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Cable Asylum Interconnects, speaker wire, power cords. Ask the Cable Guys. |
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Cable Asylum Interconnects, speaker wire, power cords. Ask the Cable Guys. |
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In Reply to: RE: On a reread, it posted by finski on June 5, 2012 at 14:06:44:
UL has to do with safety standards, and they typically address things like whether or not there is enough copper in a an AC cord to prevent actual heating of the copper metal when current flows through a power cord.
They only indirectly have anything to do with actual product quality, for by a product meeting UL safety standards, this assures a certain minimum performance with regard to the most basic and simplistic specs.
However, once we get away from safety issues that are as clear cut as not allowing the copper conductors in an AC cord to get so hot they present a fire hazard, they really don't provide much assurance in the way of product quality or performance.
UL provides none, nor calls for, any standards with regard to RCA plugs and jacks with regard to physical sizes, electrical contact or conductivity, except for those cases where they might require a ground to be made to a circuit ground or chassis ground by the RCA outer shell for safety purposes.
RCA plugs were developed as an incredibly inexpensive alternative to professional grade connectors back in the early days of home consumer hi-fi. The earliest ones were used only WITHIN the cabinet or chassis of an audio component, most often, to allow the phono cartridge to be unplugged from the preamp section for servicing. These had no barrels, no strain relief, no significant mechanical strength, because they weren't meant to be unplugged more than once or twice in their lifetime.
Once they started being used outside the chassis, they were made a little more sturdy, but were still butt ugly and of generally cheesy construction.
Once folks figured out cables made a sonic difference, the lowly RCA plug was studied and essentially re-designed by several high end manufacturer's, who beefed up the center pin, used superior materials, created a shielding barrel, and instituted the use of precious metals (gold) for the contacts, due to the all too frequent and predictable oxidation of the then common TINNED contacts. Yes, they were actually tin plated (usually over steel).
Later, chrome over the tin was used for cosmetic reasons, but they also did not tend to corrode as easily. It was still a poor signal connection.
See:
http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/en/shop_Cables_Jacks_amp_Plugs_Connectors/RCA_Plug_chrome_for_older_Fender_Footswitch_315
for an example.
Modern high end audio RCA plugs and jacks are all an attempt to circumvent the fundamentally flawed original design, and the need to remain "compatible" with other such plugs and jacks.
And yes, Duster is right, they all sound slightly different, and can affect the overall performance of the cable they are used with.
Jon Risch
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- UL? - Jon Risch 20:17:31 06/05/12 (0)
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