Some low quality signal connectors become loose with ageing causing several issues most people find unwelcome and irritating especially audiophiles. A few days ago, an amplifier channel lost signal and the signal returned when I manually squeezed the connector between my thumb and first finger.
What reliable connectors do you use both for signals and output?
For output audio I use speakon connectors but for signal audio I use phono connectors which sometimes become loose causing irritating crackling and finally total loss of signal.
What reliable connectors do you use both for signals and output?
For output audio I use speakon connectors but for signal audio I use phono connectors which sometimes become loose causing irritating crackling and finally total loss of signal.
For signal there are so many better connectors, preferably something with a screw thread to make it secure. The common RCA connector became the standard for audio because it works and is dirt cheap. At this point it would be tough to come out with a new audio connector, it would need to work with all the legacy gear in the world.
The solution is to use quality RCA connectors, not cheap junk from China.
BillWojo
The solution is to use quality RCA connectors, not cheap junk from China.
BillWojo
Laboratory gear usually uses BNC connectors for unbalanced (coaxial) cables; studios use XLR with twisted-pair balanced lines.
A friend of mine uses BNC connectors on gear he builds, with RCA to BNC adapters when necessary for compatibility.
A friend of mine uses BNC connectors on gear he builds, with RCA to BNC adapters when necessary for compatibility.
I use Tajimi PRC03 series connectors, 3, 5 & 7 pin versions for signal and power. I like how it is a push to lock with an outer sleeve pull to unlock. Designed for repeated on off cycles, something most connectors were not designed for. 16 mm hole for the chassis coonector.
You can try screw type versions of BNC, or the total overkill military stuff from people like Kemlon in Texas, multiple poles, index locked, water / splash proof, exotic materials of your choice, as used in military vehicles and radios.... and also submarines, aircraft carriers and fighter jets.
See if you can find them in surplus stores, buy a few extra if they are cheap.
Phoenix Contact has a line of high quality screw less (spring loaded) terminals, there may be others from their competitors as well, those are pretty common electrical panel items.
If you feel it is convenient, even the multiple pole connectors used in cars can be used, if you need to open and close the joint many times.
No ties to any of the above named manufacturers, they are just used as examples.
See if you can find them in surplus stores, buy a few extra if they are cheap.
Phoenix Contact has a line of high quality screw less (spring loaded) terminals, there may be others from their competitors as well, those are pretty common electrical panel items.
If you feel it is convenient, even the multiple pole connectors used in cars can be used, if you need to open and close the joint many times.
No ties to any of the above named manufacturers, they are just used as examples.
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If you want to stay with RCA there are versions that use a threaded outer sleeve that can be loosened off when connecting or disconnecting and then tightened when connected. The pair I have slip on and off without any resistance until tightened up. I've had them for years and while they can be a little awkward to loosen off if very close to other plugs they still work well with no intermittent connection troubles.
There seems to be a pretty large range of them if you Google "locking rca plugs".
There seems to be a pretty large range of them if you Google "locking rca plugs".
I've recently been searching for decent connectors, 3.5mm plugs and (cable) sockets, and RCA phonos too. I bought some Neutrik 3.5mm jacks, and their "Pro-Fi" phonos.
But I am a fool! There is a huge reservoir of knowledge here, and I didn't think to come and ask. 😊
What connectors (as above) find favour here? Neutrik? Other brands?
I don't like Jack connectors for their intermittent contact, too. They probably work just fine on the stage where they get plugged and pulled at every gig and thus don't get a chance to develop some high contact resistance cruft, but I avoid them at home. And yes, that totally is a valid reason to get a proper sound card with at least RCA connectors, instead of a 3.5mm line out!
I have had my trouble with BNC connectors, too. Probably due to using cheap stuff, but still something to keep in mind. No silver bullet.
For diy measurement boxes I have successfully used F connectors, together with the corresponding 75-ohm coaxial cable. Pretty stiff and unwieldy stuff, but excellent in just about every other aspect. RCA adapters do exist, but I haven't replaced all my interconnects for off-the-shelf gear.
I have had my trouble with BNC connectors, too. Probably due to using cheap stuff, but still something to keep in mind. No silver bullet.
For diy measurement boxes I have successfully used F connectors, together with the corresponding 75-ohm coaxial cable. Pretty stiff and unwieldy stuff, but excellent in just about every other aspect. RCA adapters do exist, but I haven't replaced all my interconnects for off-the-shelf gear.
Why peoples don't use XLR instead of those ridiculous RCA?
Even if signals are unbalanced.
Neutrik XLR male female are excellent.
Even if signals are unbalanced.
Neutrik XLR male female are excellent.
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Lemo connectors, any time.
BTW please note that BNC connectors come in versions that can have 1000 "matings" and some that can only have a few "matings". As usual the NOS/NIB stuff by the great brand names of the past and especially their MIL specced versions are the best.
BTW please note that BNC connectors come in versions that can have 1000 "matings" and some that can only have a few "matings". As usual the NOS/NIB stuff by the great brand names of the past and especially their MIL specced versions are the best.
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My choices:
Mini XLR for phono, as per Musical Fidelity. XLR for line level. Speakon for speakers. Speakon power for power.
Cheap, reliable, secure, well-engineered, easy to DIY with.
Cheers,
Mike
Mini XLR for phono, as per Musical Fidelity. XLR for line level. Speakon for speakers. Speakon power for power.
Cheap, reliable, secure, well-engineered, easy to DIY with.
Cheers,
Mike
Neutrik surely are very good, especially the "professional" RCA (where ground is connected before signal).
I use them whenever I do any RCA stuff, or find some used bullet-plugs and similar exotic stuff (yknow, furutech etc.), but those I don't buy new/retail-price...
When I am free to use the connector of my choice, I go Lemo (00/Nim-Camac for signal, whatever's needed for power), but that's more for fun and snobism 🙂
I use them whenever I do any RCA stuff, or find some used bullet-plugs and similar exotic stuff (yknow, furutech etc.), but those I don't buy new/retail-price...
When I am free to use the connector of my choice, I go Lemo (00/Nim-Camac for signal, whatever's needed for power), but that's more for fun and snobism 🙂
I started this all wrong. I'll tell the whole story. It isn't long, please bear with me. 😉 To start, my system is:
In family living room: Rega Appollo CD, Linn Majik 1, B&W CDM-7NT, all wired with cables I made up myself using reasonably decent components.
In the adjacent conservatory: Windows 10 PC, foobar2000, Asio4All and a Chord Mojo2 with a headphone extension lead and a connection to the Linn amp, Grado SR325e (with GS1000 ear pads) and Sennheisser HD800S. I do most of my listening on headphones in the conservatory, as the lounge is usually in use.
By luck, I recently won a Russ Andrews Yello mains lead as a prize for the 'Hi-fi Choice' reader letter of the month. I didn't know there was a prize, and wasn't dissatisfied with my cabling either. But it was free, so I plugged it into my Linn amp, not really expecting much. There was a modest but worthwhile improvement. So I ordered another. I thought I'd try it on the PC. I didn't expect any improvement, as a PC is a source of the rubbish we'd rather be rid of! But I could use it on the CD if it didn't work on the computer. Anyway, it did work: another modest but worthwhile improvement.
While this was going on, I found that the cable socket of my existing headphone extension lead was dodgy, and needed replacement. I looked at Russ Andrews website, but the cost of a new extension was beyond my pension-limited budget. So I ordered some decent mic cable and Neutrik connectors (NYS231LBG Plug 3.5mm, NYS240BG Cable Jack 3.5mm) and made up a new cable, which seems to introduce no degradation that I can hear.
And that brings me up to date. I didn't intend to ask what style of connectors people prefer — for me, it would always be decent quality XLRs, given a choice — but rather what makes or brands people recommend.
Who makes the best (affordable) 3.5mm jack connectors, who the best RCA phonos, and maybe the best speaker cables terminations too?
There. I wish I'd started off by saying that. 😉
P.S. Thanks for all the helpful responses! 🙂
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