Tweaker's Asylum

• Neutrik Profis for me... - mb 02:03:44 03/13/03 (0)
  In Reply to: What is everyones favorite RCA plug for DIY ICs?? -t posted by Julien 43 on March 10, 2003 at 16:39:49:

  I've not tried Eichmanns, and find Canares slight difficult to solder. Also the Canare's strain relief spring rusts internally after some time, and the ground conductor is pretty flimsy.

  For me, the Neutriks are the easiest to solder and have great design (makes ground before live, holds on to the plug strongly, has two cord grips for different cable diameters), so I'm sticking with them.
  
  

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• How about Parts Connexion? - C.B. 11:06:03 03/12/03 (0)
  In Reply to: What is everyones favorite RCA plug for DIY ICs?? -t posted by Julien 43 on March 10, 2003 at 16:39:49:

  They're a sponsor of AA, and I really enjoy their proprietary RCA chassis jacks, either SKU53451 (inside mount) or SKU 53452 (outside). Solidly made, heavily gold-plated with a Teflon dialectic, at $9.95/pr.
  
  

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• Re: What is everyones favorite RCA plug for DIY ICs?? -t - tcain 17:45:14 03/11/03 (0)
  In Reply to: What is everyones favorite RCA plug for DIY ICs?? -t posted by Julien 43 on March 10, 2003 at 16:39:49:

  Cheap, ratshack plastic. Spendy, Cardas. TC
  
  

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• Vampire 800 CB - Carlos 16:12:19 03/11/03 (6)
  In Reply to: What is everyones favorite RCA plug for DIY ICs?? -t posted by Julien 43 on March 10, 2003 at 16:39:49:

  A few months ago I started a project to find out the best sounding materials for ICs in my system. I believe Ron Welborne made a few bucks on my "project".
  I bought samples of Bullet plugs, Cardas SLVR, GRMO and their SRCA top model, Vampire, WBT plus several cheaper plugs including Tiffany, Radio Shack and some Monster Cable leftovers.
  I used the same AWG 22 pure copper wire for making several ICs (with Cardas solder).
  The jury is still out on the WBTs, but in my system, for my taste, the Vampire 800CB passes more music and less garbage, it plainly sounds more musical.
  I have to admit that Carda's top-of-the-line rhodium SRCA (the one with a spring on the ground contact) is the best connector for sub-bass frequencies, but IMS Vampire sounded much better above 30 Hz.
  I now use Cardas SRCA for subwoofer cables and Vampire 800CB elsewhere.
  The Eichman had a discontinuity between midrange and treble that frankly surprised me, in view of the good press.
  Also, if you are into DIY amps or preamps, it pays to match a Vampire female chassis mount RCA with the 800 CBs. Likewise, Cardas female to Cardas RCA.
  I have no affiliation with Vampire....I am NOT Count Dracula :^)
  OK, maybe I have bat ears...
  My 2c worth anyway, IMS and with my music
  
  

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  • I second this... - Ehien 19:58:06 03/12/03 (0)
    In Reply to: Vampire 800 CB posted by Carlos on March 11, 2003 at 16:12:19:

    I'm very satisfied with Vampire's OFC RCA plugs and chassis jacks. They are the only ones made by OFC I know of so far.

    I also have their OFC binding posts but still looking for time to install them. Not cheap at almost $100/set. Hope they are worth it.

    Ehien
    
    

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  • You're first to question Eichmann, what's this? - bartc 12:54:08 03/12/03 (4)
    In Reply to: Vampire 800 CB posted by Carlos on March 11, 2003 at 16:12:19:

    I was really interested in your response, because you truly seem to have tested the usual suspects in a semi-scientific way. Very surprised at hearing your review of the Eichmann bullets, as you seem to be the first negative (sort of) I've read on them so far. Can you explain this? I certainly believe you and will look toward Vampires on my next project.

    Do you think your experiment was colored by the wire/geometry you used or do you have experience and thoughts on the generalizability of these observations?
    
    

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    • Ok, glad to see that I'm not the only one - Karl W. 14:28:24 03/13/03 (0)
      In Reply to: You're first to question Eichmann, what's this? posted by bartc on March 12, 2003 at 12:54:08:

      I hadn't read anything negative about the Eichmann's and came to the exact same conclusion. That the midrange was recessed.
      
      

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    • Re: You're first to question Eichmann, what's this? - Carlos 15:13:56 03/12/03 (2)
      In Reply to: You're first to question Eichmann, what's this? posted by bartc on March 12, 2003 at 12:54:08:

      Hello Bart
      The method was really semi-scientific; first I tried several connectors with the same interconnect, in three different systems.
      After all three of us agreed that Vampire was the best overall connector, I made several different cables and geometries, all with Vampire 800C: copper coax, silver coax, silver braided within teflon tubes, hybrid copper/silver with teflon tubes.
      Sources were Audio Analogue, CAL, BOW ZZ-Eight and Rega CDPs plus my Linn Sondek turntable.
      Speakers were Thiel, Vandersteen, Revel and Von Schweikert.
      Amplification was a mix of tube preamp (DIY Berman) a transformer volume control and excelent SS amps (Etalon, BEL 1001 and Pathos).
      I insisted with the Eichman plugs because they were cheaper than Vampire, looked nicer and were very easy to solder.
      I tried them with AWG 22 pure copper, AWG 32 silver coax and silver ribbon cables. I heard the same discontinuity in all those configurations. It sounds very impressive in the beginning, but IMS, for my music, it ain't natural.
      I think I gave the connectors a fair chance. Anyway this is very subjective.

      BTW I invested about $500 in plugs to reach these conclusions. I recovered my investment by selling the cable prototypes to friends.
      I usually lent to my friends a pair of identical ICs, one with Eichman plugs, the other with Vampire 800CB.
      None of the cables with Vampire plugs were returned, I still have a couple of cables with Eichman in the closet.

      In summary, I think that my experiments were conducted fairly, however, there is no accounting for taste. For example, the french are known to like bright speakers, Americans love lots of bass and detail, it is well known that the british tend to make smooth, polite sounding speakers, perfect for chamber music.
      Maybe brazilians are deaf due to loud samba during Carnival ?

      The jury is still out on WBT's top line crimp style RCA, I will receive a new set in a few days ($100 OUCH!!!).

      Best wishes
      
      
      

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      • Great work, Carlos, now tell me about... - bartc 17:57:24 03/12/03 (1)
        In Reply to: Re: You're first to question Eichmann, what's this? posted by Carlos on March 12, 2003 at 15:13:56:

        those hybrid copper/silver ICs, because that's where I'm headed next.

        Also, you said the Vampire 800Cs were more expensive than the Eichmanns, but at Parts Connexion it appears that they are $28 vs. $33 for the bullets. Or am I looking at the wrong Vampires?

        Next time you want to do product testing, don't wait so long to put out the word. I value this kind of testing more than the chart logged stuff in the audio magazines to justify $8000 power cords and racks that cost more than some cars...
        
        

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        • Re: Great work, Carlos, now tell me about... - Carlos 04:55:49 03/13/03 (0)
          In Reply to: Great work, Carlos, now tell me about... posted by bartc on March 12, 2003 at 17:57:24:

          Hello, Bart
          The Bullet plugs come in boxes of four, the price for 800CB is for a pair.
          Regarding the hybrid cable recipe, it's not finalized yet.
          I need to find the right mix of copper and silver gauges to avoid some excessive upper midrange.
          I will email when I get the right tone (I am currently modifying the bejeezus out of a Rega Planet)
          Take it easy
          Carlos
          
          

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• eichman bullet - pburke 09:55:54 03/11/03 (0)
  In Reply to: What is everyones favorite RCA plug for DIY ICs?? -t posted by Julien 43 on March 10, 2003 at 16:39:49:

  can't beat it at the $32 price I paid
  
  

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• Canare F-10 - JP 04:55:09 03/11/03 (0)
  In Reply to: What is everyones favorite RCA plug for DIY ICs?? -t posted by Julien 43 on March 10, 2003 at 16:39:49:

  Cheap when bought in bulk (less than $3 ea). Teflon dielectric and built-in (crude) strain relief. Hard to go wrong for the money.

  John
  
  

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• R-S - Sector-7G 19:04:37 03/10/03 (0)
  In Reply to: What is everyones favorite RCA plug for DIY ICs?? -t posted by Julien 43 on March 10, 2003 at 16:39:49:

  but need the clipped/crimped ground tag soldered to the body. Never a trouble after that mod. Jsut be careful not to get solder into the threads. for $2.99 ea you can't go wrong...esp if you have access to decent cable.
  regards,
  Douglas
  
  

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• Eichmann Bullets (NT) - tianguis 18:06:47 03/10/03 (0)
  In Reply to: What is everyones favorite RCA plug for DIY ICs?? -t posted by Julien 43 on March 10, 2003 at 16:39:49:

  nt
  
  

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• Re: What is everyones favorite RCA plug for DIY ICs?? -t - Panelhead 17:32:03 03/10/03 (0)
  In Reply to: What is everyones favorite RCA plug for DIY ICs?? -t posted by Julien 43 on March 10, 2003 at 16:39:49:

  The copper Bullett Plugs are the best that I cannot hear!

  George

  
  
  
  

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• Re: Kinda like asking a guy who his best lover was - Batman 17:01:07 03/10/03 (12)
  In Reply to: What is everyones favorite RCA plug for DIY ICs?? -t posted by Julien 43 on March 10, 2003 at 16:39:49:

  When he's only had one lover! I've not worked with a whole lot of RCA's but my favorite so far is the Cardas SLVR that I've been getting from Kevin Haskins at DIYCables.com (yes, shameless commercial plug for an Inmate whom I consider a friend). They're well-made, grip the RCA jack tightly and are large enough to accept all cables of a reasonable diameter. Oh yeah, I think they sound good too. Downside, they're a large chunk of metal that may add more capacitance to a cable than some lesser plugs. I've used them on several pairs of JR twisted pair IC's and they sound great.

  I also like the Dayton Locking RCA's that Jon Risch recommends so highly and I even tried a set of their conventional RCA's and they sounded as good.

  I helped another Inmate make a pair of IC's using the Deltron RCA's that Jon also recommends. On the set we had, the solder terminal for the center pin was only conncected to the pin by a rivet. The solder terminal would turn around the pin. I worry that these will become loose in time.

  I'm dying to get a set of the Eichmann bullet plugs to see if they're as good as everyone seems to think they are. Stay tuned.

  Best Regards, Julien
  Bill
  
  
  

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  • Cardas SLVR's over Parts Express WBT clones - BobM 05:50:58 03/12/03 (0)
    In Reply to: Re: Kinda like asking a guy who his best lover was posted by Batman on March 10, 2003 at 17:01:07:

    I've used both of these successfully, but found the SLVR's to be better overall.

    Enjoy,
    Bob
    
    

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  • ditto the Cardas - kid4lyf 06:52:44 03/11/03 (0)
    In Reply to: Re: Kinda like asking a guy who his best lover was posted by Batman on March 10, 2003 at 17:01:07:

    I've used the SLVRs and the GRMOs and have been very happy(although they're difficult to solder the ground lead). For cheaper, the silver/rhodium standard plugs available from Homegrown Audio for $3.95 are the best value I've seen.
    
    

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  • They Are!! - Julien43 17:56:05 03/10/03 (9)
    In Reply to: Re: Kinda like asking a guy who his best lover was posted by Batman on March 10, 2003 at 17:01:07:

    Hey Bill, I have used the Cardas SLVR, Daytons and Eichmans, each on three different DIY designs and prefer the Eichmans on all three. So I don't think there is a synergy thing going on, although it may just be system dependant. The Eichmans always seemed to let more through, even when it wasn't in the best interest of the cable. One design had loose bass and the Eichman let me have it (like it,or not)
    Julien Therrien
    jntherrien@msn.com
    
    

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    • Less is sometimes more! - NEAR SOTA 03:24:09 03/11/03 (8)
      In Reply to: They Are!! posted by Julien 43 on March 10, 2003 at 17:56:05:

      It seems to be the case of the Eichmanns!If your a purist aand want the least amount of metal getting in the way it's the one I would get.

      I have 2 sets I am testing right now.I really do not know how much they get in between the sound compared to non-conductive meterial as in the OTA connectors I have,but they are minimal in design.Wish they were less for the $$ though.

      JMO
      
      

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      • Re: Less is sometimes more! - rcrump 09:20:16 03/11/03 (7)
        In Reply to: Less is sometimes more! posted by NEAR SOTA on March 11, 2003 at 03:24:09:

        For DIY folks the bullet plugs are the way to go as when they break the DIYer will just solder them back together.....I don't have that sort of luxury in production and give up a bit of performance using the modified Cardas SLVRs......
        
        

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        • But the sound, bob, the sound! - badman 10:05:27 03/11/03 (6)
          In Reply to: Re: Less is sometimes more! posted by rcrump on March 11, 2003 at 09:20:16:

          I use the Bullets in production.... and have had 2 break on me! both from the same customer! The fella had his cat jump on one (keerack!) and leaned against one while plugging stuff in (snap). In both cases it was the plastic retaining parts which replace the traditional collars which snapped.
          
          
          

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          • Re: But the sound, bob, the sound! - rcrump 11:15:49 03/11/03 (5)
            In Reply to: But the sound, bob, the sound! posted by badman on March 11, 2003 at 10:05:27:

            I'll trade a bit of performance for the ability to withstand cat and customer attacks....Last set I had break was on account of a customer dropping a heavy amp on them....I lose a set a year on average is all.....For DIYers the bullets are the way to go as they can fix their own cables.....
            
            

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            • Re: But the sound, bob, the sound! - rwiley 15:13:14 03/11/03 (4)
              In Reply to: Re: But the sound, bob, the sound! posted by rcrump on March 11, 2003 at 11:15:49:

              On the Eichmann, the negative/return connection point seems very small. Is it possible to solder larger gauge wire (20 awg etc.) to it?
              
              

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              • Return pin - tianguis 18:24:36 03/11/03 (0)
                In Reply to: Re: But the sound, bob, the sound! posted by rwiley on March 11, 2003 at 15:13:14:

                Rwiley:
                No problem soldering 20 ga. (though I don't think you want to go that big). Just use a good heatsink. When I solder Eichmanns, I plug them into RCA's on the back of an old chassis. It keeps the pins aligned for soldering and eliminates dreaded plastic melt.

                Regards,
                Larry Welsh
                
                

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              • No problem soldering to them, the problem - rcrump 18:02:47 03/11/03 (2)
                In Reply to: Re: But the sound, bob, the sound! posted by rwiley on March 11, 2003 at 15:13:14:

                I have is strain relief, something that is necessary for production and much less so for DIYers....
                
                

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                • 19MM 3:1 adhesive lined heatshrink - badman 11:04:14 03/17/03 (0)
                  In Reply to: No problem soldering to them, the problem posted by rcrump on March 11, 2003 at 18:02:47:

                  While it's costly, as heatshrink goes, only the actual breaking of the plastic has occurred with mine, never has the strain relief failed. I use one long(ish) piece of it, over most of the plug, and then over a portion of otherwise uncovered cable assembly (app. 1/2 in.) and finally over the PET techflex covering. Holds the whole assembly nicely, like one big molded piece.
                  
                  

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                • have you seen the new metal bullet plug bodies?? - Justin Thorpe 20:31:10 03/11/03 (0)
                  In Reply to: No problem soldering to them, the problem posted by rcrump on March 11, 2003 at 18:02:47:

                  They have two opposed strain relief screws and is gold anodized alluminium.

                  the plastic nose is still used.

                  Im not sure if they are up on web site yet.

                  I have a couple of pictures of them ( I cant work out how to attach them to this message!!)
                  
                  

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