panel mounting RCA phono jacks

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Lavcat

Lavcat

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Joined 2009
#1
I am looking for an RCA phono jack that is of good quality with the following characteristics:

1.) Both shield and hot insulated from chassis.

2.) Solder lugs for both shield and hot connections.

3.) Relatively easy to mount in a single hole.


So far I am considering Cardas or WBT 210. I am open to other suggestions.

My question is what size mounting hole is required? I have looked at the mechanical drawings for both Cardas and WBT 210. Unfortunately the drawings do not impart as much information to me as I would like. I have read that Cardas mounts in a 3/8 inch hole and WBT in a 12 mm hole. Can someone confirm if this is correct? Are these round holes or D shaped holes? If the WBT 210 were mounted in a 1/2 inch hole would it be too loose?

Thanks for any help.
 
#2
If you don't mind saving a lot of money buying things that lack high price elitist names, these are very high quality and perform quite well:
untitled "Gold Plated RCA Jacks B Red & Black" - about 1/2 way down the page. Mount in a round hole, about 3/8" if I remember correctly.
Mike
 
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#3
Michael Bean said:
If you don't mind saving a lot of money buying things that lack high price elitist names, these are very high quality and perform quite well:
untitled "Gold Plated RCA Jacks B Red & Black" - about 1/2 way down the page. Mount in a round hole, about 3/8" if I remember correctly.
Mike
Click to expand...

I agree that those are perfectly suitable for all but the most uptight audiophools..... I mean audiophiles.

I've bought these similar jacks and have been perfectly happy with them.....

2 pairs Female Amplifier RCA Jack Chassis Sockets USA | eBay
 
#4
Michael Bean said:
If you don't mind saving a lot of money buying things that lack high price elitist names, these are very high quality and perform quite well:
untitled "Gold Plated RCA Jacks B Red & Black" - about 1/2 way down the page. Mount in a round hole, about 3/8" if I remember correctly.
Mike
Click to expand...

A 1/2 inch hole would be easer for me because it can be punched. Thank you for the suggestion though, the price point is well taken.
 
#7
If your evaluation of the sound differences(or lack of) between copper and brass termination was using those Ebay RCA's, I wouldn't expect there to be a difference either. They appear identical to Apex Jr's and Vampire's brass RCA's and are all probably from the same source.
 
#8
Copper vs. brass "sound quality" isn't something I care to debate, but let's say copper is indeed sonically superior.

These brass jacks are all plated, the final plating being gold. Since the currents being carried are usually fairly small, wouldn't skin effect dictate that the signal is mostly being passed along the gold layer? Not to mention gold has a lower resistance than brass.
 
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#9
Skin effect has almost no effect at audio frequencies. It is simply a matter of resistance. A thin gold layer on top of a thick lump of some other metal means that most current will be in the other metal. The gold is there in an attempt to stop the contact from oxidising. I have read, but I forget where, that most gold plating is too thin and soft to do this effectively so is really only of cosmetic value.
 
#10
DF96 said:
Skin effect has almost no effect at audio frequencies. It is simply a matter of resistance. A thin gold layer on top of a thick lump of some other metal means that most current will be in the other metal. The gold is there in an attempt to stop the contact from oxidising. I have read, but I forget where, that most gold plating is too thin and soft to do this effectively so is really only of cosmetic value.
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Like I alluded to in my previous post; it doesn't matter either way IMO.

I guess if you are the type to think the cost is worth the name brand jacks, then you can probably afford them anyway and it isn't really an issue. I mean I don't think a sane person is going to let their bills go and starve their children just to buy cardas or wbt.
 
#11
Lavcat said:
I am looking for an RCA phono jack that is of good quality with the following characteristics:

1.) Both shield and hot insulated from chassis.

2.) Solder lugs for both shield and hot connections.

3.) Relatively easy to mount in a single hole.


So far I am considering Cardas or WBT 210. I am open to other suggestions.

My question is what size mounting hole is required? I have looked at the mechanical drawings for both Cardas and WBT 210. Unfortunately the drawings do not impart as much information to me as I would like. I have read that Cardas mounts in a 3/8 inch hole and WBT in a 12 mm hole. Can someone confirm if this is correct? Are these round holes or D shaped holes? If the WBT 210 were mounted in a 1/2 inch hole would it be too loose?

Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...

I have never used them, but when you punch a hole it is not perfect sized. When you drill a hole it is not really round. So I would be very surprised if they didn't fit in a 1/2" hole.

But if you really want to be safe, punch a 3/8" hole and use a tapered reamer to enlarge the hole to fit exactly. (Or just drill it bigger, the 3/8" hole will keep your bit where you want it.)
 
#13
Hi!

I found these at Parts Connexion but I haven't ever ordered from them and I am oversee. Do anyone knows something similar (not the Cardas) that can be ordered online?
Simon - You may are interested in these too.
(Anyway theese looks solid and they cost $10 a pair and has dimension documentation which is a plus)
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
 
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#14
Earfanatic said:
Hi!

I found these at Parts Connexion but I haven't ever ordered from them and I am oversee. Do anyone knows something similar (not the Cardas) that can be ordered online?
Simon - You may are interested in these too.
(Anyway theese looks solid and they cost $10 a pair and has dimension documentation which is a plus)
Click to expand...

The ebay seller of the jacks I previously posted about has that style as well. 10pcs for $20....

10 RCA Jack Amplifier Chassis Mount Top Grade 0458418 | eBay
 
#18
Face said:
If your evaluation of the sound differences(or lack of) between copper and brass termination was using those Ebay RCA's, I wouldn't expect there to be a difference either. They appear identical to Apex Jr's and Vampire's brass RCA's and are all probably from the same source.
Click to expand...

I went to the Apex site but could not find anything that looked quite right. I checked out Vampire's RCA jacks and noticed the CM2F series mount in 1/2 inch holes. Does anyone have experience with either the CM2F or the CM2F/CB?

From the pictures it looks like the CM2F series would be rather difficult to solder to, particularly the copper one.
 
#20
John Audio said:
Of very good quality - and reasonably priced - are the phono sockets made by Neutrik Rean:

REAN Connectors - Audio - Phono (RCA) - NYS367-*

Readily available in the UK from many suppliers and presumably elsewhere in Europe and world wide?
Click to expand...

These look reasonable and they are cheap enough: $1.19 from Markertek. I had an order from Markertek this week.

The downside is that they are not copper, it looks like there is an O ring for the shield connector, and I would probably have to get a metric drill bit. Plus I would prefer not to drill holes that large with the hand drill that I have.
 
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