Tweakers' Asylum: corrosion inhibitors on RCA Jacks by metal man

I have a lot of experience with Cortec inhibitors both in my professional life and my audio affliction, and they are great when used in the *RIGHT* application. To understand what are the right applications you need to consider these facts:

* The inhibitors are VERY GOOD at greatly reducing the formation of corrosion or tarnish of metals.
* The inhibitors work by creating a sub-microscopic barrier of organic molecules at the metal surface (think in terms of the thinnest possible plastic layer scientifically achievable).
* That tiny barrier layer will cause a miniscule increase in the resistance and capacitance of the RCA contact, which is MUCH MUCH smaller than the increases that will occur from tarnish.

So, with those tidbits in mind, I wouldn't recommend using the inhibitors to protect Gold, Chrome or Nickel surfaces, as they are extremely corrosion and tarnish resistance all by themselves, so the inhibitors won't add any benefits but will introduce unwanted electrical effects. For these metals I would look instead at contact treatments designed to reduce the contact resistance like ProGold etc.

Now, for exposed Copper, Silver, or Brass we have a different story. All of these metals will tarnish enough within a few days that the effect of the tarnish will be significantly larger than the effect of the inhibitor. In this case, the inhibitors will greatly extend how long you can go before you have to reclean your connectors. Keep in mind that you want a perfectly clean metal surface before you use the inhibitor treatment, otherwise you just protected the tarnish.

So the big question becomes: Which is less damaging to the sound, Copper to Copper connections with a little inhibitor in the middle, or Copper to Gold plate to Gold plate to Copper but no inhibitor?

Just my humble opinion for what it is worth.