Gold-plated connectors vs. standard

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kylla

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I was pondering a couple of things...

Can someone enlighten me as to the reasons I would use gold-plated connectors and cables? Quality? Durability? They don't degrade as much?

I was eyeing off the Audiophile 2496 soundcard which has gold RCA connectors. I was also eyeing off the Delta 44 which has standard 1/4" connectors in an external breakout box.

Am I right to assume 1/4" connectors (eg: those on the Delta44) don't come in a gold-plated flavour? Would using gold-plated Hosa cables with non-gold plated connectors be a waste of time, or is it a case of each part of the puzzle that is better quality leads to better overall quality?

Finally, does using an adapter to go from a 1/4" cable to RCA plug degrade the signal quality enough to noitice? My Korg has 1/4" outputs so I was hoping to have 1/4" inputs on the soundcard so as to minimise adatper plugs etc. Or is this being too fussy? (Most likely)

Just some curious thoughts.... cheers for any input.
 
First, gold will not corrode. Second, gold is soft so irregularities (pits) in the contact surface can get filled-in by the mere act of plugging or unplugging the connectors.

My experience with Hosa cables is that they're crap. They may make some better quality ones than I've seen, dunno. I skimped on my cables when I bought a bunch of stuff at once. I couldn't afford good cables and the 2nd 48 point patchbay. In hindsight, I wish I'd waited a few weeks and saved a little more.
 
Gold doesn't matter one bit in this case. Just keep your cables clean and you'll be fine.

As far as the adapters go....yes and no. Anytime you're plugging a cable into another cable or into an adapter, you run the risk of creating a nice little noise antenna. And if the adapter is of poor enough quality, then yes it could itself degrade your sound (it would have to be very poor quality). In most cases this is not a big deal and yes you probably are overreacting a little bit. Just get some decent adapters or cables and you should be fine (e.g. don't get them at radio shack).

I will say that having a card with balanced 1/4" inputs is very handy. If you can afford the extra $60-80, I would definately recommend the Delta44.

Slackmaster 2000
 
third, gold is soft so if it's on connections that you'll plugging in and pulling out often, it'll wear off. Fourth, some fanatics claim that unless you have gold on both connection surfaces, you'll get bi-metallic distorton. I think that last one is a crock of poop but who am I to judge.

Gold looks nice though...
 
Interesting thoughts all thanks!
The Delta44 is looking better every day hehe.
 
RCA connectors are not balanced. Gold or not, they will be inferior to the Delta's balanced TRS connectors. Balanced connectors have much lower noise.
 
Personally I make my own cables for every piece of gear I nab. I make every single cable only as long as it needs to be to get from A to B, and I use gold connectors. Long cables run the risk of picking up or generating extra noise, create a trip hazzard, not to mention make for a jumblefuck behind the rack. Gold plated for all the reasons mentioned above.
 
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