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Disappointed with Eichmann connectors

76.126.254.2
Posted on May 29, 2016 at 22:12:55
jedrider
Audiophile

Posts: 15166
Location: No. California
Joined: December 26, 2003
 I think they sound wonderful, but P-L-A-S-T-I-C, give me a break! They did! Got to find my super glue now.

I wonder if there is a metal Eichmann that won't break?

 

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RE: Disappointed with Eichmann connectors, posted on May 30, 2016 at 08:27:18
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 Which versions? Besides copper or silver I think they have different levels of quality and were maybe redesigned. I know Paul Speltz and others complained about them being difficult to solder. I thought they were even tough to connect but made a tight connection.

ET
ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: Disappointed with Eichmann connectors, posted on May 30, 2016 at 12:16:33
rwiley
Audiophile

Posts: 1050
Location: Southeast
Joined: February 20, 2001
 Sorry to hear about breakage but that hasn't been my experience with either the old or new (ETI) models. Did you perhaps get a little too heavy handed?

The new models are very easy to solder...btw.

 

RE: Disappointed with Eichmann connectors, posted on May 30, 2016 at 13:03:51
bcowen
Audiophile

Posts: 1076
Location: North Carolina
Joined: December 19, 2015
 I think the minimal amount of metal employed is one of the reasons they sound so good. Would appear to be a deliberate design decision, not a cost motivated maneuver.

They sure made a nice improvement replacing the mass-y, heavy metal RCA's on my Ace-Space tonearm cable....

 

RE: Disappointed with Eichmann connectors, posted on May 30, 2016 at 14:38:35
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002



Aluminum barrels are available to replace the stock plastic barrel of the Eichmann Bullet Plug. The metal barrel provides an unbreakable strain relief termination interface. VH Audio stocks the aluminum barrel priced at $5.99 each.

See link:

 

Yes, posted on May 30, 2016 at 19:37:45
jedrider
Audiophile

Posts: 15166
Location: No. California
Joined: December 26, 2003
 They usually just slide in and require very little force, which is what I like most about them AND, of course, I think they improve the sound as well.

I would think that it is the unity contact point that provides the most advantage and a metal barrel would have been a better compromise.

In this case, it seemed to snag and I was trying to get it in blind AND I recall how much force that the all metal connectors require.

Well, super glue first, then I have to unsolder for a new barrel.

Yeah, I have two designs of Eichmann, the translucent and the solid color. The translucent one cracked and is very thin material and is perhaps an earlier design as well.

 

RE: Yes, posted on May 30, 2016 at 21:16:06
hahax@verizon.net
Audiophile

Posts: 4306
Location: New Jersey
Joined: March 22, 2006
 I tried them and couldn't get them on and asked on here Audio Asylum. I was advised to heat them with a hair dryer and it worked perfectly.

 

RE: Disappointed with Eichmann connectors, posted on May 31, 2016 at 10:12:43
Mike B.
Audiophile

Posts: 26352
Location: OR
Joined: September 27, 1999
Contributor
  Since: September 1, 1999
 Interesting. I am using the latest KLE RCA connectors and find them to work well with no problems so far. Their silver offerings are excellent IMO. I usually remove them from equipment with two fingers pulling on the front of the plastic body-not the back of it.


 

RE: Disappointed with Eichmann connectors, posted on May 31, 2016 at 10:52:07
jedrider
Audiophile

Posts: 15166
Location: No. California
Joined: December 26, 2003
 Pulling on the 'front' of the PLASTIC bodies. Gee, who would have thought about that?? Not I, certainly.

Morrow audio GUARANTEEs their interconnects. Let's see, $20 shipping both ways, but I know how to solder!

 

RE: Disappointed with Eichmann connectors, posted on May 31, 2016 at 11:40:06
Mike B.
Audiophile

Posts: 26352
Location: OR
Joined: September 27, 1999
Contributor
  Since: September 1, 1999
 I know one or two guys who make and sell cables that won't use them because they are not as robust as metal alternatives. The Eichmann makes good sense in terms of low mass for the contacts and non resonant nature of the plastic IMO. I am constantly getting e-mail ads from Parts Connexion and they are selling connectors at good prices if you want to replace your broken connectors. Good Luck.


 

RE: Disappointed with Eichmann connectors, posted on June 1, 2016 at 03:34:41
PingPing
Audiophile

Posts: 196
Joined: May 22, 2014
 Ahh, these are the Bullet plugs! Perhaps you should try the KLEI Harmony RCA plugs. I have found a big difference between them and I find the KLEI to be excellent :)

 

RE: Disappointed with Eichmann connectors, posted on June 1, 2016 at 08:10:01
jedrider
Audiophile

Posts: 15166
Location: No. California
Joined: December 26, 2003
 Good suggestion. I see they are priced at around $50 a complete set. That's not bad. Now, I just need to learn to solder.

Thanks for the suggestion. They look nicer than the Eichmann's, too.

 

RE: Disappointed with Eichmann connectors, posted on June 1, 2016 at 16:47:33
rwiley
Audiophile

Posts: 1050
Location: Southeast
Joined: February 20, 2001
 Suggestion...buy a 8 or 10 of these, some good solder and practice your soldering...before going to the KLEI's.

 

I bought a set. Found them impossible t osolder, and sold them. Junk..., posted on June 1, 2016 at 17:03:37
Smelly_Socks
 Maybe when professionally assembled, they are good. For a home brew job, they suck, big time.
It is very hard to solder, and the plastic can be damaged by the soldering iron in a split second.

My favorite type are 'tiffany style' which solder only the center wire. The outer wire is crimped by the screw on back and a sleeve. Work GREAT.
(plenty of RCA have a PITA side wire solder point.)

 

Agreed, Junk., posted on June 2, 2016 at 07:20:36
TRUFI
Audiophile

Posts: 622
Location: So. California
Joined: March 16, 2002
 I agree, junk. The theory here is that a plastic housing replacing a metal one improves the sound. Since plastic is a dielectric and with low mass it actually sounds worse, IMO.

 

RE: Agreed, Junk., posted on June 2, 2016 at 15:44:47
jedrider
Audiophile

Posts: 15166
Location: No. California
Joined: December 26, 2003
 Well, I know how to solder, but you have to have the right temperature for some solder connections and I'm not experienced enough with that.

Morrow audio said the Eichmann's improve the sound by 5%! I say to that, which 5%? I thought it helped smooth the highs from rough sounding to much smoother and thought they were worth the extra $50.

However, I am twilighting on my audio purchases, i.e. trying to hold down costs, so I'll see which way I'll go. Right now, super glue seems the best solution. If I glue the whole damn thing together, I can always crack it open with a hammer if I want to replace them!

 

Should have used......, posted on June 2, 2016 at 20:36:49
Basslines
Audiophile

Posts: 373
Location: The Great White North
Joined: October 22, 2003
 ......a smaller hammer to install them. Stick to plumbing, electronics is clearly not your calling.

 

Ahh yes, but everbody knows......, posted on June 2, 2016 at 20:41:46
Basslines
Audiophile

Posts: 373
Location: The Great White North
Joined: October 22, 2003
 .....that you get yours free from Keith Eichmann so your bias is clear. You should change your handle to PimpPimp.

 

RE: Agreed, Junk., posted on June 3, 2016 at 13:19:28
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 So why not stat with some cheaper stuff to cut your teeth on? Duster has posted some very modestly priced recommendations. Do a search for DIY Interconnects with Duster being the author.

Dave

 

simply return the damaged Bullet plug for a replacement, posted on June 3, 2016 at 14:29:16
PingPing
Audiophile

Posts: 196
Joined: May 22, 2014
 "Well, I know how to solder, but you have to have the right temperature for some solder connections and I'm not experienced enough with that. Morrow audio said the Eichmann's improve the sound by 5%! I say to that, which 5%? I thought it helped smooth the highs from rough sounding to much smoother and thought they were worth the extra $50. However, I am twilighting on my audio purchases, i.e. trying to hold down costs, so I'll see which way I'll go. Right now, super glue seems the best solution. If I glue the whole damn thing together, I can always crack it open with a hammer if I want to replace them! "


jedrider, why don't you simply return the damaged Bullet plug to the guys you brought them from and have them replace the damaged Bullet plug?

Surely it is a simple as that or is that not possible for some reason?

 

RE: simply return the damaged Bullet plug for a replacement, posted on June 3, 2016 at 14:52:32
PingPing
Audiophile

Posts: 196
Joined: May 22, 2014
 jedrider, I have used the Bullet plugs but, nowadays, I much prefer the new KLEI Harmony plugs, which I believe offer much more than 5% improvement. Simple as that really!

Good luck, with getting your replacement Bullet plug or Bullet plugs...

 

RE: I bought a set. Found them impossible t osolder, and sold them. Junk..., posted on June 4, 2016 at 04:47:25
ChrisVH
Manufacturer

Posts: 1246
Location: Wisconsin
Joined: September 24, 1999
 I've soldered thousands of these, personally, with no issue at all. I've also had thousands of units terminated by DIY customers, with maybe two pieces that got cooked. Both instances were 'operator error', and were replaced as a courtesy.

As long as you use a correct pencil tip, a good solder, and an appropriate heat setting you'll be fine.

Home brew equipment and skills can run gamut between massive Rat Shack irons with incorrect tip and 'mystery' heat setting, using crap solder, to temp controlled Hakkos with great tips, third hands, and terrific lighting and magnification setup.

But good solder technique is necessary. For these, as well as any RCA solder connection, I recommend mating the work to a female socket while performing the work. This can be any cheap socket, but I prefer something decent, so it doesn't scrape the plating off the connector. Some cheapo sockets will do just that. Mount the socket into a vise, and accompany with a 'third hand', and you should be good to go (mechanically).

Pre-tin the work, and just 3 seconds or so with the iron applied is all it takes. I use 720F with my Hakko and WBT 4% solder (not the RoHS version which I don't think flows as well). Different solders may require different heat settings. Every solder has its own 'sweet spot'.

If you use a tip that's too large or too hot, or apply to work with no heatsink, then I can see how this would result in a problem for any DIY'er.

All I can say for certain is these are fine, low mass connectors (as are some others), but need proper equipment to terminate correctly. Also, if you use large AWG wire, it may also not be suitable, since the 'cups' won't accommodate a whole lot more than 18 AWG or so, without some extra care/effort.

Good luck, and if you can't get a replacement from the place you purchased, ping me, and I can get an extra out to you...

"There are two kinds of fools: one says, This is old, therefore it is good; the other says, This is new, therefore it is better."
- William Ralph Inge

 

I really don't understand the objections, posted on June 4, 2016 at 05:26:53
Dave Pogue
Audiophile

Posts: 11689
Location: DC Area
Joined: October 9, 2001
 For me, these are the easiest connectors to solder that I've ever used. And I'm 87 with soldering skills that can only be described as pathetic. Also, the Bullet Plugs have been incredibly sturdy and reliable -- some of mine have been reused many times as I experimented with different wire. A head-scratcher.

Oh, and they sound great.

 

Agreed, Dave (nt)., posted on June 4, 2016 at 05:46:52
ChrisVH
Manufacturer

Posts: 1246
Location: Wisconsin
Joined: September 24, 1999
 nt
"There are two kinds of fools: one says, This is old, therefore it is good; the other says, This is new, therefore it is better."
- William Ralph Inge

 

Damaged Bullet plug replacements, posted on June 6, 2016 at 16:12:00
PingPing
Audiophile

Posts: 196
Joined: May 22, 2014
 jedrider, let us know how you go get the damaged Bullet plug(s) replaced!

I have used the old Bullet plugs but I much prefer the new KLEI Harmony plugs which are much stronger, easy fitting, easy to solder, and sound noticeably better (definitely, to my ears) :)

Simple as that really!

 

Electrical connectors have a sound?, posted on June 8, 2016 at 08:04:02
Mike K
Audiophile

Posts: 13973
Location: 97701
Joined: September 23, 1999
 Can someone explain?

Lack of skill dictates economy of style. - Joey Ramone

 

RE: Disappointed with Eichmann connectors, posted on July 25, 2016 at 05:37:33
horn kid
Audiophile

Posts: 128
Joined: November 2, 2014
 Absolute garbage, with tentative connection of the ground once a little cable weight is acting on the connectors.

One of the great examples of someone having a story that is a bit different that captures the imagination of audiophiles and causes them to expect great things. With a little luck, the ball gets rolling and folks then even more expect them to sound good.

The "mass" of a connector making a difference. Amazing the "real" cable world (meaning the world outside of audio) working with wideband analog signals never picked up on this! Surely the high end audio experimenters know better than scientists of the world.

Watch out everyone, those eddy currents in higher mass connectors will wreck your signal integrity! Those poor electrons just get lost in those metal connectors!

 

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