Any Difference Between Gold and Silver RCA/XLR Connector Plugs?

When’s the last time you had your ears candled?

Wow, I'm surprised there are no other answers than "it makes no difference".

Silver is the best conductor of electricity.  However, it can come across very bright sounding.  It tends to push the upper mids and highs.  Sometimes there is a lack of bass or a lean bass.

Gold-plated will not corrode or tarnish like silver, but it generally is warmer sounding with rolled off or soft high frequencies.

Of course it makes a difference. Of course they sound different. auxinput nailed it. But this is beside the point. In this case the reason for asking is the connector will be soldered onto DIY cable. That right there is the problem. The deficiencies of DIY cables so vastly overshadow anything as minor as the RCA plating it renders the whole question moot. Its like asking which speaker terminal when building a speaker from scratch knowing nothing about it but what some other guy said would work. Good luck.

millercarbon3,024 posts

 In this case the reason for asking is the connector will be soldered onto DIY cable. That right there is the problem.

How would you do it? I'm interested, I used pure silver solder, 2-4-6 % silver/tin/lead, WBT, and sometime NOTHING, I just hardwire, use a coil to pin mechanical contact and a dab of high temp. silicone. Pure silver or pure copper, no mix. I also make my own ends from pure copper or silver pins (SCW).
I cut 4 1.5 inch conductors and twist high strand count silver or copper
and once again join as needed, or wanted. Heck you can weld it with some of today's wire and gun setups and a good mix.
What's the best to your ears. How WOULD YOU do it? I'm like the little train, I think, I can, I think, I can. The difference is I KNOW I CAN.. How do you make yours? You have a favorite type of cable? Above and beyond all others? I'm very interested. I've been building repairing and troubleshooting cables for almost 50 years. I been repairing or having to make double sided IC for 30 plus years. Been scoping digital / analog cabling for 25 years. These cables are FULL of little networks, sometimes 30-40 different nodes Tell me how would you make it?

I'm no expert, just an old retired heavy master mechanic, but I can fix or build ANY CABLE. I MEAN ANY.. If I get my hands on it, I can make it or fix it. I don't, but I SURE can.  The treatment or conditioning on the cable that is up to the application.. Problem is the hands are wore out, only 20-30 min at a time 3 or 4 time a day. 

Regards