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In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: We who are about to die... (a cable thread)
Post Subject: $ilver Connector$Posted by Paul S on: 4/26/2021
I've read that high-purity silver does not corrode, and so far none of my Eichmann or WBT silver RCA connectors have corroded, years and years down the road. However, they have gotten pretty darn expensive! The WBT are well made, at least, and I would say the same of the Eichmanns, but they are very fragile, and soldering the return wires created enough heat to melt their poly (lightweight plastic; whatever...) sleeves. As far as copper, it's very hard to find connectors made from reasonably pure Cu, and I don't like the plating options that are pervasive these days. I swallow hard and use the Vampire 800Cs, which have a directly applied, "sputtered" gold plating. Pick your poison. Another thing is mass. I don't like the idea of massive connectors, and many of the boutique connectors these days are long, thick, elaborate and heavy. Plenty of people I know hoarded the old, cheap-o Radio Shack connectors, figuring their light weight more than offset the crappy metal they're made of. You've seen the "high end" IC using Switchcraft, which is pretty much a commercial staple, but, again, not special, IMO. DH Labs says some interesting things about the construction of their connectors; but they offer several versions, and hard to be sure from their "specs" which parts are made of what, exactly how they're plated, and what it all means in terms of conductivity. Again, baseline, as far as connectors, it's all about manufacturing supply chains and marketing, and not much better for the insulation, and the wire, itself, really.
Salvaging silver via the internet? Is it "6 nines"? I reckon it costs more to get ahold of it than it's worth as base metal. And how does this help with cable connectors, anyway?
Alex, I spent a while with an ostomy bag of sh*t hanging off my side, also some catheter crap I won't forget, so I have some idea what it's like. Glad it's behind me now, and I wish the same for you, ASAP.
Best regards,
Paul S
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