I did wire a system with semi-rigid in my younger days as it was available. But you did need a very expensive kit to make a neat job of it.
These days, BNC or twinax would suffice for when feeling the need for something that had high performance connectors. Lemo, fischer and hypertac are also nice and overkill to the extreme.
These days, BNC or twinax would suffice for when feeling the need for something that had high performance connectors. Lemo, fischer and hypertac are also nice and overkill to the extreme.
I put Lemo, et al, in the same category as doing plumbing with Swagelok parts (back in parts of school when I had to both use and maintain semiconductor fab equipment), the stuff just feels oh-so nice. Just a joy to use.
If I found some surplus connectors of that ilk, I'm not above using them.
If I found some surplus connectors of that ilk, I'm not above using them.
A colleague of mine had a similar experience when he was a young boy. Decades ago there used to be a radio distribution network in the Netherlands with loudspeaker plugs that were a bit too similar to mains plugs...
DPH -
My feelings exactly. Vacuum is like plumbing, but with a couple of extra zeroes tacked on to the end of the price tag. I don't pay real money for the fancy RF connectors if I can help it. A look through the Pasternak RF connector catalog will make your hair stand up on end, then fall out...
My feelings exactly. Vacuum is like plumbing, but with a couple of extra zeroes tacked on to the end of the price tag. I don't pay real money for the fancy RF connectors if I can help it. A look through the Pasternak RF connector catalog will make your hair stand up on end, then fall out...
DPH -
My feelings exactly. Vacuum is vacuum is like plumbing, but with a couple of extra zeroes tacked on to the end of the price tag. I don't pay real money for the fancy RF connectors if I can help it. A look through the Pasternak RF connector catalog will make your hair stand up on end, then fall out...
My feelings exactly. Vacuum is vacuum is like plumbing, but with a couple of extra zeroes tacked on to the end of the price tag. I don't pay real money for the fancy RF connectors if I can help it. A look through the Pasternak RF connector catalog will make your hair stand up on end, then fall out...
Awesome! My dad learned the hard way that mains cords with male plugs on both ends is a really bad idea. 220 VAC. Somewhat damp basement cement floor. Barefoot. Yeah...
Now regarding SMAs the only disadvantage I see is that they tend to work loose if you wiggle the cables too much.
Where I used to work, we used SMA connectors everywhere, including on the DC power supply. I don't know how many intermittent phase noise issues I've traced down to a loose SMA cable. Many... Now some of that was probably that the connectors on the cables had worn out or hadn't been torqued properly when the test started. Still...
So if you do use SMA connectors, get an SMA torque wrench. Now, the SMB connectors I do like.
Tom
Connector for audio signal between PCBs.
What connector would you use to connect an audio signal to multiple PCBs? I'm also thinking about SMA or SMB, or BMC, but I'm not professionally sure of that.
What connector would you use to connect an audio signal to multiple PCBs? I'm also thinking about SMA or SMB, or BMC, but I'm not professionally sure of that.
Well, if the F-connector is good enough for transferring DC for antenna power and frequencies up to 10GHz it sure suffices for a lowly audio signal.
Of course the thick cable needed is most unpractical for DIY audio work but the connectors actually work very well. I installed thousands of them in satellite-/TV-installations.
Same goes for SMA and the like (up to 40GHz).
Totally over the top for most audio stuff.
If you also want to transfer eventual oscillations from your preamp to your power amp, you can look into offerings from Samtec, Harwin and the likes.
They offer PCB connectors with any configuration incl. unshielded and coaxials.
Why not just use shielded microphone cable with proper 3.5mm plugs and sockets?
I use these with shielded cables:
2.54mm leiste - Google Search
Pretty cheap to and easy to unplug, connect to your DMM, oscilloscope...
These also make nice testpoint if needed.
Of course the thick cable needed is most unpractical for DIY audio work but the connectors actually work very well. I installed thousands of them in satellite-/TV-installations.
Same goes for SMA and the like (up to 40GHz).
Totally over the top for most audio stuff.
If you also want to transfer eventual oscillations from your preamp to your power amp, you can look into offerings from Samtec, Harwin and the likes.
They offer PCB connectors with any configuration incl. unshielded and coaxials.
Why not just use shielded microphone cable with proper 3.5mm plugs and sockets?
I use these with shielded cables:
2.54mm leiste - Google Search
Pretty cheap to and easy to unplug, connect to your DMM, oscilloscope...
These also make nice testpoint if needed.
Dear joensd,
It's clear to me that it will be satisfactory for audio. I understand the issues of RF and NF. I don't care about that.
It bothers me that it's an impractical connector and I've never seen it used for audio. I build a high-end amplifier from components used by satellites, for example. That's why I'm thinking about BNC. But I'm looking for a real connector that scientific institutions, for example, use when working with audio signals inside their systems. I made one sample. Look at the photo.
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Twinax
I use BNC twinax for diy. The small ones. Works great for Cable up to 6mm. They look like audio jewelry.
I use BNC twinax for diy. The small ones. Works great for Cable up to 6mm. They look like audio jewelry.
perfectly fine for audio. especially good for very high performance gear that you want to do low noise and distortion characterisation on and want the measurements to be somewhat repeatable. maybe not for use on the final build necessarily, unless it is actual audio test gear you are building, but for building prototypes, semi-rigid SMA or SMB test points, with matching cables for your test gear, is actually what the likes of TI use on their eval boards.
Junk.
That is not a representative photo of the connector, even if it's from Wikipedia! I hate these connectors too but to show that picture is lying with the truth, the F connector got a pin connector and is not just the bare core wire sticking out.
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The "standard" F-connector is screwed/turned onto a coaxial-cable (twist-on-plug type) and yes, the bare conductor is "peeking" out; WIkipedia is absolutely correct.
There are lots of adapters/loads/DC-blocks etc. with solid pins though.
Your picture doesn´t show a F-connector but an adapter of some sort (coupling nut on both ends)
There are lots of adapters/loads/DC-blocks etc. with solid pins though.
Your picture doesn´t show a F-connector but an adapter of some sort (coupling nut on both ends)
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Doesnt answer the SMA question but as an alternative to RCA I now use REAN mini-xlr's on all my builds. It means a non standard wiring when using 3 pin xlr's with 2 wire cable but I like the consistent snap in reliable connection. Ive made xlr to rca adaptors when I have to connect to "normal" equipment