book on Electrometallurgy engineering?
thanks

 

[john curl]

Te Cu, better than brass? Maybe?

 

[Sigurd Ruschkow]

Did you ever try rhodium plated connectors? Rhodium is harder than the gold plating I have had in connectors,
and rhodium plated connectors are now my favorites.



Sigurd

THICK GOLD, that is why the connector is so expensive. Looks more dull than the nickel interfaced ones (one stripe) I use those too, but usually at line level.

 

[Sigurd Ruschkow]

I use bigger sized LEMOs and not so common types of LEMO types and some accessories. I guess that is why the price is so much hgher than what you state.



Sigurd

Lemo 8 way 2B plug is 22.91 pounds at Farnell. UK. Same price for the socket.

 

[john curl]

Some people really like Rhodium. I tend to stick to gold and silver. I am old fashioned.

 

[Johnloudb]

I really like Cardas Gold/Rhodium connectors. Very pretty!!

 

[john curl]

I like Cardas, but I am not sure about the plugs.

 

[lineup]

???
Excuse me, but what is Csardas?
Is that something to di with opera, JC?

... in my language I think there is one operett: 'Csardas Furstinnan' -- Csardas Emperess ... translated

I like Cardas, but I am not sure about the plugs.