SMA connectors -- why not?

jackinnj · 11th February 2004, 01:23 AM

reading about all the gilt-edge RCA connectors with their lumpy impedance, why not SMA connectors for high-end audio. Perhaps a better alternative. High price for now, used on all the high end agilent equipment. Perhaps price could influence voltume.

Ouroboros · 11th February 2004, 11:19 AM

Damned fiddly to make up you own SMA leads.

BNC might be easier, though gold-plated SMA (or SMB) would look nice!

jackinnj · 11th February 2004, 11:56 AM

doesn't it seem a shame that folks pay dollars a foot for some cable and then use an RCA connector?

Ouroboros · 11th February 2004, 12:10 PM

We can get really nice gold-plated, PTFE insulated phono (RCA) plugs and sockets over here that are properly engineered to make good contacts. I guess you have the equivalent over in the US.

Trouble with SMA (and BNC), is that if you trip over a lead, it doesn't pull out safely!

AuroraB · 11th February 2004, 12:47 PM

I bet SMCs ( pin reversed SMAs ) sound better.....

No-no... jokes aside...
I agree completely to SMAs or BNCs, you can have gold plated BNCs too.. the only problem I can see is that if we ended up with correctly terminated teflon coax, thus obeying to all professional transmission rules and equations,--- we could end up putting the paraphysicists out of work....

But Seriously - BNCs should work very well..hand soldering BNCs ande even worse, SMAs can be a real PITA though...
Phono plugs have a more historical reason, I think, the early versions being above all cheap, and easily available, thus setting a standard...
High quality XLRs is another choice, and CAMACs have been seen ( AR)... a locking connector is no drawback , in my opinion....

subwo1 · 11th February 2004, 01:58 PM

I would think that good quality gold plated RCA connectors should be fine so long as they are kept free of dust.

jackinnj · 11th February 2004, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by subwo1
I would think that good quality gold plated RCA connectors should be fine so long as they are kept free of dust.

time to get out the time domain reflectometer and make sure.

Eva · 11th February 2004, 02:23 PM

Oh, and what about potentiometers with gold-plated tracks and small-signal transistors with shielded legs terminated on gold plated BNC connectors?

Long life to XLRs, 1/4" jacks and soldered hard-wiring [the cheapest interconnection ever]

slowmotion · 11th February 2004, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Eva
.... and soldered hard-wiring [the cheapest interconnection ever]

Yup!

Matttcattt · 11th February 2004, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slowmotion

Yup!

me too, i cant afford connectors for prototype amps...

11th February 2004, 01:23 AM	#1
jackinnj diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Llanddewi Brefi, NJ	SMA connectors -- why not? reading about all the gilt-edge RCA connectors with their lumpy impedance, why not SMA connectors for high-end audio. Perhaps a better alternative. High price for now, used on all the high end agilent equipment. Perhaps price could influence voltume.

11th February 2004, 01:58 PM	#6
subwo1 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: North American Continent	I would think that good quality gold plated RCA connectors should be fine so long as they are kept free of dust. __________________ USMPS http://groups.yahoo.com/group/switchmode/

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11th February 2004, 11:19 AM	#2
Ouroboros diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nottingham UK	Damned fiddly to make up you own SMA leads. BNC might be easier, though gold-plated SMA (or SMB) would look nice!

11th February 2004, 11:56 AM	#3
jackinnj diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Llanddewi Brefi, NJ	doesn't it seem a shame that folks pay dollars a foot for some cable and then use an RCA connector?

11th February 2004, 12:10 PM	#4
Ouroboros diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nottingham UK	We can get really nice gold-plated, PTFE insulated phono (RCA) plugs and sockets over here that are properly engineered to make good contacts. I guess you have the equivalent over in the US. Trouble with SMA (and BNC), is that if you trip over a lead, it doesn't pull out safely!

11th February 2004, 12:47 PM	#5
AuroraB diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Norway, -north of the moral circle..	I bet SMCs ( pin reversed SMAs ) sound better..... No-no... jokes aside... I agree completely to SMAs or BNCs, you can have gold plated BNCs too.. the only problem I can see is that if we ended up with correctly terminated teflon coax, thus obeying to all professional transmission rules and equations,--- we could end up putting the paraphysicists out of work.... But Seriously - BNCs should work very well..hand soldering BNCs ande even worse, SMAs can be a real PITA though... Phono plugs have a more historical reason, I think, the early versions being above all cheap, and easily available, thus setting a standard... High quality XLRs is another choice, and CAMACs have been seen ( AR)... a locking connector is no drawback , in my opinion....

11th February 2004, 02:23 PM	#8
Eva diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Near the sea	Oh, and what about potentiometers with gold-plated tracks and small-signal transistors with shielded legs terminated on gold plated BNC connectors? Long life to XLRs, 1/4" jacks and soldered hard-wiring [the cheapest interconnection ever]