Silver plate corrosion is better??

[neazoi]

hello I have read here

http://www.soundlabsgroup.com.au/p/A...eaker+Terminal

that corrosion in silver has better sonic properties. Is that a myth?

[zigzagflux]

I don't know about 'better', but oxidized silver (silver oxide) is relatively conductive, while copper oxide is quite non-conductive. I suspect this is the fact the marketing claim is exploiting. However, relative to the conductivity of pure silver, silver oxide isn't too impressive, so it depends on how (or what) you compare it to.

I have heard silver oxide's skin depth is also much thicker than copper oxide, so there is some benefit there with RF applications, but I don't mess with RF, nor does this apply to speaker terminals.

I am of the general opinion nickel or tin plated terminals do just fine, without the degree of oxidation silver or copper presents. Suppose you could also go with gold plating, but then you might want to investigate how many plating layers of different metals are involved with gold plated copper. Very interesting.

[multi-volti]

The tarnish on silver plating is conductive enough at RF frequencies where waveguides are preferred over other transmission lines like coaxial cable.

This is normally at microwave frequencies.

Skin effect does come into effect at lower frequencies than the 'practical' rule of thumb where losses and heat rise are a concern, rather than 'sound'.

With audio, if no compromise is acceptable to an individual, more stringent 'rules' can be applied. Tarnished silver is considered to be a poor conductor at 'low' frequencies (relative to the microwave frequencies where it works 'fine' that is, a waveguide normally has lower signal power loss than a coaxial feedline, and the waveguide doesn't overheat due to heat losses in the silver plating...both of these are well addressed in such systems).

Even at audio frequencies where skin effect is...what do I say, measurable, negligible?, all are relative to something else... it's not the primary conduction mechanism at lower frequencies.

This is of course not to say that silver is not a good conductor at audio...already a known fact that it has better conductivity than other metals...it's just the tarnish that can't be counted on in some situations.

[neazoi]

Originally Posted by multi-volti

The tarnish on silver plating is conductive enough at RF frequencies where waveguides are preferred over other transmission lines like coaxial cable.

This is normally at microwave frequencies.

Skin effect does come into effect at lower frequencies than the 'practical' rule of thumb where losses and heat rise are a concern, rather than 'sound'.

With audio, if no compromise is acceptable to an individual, more stringent 'rules' can be applied. Tarnished silver is considered to be a poor conductor at 'low' frequencies (relative to the microwave frequencies where it works 'fine' that is, a waveguide normally has lower signal power loss than a coaxial feedline, and the waveguide doesn't overheat due to heat losses in the silver plating...both of these are well addressed in such systems).

Even at audio frequencies where skin effect is...what do I say, measurable, negligible?, all are relative to something else... it's not the primary conduction mechanism at lower frequencies.

This is of course not to say that silver is not a good conductor at audio...already a known fact that it has better conductivity than other metals...it's just the tarnish that can't be counted on in some situations.

So the silver oxcide as a material IS more conductive than silver, but in audio and especially low frequencies is not of too much importance?

I have never thought that this dirty oxcide can be of any good so I am very impressed!

Now I can stop continuously cleaning my silver plated audio note rca plugs I guess..?

[Mr Evil]

It's the silver sulphide that you have to worry about, especially if you live in a city or other high-pollution area. It forms a black, poorly conducting layer on silver contacts.

Personally I prefer gold plating because it is completely immune to corrosion even in the most hostile environments, and it looks nice.

[neazoi]

Originally Posted by Mr Evil

It's the silver sulphide that you have to worry about, especially if you live in a city or other high-pollution area. It forms a black, poorly conducting layer on silver contacts.

Personally I prefer gold plating because it is completely immune to corrosion even in the most hostile environments, and it looks nice.

I also like this rhodium & platinium (silver like) connectors.

BTW, this "black" layer is what I was worying about.

The "desirable" oxcide has been formed if the connector colour has been a bit wellow?