Clarifying my thinking, has anyone here actually tried using the WBT 210 or the Vampire CM2F series?
I have a bunch of the jacks I linked to on the first page. That listing also states that they are "pure copper made".
I just took a dremel to one of them in multiple spots and they look to be made out of aluminum. They aren't magnetic and the metal is clearly silver in color. Definitely not brass or copper.
Aluminum is fine with me though, so whatever.
I'm not a metallurgist (by training I am a biochemist) but gold does not seem to do nice things with alumin(i)um:
Gold-aluminium intermetallic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maybe I'm wrong, but I slowly went to the idea that the connection to chassis should be very near from the output and input jacks, avoiding the need for a shield insulation for them, the philosophy behind it being to look for equipotentiality rather than star connections.
I've installed Vampire CM2F on some misc. kits and tube gear I've played with, I'm a fan and will probably continue to use them in similar applications.
Gold plated aluminum is normally zincated and copper plated first.
I'm not certain it is aluminum though. Maybe the brass alloy is just a really light color and contrasted against the gold makes it look silver.
Attachments
These are cheap, well made, and with published specifications:
NYS367-9 Neutrik Phono (RCA) Connectors
Specifications:
Neutrik - Audio - Phono (RCA) - NYS367-*
Panel hole size is 10mm (0.4") if you use the insulators.
The barrel seems more straight and closer tolerance than the no-names, makes a difference with interconnects that have machined males.
NYS367-9 Neutrik Phono (RCA) Connectors
Specifications:
Neutrik - Audio - Phono (RCA) - NYS367-*
Panel hole size is 10mm (0.4") if you use the insulators.
The barrel seems more straight and closer tolerance than the no-names, makes a difference with interconnects that have machined males.
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These are the same connectors that John Audio recommended up above. Neutrik also makes non-Rean RCA connectors that go in bigger holes, the same size, 24 mm, as their XLR jacks I believe.
Which brings up a related question: how do people make panel holes for 24 mm devices? Using a 1 inch punch?
Could you tell me how the shield connection is made on the CM2F? From the picture it looks like one would be soldering to a big piece of metal, but it is hard to see.
I still think WBT has the best thought out shield lugs and would be easy to make a soldered connection.
In this case I want the only ground connection between the amp and preamp to be through the power cords of the two devices.
You can put a piece of aluminum screw sanded a bit next to it to decide on the photo. The camera's white balance could be anywhere then, doesn't matter.
I think I answered my own question. Greenlee makes a 15/16 inch punch.
By the way, is there any way to edit a post here? I would rather have just edited my post above.
No need, I'm convinced it's brass. It's just a slightly lighter color "yellow" than some brass hardware I have. Maybe a higher percentage of zinc in the alloy? Doesn't matter really.
Only for a few minutes after posting.
One more thing concerns me... There is no documentation for the before mentioned connectors. I mean, I asked the seller at eBay and even he does not have it.
I'm still trying to select an RCA connector. Does anyone have experience with Clearaudio MPC RCA jacks? In particular what size hole does the Clearaudio use for mounting?
Thanks.
Thanks.
I've mentioned the Neutrik/REAN phono's before earlier in the thread, but nobody has commented on them.
Well documented, high quality Neutrik design, available in many colours, widely available everywhere (Canford, Farnell and CPC in the UK). Supplied with insulating washers so you can mount them in contact with the chassis, or insulated if desired.
They are also reasonably priced.
REAN Connectors - Audio - Phono (RCA) - NYS367-*
Drill panel with an 8mm hole, or 10mm if insulation washers are to be used.
Well documented, high quality Neutrik design, available in many colours, widely available everywhere (Canford, Farnell and CPC in the UK). Supplied with insulating washers so you can mount them in contact with the chassis, or insulated if desired.
They are also reasonably priced.
REAN Connectors - Audio - Phono (RCA) - NYS367-*
Drill panel with an 8mm hole, or 10mm if insulation washers are to be used.
I did comment, twice (in posts above). Thank you for the information. The primary reason I am not considering the Neutrik Rean is that 10mm is a very inconvenient size. It is too small to punch and larger than I am comfortable in drilling with a hand drill, not to mention that I don't believe I have a 10mm bit. I would rather the connectors were copper, plus I don't like the fact that they appear to have an O ring for the ground connection.
I am considering the larger Neutrik RCA connectors, particularly as I plan to use Neutrik NC3FD-LX-B as the XLR connectors. However I have run into a problem with the Neutrik: my enclosure, Hammond RM1U1908SBK, does not have a flat back panel (which I didn't realize till I got it), and there is not enough open panel height to mount the Neutrik with nuts as I had planned. Neutrik makes a tapped steel plate that might work. The plates are inexpensive enough that I intend to get a couple to try.
That being said, my first choice for an RCA connector would be one that would mount in a half inch hole.
I wrote to WBT but they did not answer me. Not very good support. The WBT RCA connectors are pretty and appear easy to work with. I've read diyaudio folks speaking highly of the WBT 210 RCA connectors, but not in this thread. WBT are so expensive that I don't feel like buying them to see how well they fit in a half inch hole. I wish someone with experience could tell me about mounting them. My guess is that they would fit OK, if slightly loose.
I know the Vampire are supposed to fit in a half inch hole and the CM2F/CB are copper. They are not cheap either of course.
Most recently I discovered the Clearaudio MPC, but there are no mounting dimensions for the MPC on the Clearaudio website. Hence my question.
I wrote to Clearaudio and received a prompt reply: the MPC sockets mount in a 10 mm to 13 mm hole, which I think means 10 mm without insulation and 13 mm with insulation.
But the local Clearaudio dealer does not have stock, and I have not seen these connectors anywhere on the web in the U.S. -- the search continues.
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