Are crimp terminal alter performance?

kzeprf22 · 2nd September 2009, 08:17 AM

Hi, there,
I have a strange question. Can crimp terminal degrade the sound quality.
I build two amplifier prototypes (tha shame design, board, pcb components) for a
friend of mine. The first with not good
quality signal, power, speaker cables, but with not crimps and the other with
ofc (oxygen free) cables everywhere but with crimp terminals everywhere. My friend is very experianced
audiphile with very good and sensitive speakers, Generally I trust him. Comparing
the two prototypes he insists that the first is far better than the second. So are crimp
terminals degrade the sound? Any comment, experiance, knowledge are welcome. I have added
crimps for good but I am afraid I have to rework the amp.

AndrewT · 2nd September 2009, 09:22 AM

I have used similar crimp terminals.
I habitually solder after crimping.
Then bend over the cable grip.

Is there a way to get the cable grip tangs to pierce the insulation?

kzeprf22 · 2nd September 2009, 09:35 AM

Thanks for the reply.

I also soldered the wire and the terminal after crimping but what about the actual male - female contact. This is I am woring (contact capacitance, not perfect contact, ...) I do not know really

peranders · 2nd September 2009, 09:40 AM

You should not solder crimped contacts if it got crimped OK. I properly crimped contact forms a airtight joint.

kzeprf22 · 2nd September 2009, 09:43 AM

Which contact you mean, contact between cable and terminal or between male terminal and female terminal. I soldered the first.
Thnx

AndrewT · 2nd September 2009, 10:00 AM

Peranders,
the crimp lugs are very thin and simply fold over the bared wire.
They do not have sufficient stiffness to give a rigid crimped joint and can never give the air tight joint that a proper thick walled tube type crimp terminal would give.

They may not be designed for soldering but it sure is easy to do and gives a permanent air tight joint.

richie00boy · 2nd September 2009, 10:43 AM

Maybe the issue is the fancy cables, specifically the input screened cable could be causing issues if it's highly inductive or capacitive. Similarly the output cable could be an issue if it's inductance is high. Have you a photo of the wiring layout?

kzeprf22 · 2nd September 2009, 10:48 AM

No I am afraid I do not have right now, but anyway rhe input cable is an OCC one wire cable with dielectric.!!!

acid_k2 · 2nd September 2009, 10:51 AM

If crimp terminals are new (not oxidated), there are virtually no capacitance and no contact resistance. They have a bad contact only if oxidated, or there is a small or normal oxidation, and only a small current flowing. Avoid using in small signals (amplifier input).

I suspect your friend doesn't like crimp terminal... audiophile guys are strange...

Or your amps are not identical... caps and other small things degrade the sounds more then a good terminal.

cliffforrest · 2nd September 2009, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acid_k2

If crimp terminals are new (not oxidated), there are virtually no capacitance and no contact resistance. They have a bad contact only if oxidated, or there is a small or normal oxidation, and only a small current flowing. Avoid using in small signals (amplifier input).

I suspect your friend doesn't like crimp terminal... audiophile guys are strange...

Or your amps are not identical... caps and other small things degrade the sounds more then a good terminal.

Agreed!

ALL the aircraft flying around the world use crimps almost exclusively - more reliable long term than solder. IF it is done correctly!

2nd September 2009, 09:22 AM	#2
AndrewT diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Scottish Borders	I have used similar crimp terminals. I habitually solder after crimping. Then bend over the cable grip. Is there a way to get the cable grip tangs to pierce the insulation? __________________ regards Andrew T.

2nd September 2009, 09:40 AM	#4
peranders Electrons are yellow and more is better! diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Blog Entries: 4	You should not solder crimped contacts if it got crimped OK. I properly crimped contact forms a airtight joint. __________________ /Per-Anders (my first name) or P-A as my friends call me

2nd September 2009, 10:00 AM	#6
AndrewT diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Scottish Borders	Peranders, the crimp lugs are very thin and simply fold over the bared wire. They do not have sufficient stiffness to give a rigid crimped joint and can never give the air tight joint that a proper thick walled tube type crimp terminal would give. They may not be designed for soldering but it sure is easy to do and gives a permanent air tight joint. __________________ regards Andrew T.

2nd September 2009, 10:43 AM	#7
richie00boy Did it Himself diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gloucestershire, England, UK	Maybe the issue is the fancy cables, specifically the input screened cable could be causing issues if it's highly inductive or capacitive. Similarly the output cable could be an issue if it's inductance is high. Have you a photo of the wiring layout? __________________ www.readresearch.co.uk my website for UK diy audio people - designs, PCBs, kits and more

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2nd September 2009, 09:35 AM	#3
kzeprf22 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2007	Thanks for the reply. I also soldered the wire and the terminal after crimping but what about the actual male - female contact. This is I am woring (contact capacitance, not perfect contact, ...) I do not know really

2nd September 2009, 09:43 AM	#5
kzeprf22 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2007	Which contact you mean, contact between cable and terminal or between male terminal and female terminal. I soldered the first. Thnx

2nd September 2009, 10:48 AM	#8
kzeprf22 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2007	No I am afraid I do not have right now, but anyway rhe input cable is an OCC one wire cable with dielectric.!!!

2nd September 2009, 10:51 AM	#9
acid_k2 diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006	If crimp terminals are new (not oxidated), there are virtually no capacitance and no contact resistance. They have a bad contact only if oxidated, or there is a small or normal oxidation, and only a small current flowing. Avoid using in small signals (amplifier input). I suspect your friend doesn't like crimp terminal... audiophile guys are strange... Or your amps are not identical... caps and other small things degrade the sounds more then a good terminal.

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