I believe it really depends on the type of equipment you have and how the individual inputs get their signal to the amplifying stage. In my particular preamp case, each input RCA goes back to a hard-wired input selector switch and is out of the actual circuit unless it's the one selected. I suppose the wiring to all including the used input could be subject to stray RF (or other input analog signals) and that in some way is getting into the amplifying circuit, particularly if they might be bundled together back to the selector switch. I worked on a friend's preamp who's inputs were bundled together back to the selector switch and interestingly, there were two inputs that were connected to two separate devices, (tuner and CD player). When the CD player was selected but not playing, you could turn up the preamp volume control and hear the tuner playing and vice-versa. Unbundling/separating the input wires and the sound from the other went away. Also interestingly, it didn't matter which input was used with which devices as the cross talk was evident in all of the used ones. So there was definitely cross talk between inputs happening. I didn't even think of using shorting plugs on the unused input RCA's at the time, however I'm not sure they would have made a difference. If you use them and notice a difference in improved sound, then it's all good and I believe each preamp will have its own input isolation or cross talk levels, including stray RF. In my opinion, it's in the topology (and possibly the electronics) of how the input signals get to the amplifying stage.
Shorting plugs
I had my spare RCA sockets on the preamp shorted and thought that I didn’t need to worry about the XLR and AES/EBU connections.Wrong assumption! Shorting the latter resulted in a significant reduction of hash and increased clarity in the treble as well as more precise positioning in the sound stage. Everything matters and as tweaks go this one is value for money.
- ...
- 26 posts total
@roadcykler must be a shallow wallet at $12.00 is everything Snake Oil and Voodoo to you?
roadcykler124 posts @curiousjim
They don't objectively do anything but drain your wallet. |
Thanks for the response. I installed the shorting plugs on all unused RCA and XLR inputs, XLR outputs and removed the center pins on the RCA outputs. While not huge, I did hear a slight reduction in background noise, better image edge definition, snappier transients and better bass articulation. Thanks @antigrunge2 for sharing what I found to be a worthwhile upgrade. |
- 26 posts total