Tweakers' Asylum

Posted by Duster (A) on July 21, 2009 at 18:02:23

In Reply to: RE: rhodium posted by stator_99@yahoo.com on July 20, 2009 at 21:38:33

Rhodium? George Cardas says it well per his particular experience and Cardas' design approach:

http://www.cardas.com/content.php?area=faqs&content_id=6&pagestring=Cable+Materials

"...RCA Plugs

Q.) Why not use copper RCA plugs, as opposed to low conductivity brass with silver plating and rhodium flash?

A.) The reason for brass is simple, you must keep the connector as much like the conductor that feeds it as possible. In the case of our RCA connectors, low current high impedance transfers are best served by small conductors. Large cross-section conductors ring and are of no positive value. Our RCA's conductor is essentially a thin silver tube (the plating) protected with a Rhodium surface, the low conductivity brass is simply good structure. In the case of speaker spades we use thick, ultra pure copper with a silver/rhodium plate to suit the high current, low impedance application. - George..."

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http://www.cardas.com/content.php?area=insights&content_id=37&pagestring=Cable+and+Connector+Longevity

"...Contact failure in early microwave and radar equipment caused the military's quest for better plating. The best plating material is a metal called Rhodium. It is extremely hard and flat, it does not corrode or erode, but it is very expensive. So the military's solution was not a solution everyone could afford. Today, only the best cables use rhodium plating, but special direct plated, Hard Gold formulations (like on the Audioquest connectors and I believe XLO) have also found success. There is also a Palladium alloy that is almost as good as Rhodium. Unfortunately many cables are sold with Nickel plating or Nickel with a soft Gold flash for color. Nickel is magnetic and a poor choice by comparison to hard Gold, Palladium or Rhodium..."

Cardas Home Page Link:

• http://www.cardas.com/   (Open in New Window)