One of my headphone cable models 'The Crystal Cranium v2.0' has a cable geometry consisting of 4 hand-braided (by me) strands of 4-core pre-braided (by supplier) cable.
Subsequently it has a pretty chunky overall outside diameter and for a cable needing a 4.4mm balanced source connection it requires a Pentaconn connector with sufficient internal diameter and rear aperture to accommodate the cable.
My regular Aliexpress supplier has disappeared without trace. It took obtaining sample connectors from about 30 different suppliers until I found him and the really decent connectors he was selling. Nobody else there or on alibaba, bang etc was selling these things, so I had to start the whole process again - sourcing a decent connector from a 'reliable' source.
I found a couple of suppliers recently with in-spec connectors. One has an 8mm OD aperture and the other a 7mm aperture. Both seem good quality, well-machined and smooth barrel threads, good quality barrel paint and both have decals. Both are also gold plated and not just painted and measure about the same for capacitance.
Slightly different designs but at least I have 2 viable candidates for wide-body Pentaconn connector supply.
However, I can't help feeling that aliexpress sellers are jumping on the 'posh packaging' trend and bumping up prices accordingly. There was a time when you could pick up a box of baggied connectors like these for not much money, but these days they come in fancy packaging in multiples of 2 or 4 with a hefty price-tag.
Any other MOT's noticing this trend?
Somewhat irritating when you try to keep your own prices consistent and stable. :/
It's almost a bit of a shame that I seal the connectors to the cable using glue heatshrink but it makes them very strong and prevents the terminations from oxidising.
Subsequently it has a pretty chunky overall outside diameter and for a cable needing a 4.4mm balanced source connection it requires a Pentaconn connector with sufficient internal diameter and rear aperture to accommodate the cable.
My regular Aliexpress supplier has disappeared without trace. It took obtaining sample connectors from about 30 different suppliers until I found him and the really decent connectors he was selling. Nobody else there or on alibaba, bang etc was selling these things, so I had to start the whole process again - sourcing a decent connector from a 'reliable' source.
I found a couple of suppliers recently with in-spec connectors. One has an 8mm OD aperture and the other a 7mm aperture. Both seem good quality, well-machined and smooth barrel threads, good quality barrel paint and both have decals. Both are also gold plated and not just painted and measure about the same for capacitance.
Slightly different designs but at least I have 2 viable candidates for wide-body Pentaconn connector supply.
However, I can't help feeling that aliexpress sellers are jumping on the 'posh packaging' trend and bumping up prices accordingly. There was a time when you could pick up a box of baggied connectors like these for not much money, but these days they come in fancy packaging in multiples of 2 or 4 with a hefty price-tag.
Any other MOT's noticing this trend?
Somewhat irritating when you try to keep your own prices consistent and stable. :/
It's almost a bit of a shame that I seal the connectors to the cable using glue heatshrink but it makes them very strong and prevents the terminations from oxidising.
