RCA alternatives?

[ftjandra]

I've always thought that the design of the RCA connector is not very good, and the general consensus is that they really aren't. So, my question is, what are the better/best alternatives? I've come up with either XLR or Speakons? Anybody have experience with either of those? The 4-pole Speakon would be really nice/convenient as a stereo interconnect...

--Ferdi

[Ouroboros]

The XLR is of course the pro-audio standard, but if you want to keep to the standard pinout, then you'll need a seperate 3-pin XLR for the L and R channels.

Speakon for low-level audio? You are joking I hope!.

Why not use BNC as nearly all low-frequency test equipment uses? (The plugs are fiddly to wire up though).

At a higher spec, the screw-lock SMB gold plated co-ax connector is a superb design, and can be used all the way up to 10GHz if you really want an extended HF response.

[ftjandra]

Ok, I think I am going to go with BNC's, probably by Canare. My question is, how will they compare to high-end RCA connectors, such as from Cardas? The Canare BNC's are way cheaper and I can't seem to find any Rhodium/Silver/Gold/Unobtanium/etc. BNC connectors... I don't want to end up with an inferior connection. And, I don't like XLR because the connectors are so long. Thanks.

--Ferdi

[johnf]

The XLR is of course the pro-audio standard, but if you want to keep to the standard pinout, then you'll need a seperate 3-pin XLR for the L and R channels.

I seem to remember a five-pin XLR connector for stereo signals. I have only used the three-pin variety.

[jhead]

I believe the swiss made Limo's are of outstanding quailty Mark Levinson used them years ago but alas it would be quit a under taking to rewire a existing chassis and or system with them

[Steve Eddy]

Originally posted by jhead
I believe the swiss made Limo's are of outstanding quailty Mark Levinson used them years ago but alas it would be quit a under taking to rewire a existing chassis and or system with them

I believe Levinson used Fischer CAMACs, not Lemos.

Lemos are nice, but I've found I prefer the plastic shell Redels to the metal shell Lemos.

se

[planet10]

Originally posted by Steve Eddy
the plastic shell Redels

That is what Allen Wright recommends... i haven't tried them yet but will.

dave

[Variac]

And where does one get a Redel?
i.e.Do the people you linked to sell to mortals w/o a company connection?

[johnf]

For those who are interested, Audio Engineering Society standard AES14-1992 (r2004) gives pin outs for balanced and unbalanced two-channel circuits over 5-pin XLR connectors. Google will find it.

[Steve Eddy]

Originally posted by planet10
That is what Allen Wright recommends... i haven't tried them yet but will.

Yeah? Didn't know that. About the only other person I've come across who uses them was dice45.

I first encountered them about 15 years ago when I had lunch with the area Lemo rep. He said "You might also want to consider these" in a Scottish accent that reminded me of Sean Connrey and whipped out this little plastic plug and socket from his sample case.

At the time I was still smitten with the sexiness of the metal shells of the Lemos so when I got home I just tossed it into my sample box and there it sat for a number of years.

Years later when I was sifting through the sample box throwing out a bunch of stuff I knew I'd never use, I came across that Redel connector he'd given me. My love affair with sexy metal shell connectors was waning so I decided to give them a try.

Been using them ever since.

se