Looks like trouble in paradise

Even it "plating" is sincerely what they meant, I would think the greater concern is the ease it might rub/scratch off.

Many years ago I came across some RCA's where certain contact cleaners and some rubbing take the plating right off. Admittedly of the economical variety. The RCA's that is, not the cleaner... :)

Cheers!

Jonesy

"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."

RE: Looks like trouble in paradise, posted on January 25, 2017 at 07:22:00

Salectric
Audiophile

Posts: 1358
Location: East Coast
Joined: February 23, 2003

It is hard to justify the name "Pure Silver Harmony" for a model that is silver-plated. I had not heard those reports so thanks for sharing.

My only experience with the KLEI plugs is with the basic Harmony model which is clearly copper and the Absolute which I understood to have high-purity all-silver contacts. Regardless of what materials the plugs are made of, the Absolute is a pretty decent sounding RCA plug. It has very good detail and dynamics. My only quarrel with it, and the reason I no longer use it, is that it softens the leading edges of transients. The bass especially is too soft sounding to my ears. The Copper Harmony has the same colorations but to a much greater degree.

I still think that for the price the KLEI plugs are a bargain for the sound quality.

to get the best sound from these you must......, posted on January 26, 2017 at 13:56:45
Ric Schultz Manufacturer Posts: 844 Joined: August 7, 2000	remove the plastic sleeves and damp the connectors right where they mount to the female rca with small pieces of EARSD40AL constrained layer damping material. Way, way better sound. Simply magical. Stock they are OK.

RE: to get the best sound from these you must......, posted on March 6, 2017 at 04:03:26
Gabster Audiophile Posts: 64 Location: Sydney Joined: September 1, 2009	Ric, any chance you can include a photo of what you mean or a link to where you may have shown it elsewhere? I am trying to imagine where you are applying the damping material but not sure I am getting it. Thanks...

RE: to get the best sound from these you must......, posted on March 3, 2017 at 10:43:00

ckniker
Audiophile

Posts: 59
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: July 11, 2007

> remove the plastic sleeves and damp the connectors right where they mount to the female rca with small pieces of EARSD40AL constrained layer damping material.

I am not understanding your description. Can you please clarify?

My interpretation of your statement is to unscrew the plastic covering around the inner part of the KLE connector, stuff small pieces of the EAR SD40AL inside, and screw the plastic covering back on?

I don't have the KLE connector in front of me, but is there enough space inside to fit the damping material?

BTW, the damping material (EAR SD40AL) can be bought from Michael Percy Audio.

RE: to get the best sound from these you must......, posted on January 27, 2017 at 05:54:01
Salectric Audiophile Posts: 1358 Location: East Coast Joined: February 23, 2003	Where can you purchase this damping material?

RE: Looks like trouble in paradise, posted on January 26, 2017 at 11:22:43
Crazy Dave Audiophile Posts: 14371 Location: East Coast Joined: October 4, 2001	What are you using now? Dave

RE: Looks like trouble in paradise, posted on January 26, 2017 at 11:49:39
Salectric Audiophile Posts: 1358 Location: East Coast Joined: February 23, 2003	For my DIY cables, I have several options for RCA plugs: WBT 0102 Ag, 1877 Phono ZSP4, Switchcraft and KLE Absolutes. However, I hardly ever use these since my DIY cables don't sound as good as the commercial cables I have available---Audio Note AN-Vx, Ocellia Silver Reference, and Wireworld Eclipse II.

RE: Looks like trouble in paradise, posted on February 2, 2017 at 19:45:46
Crazy Dave Audiophile Posts: 14371 Location: East Coast Joined: October 4, 2001	I have been looking the 1877's. They look very good for the money. Of course the witchcraft are so inexpensive, why not give them a try? Dave

RE: Looks like trouble in paradise, posted on January 24, 2017 at 20:21:38

Duster
Manufacturer

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

I've heard about that rumor. I was prepared to accept the notion of a mixed/amalgam silver alloy rather than a silver plated copper base metal, but I don't know what to think at this point. Perhaps the different models involve different thicknesses of the silver plating process, not unlike the center conductors of various AudioQuest digital cables, but that would still be misleading, since there were clear differences explained by KLE about which contacts were pure silver, and which contacts were silver plated copper during the release of the original product line-up. The final Absolute Harmony model design (or so I thought) seemed to be an even higher-purity silver content design than the Pure Harmony rca connector.

Cable Asylum

Looks like trouble in paradise

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