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Change of sound with Deoxit G100

Hi folks!

Yesterday for the first time I took the time to clean and treat a lot of electrical contacts in my system: all RCA connectors (electronics and cables), banana plugs, fuse holders and fuses, IEC receptacles, DC umbilical cables of external power supplies... the only things I haven't treated yet are the AC power section.

For my preamp I first used Deoxit D5 as it's vintage and the RCA connectors were tarnished, then I used Deoxit gold G100 (100% solution, no spray). For all the rest I only used the Deoxit gold G100.

My system is actively tri-amped so there are a LOT of connections and a LOT of contacts. It is also extremely revealing.

This is my first foray into contact treatments, so I thought why not start with one of the cheapest and most widely used products and go from there.

Well, I have to say, the effect after treatment is quite dramatic: more extension in the highs, more fluidity, less "grunge" BUT the sound is also much colder and flatter than it used to be before treatment. Weirdly, bass seems a bit anemic (I have two 13inch Focal subs in vast reflex enclosures for sub bass, and two 15inch hornloaded drivers for upper bass and lower midrange, and the bass is rather tactile / physical even at lowish volumes, usually). I have double checked all connections.

I've read similar comments and a few stating that it all comes back to great sound after a few days of "settling in" (I do not dare to speak of "burn in" for a contact enhancer, even if I'm a fervent believer in burn-in for cables, electronics and speakers).

Can anybody chime in? I just did it yesterday morning and didn't have time to listen much, I guess I'll see how it evolves, but I'm curious!

rolox
dpop
293 posts
 

@rolox @jdub39 These days I only use DeoxIT for pots (potentiometers), and only when *absolutely* necessary, because I do feel that even though applying it will fix the scratchy sound of a pot, it can (and most times will) also have a degrading muffling audible audio effect too (like who put a sock over my tweeter). Yes, after a while, the sound will probably come back to what you had been used to hearing, but why even go through that wait time? And what's really going on there for that to happen in the first place?! I've never thoroughly researched it, but I recommend *only* cleaning contacts with 99.9% Isopropyl Alcohol. I do side with jdub39, but if contacts are not that oxidized to begin with, pass on the DeoxIT process, and go straight for the 99.9% Isopropyl Alcohol. You may not be able to find this pure of a mix at your local store, but go the extra mile, and seek it out. You'll be glad you did, and you won't believe your ears once you start cleaning a few contacts. Night and day difference. Really unbelievable, for those that have never tried the 99.9% route yet.  

MG Chemicals 99.9% Isopropyl Alcohol    

 

dpop
293 posts
 

More info on MG Chemicals 99.9% Isopropyl Alcohol

 

roxy54's avatar
roxy54
8,203 posts
 

I have the whole Deoxit kit, and I have to say that I hate the way my system sounds after the treatment, but yes, it does get better. If I didn’t believe in keeping contacts clean, I would probably never use it. I only do it twice a year.

dekay's avatar
dekay
5,845 posts
 

In the future you might consider using this product (see link) by MG Chemicals (it replaced Kontak cleaner for my usage).

99%+ alcohol  is not recommended for gold plated tube pins (not certain about gold plated connectors).

I stopped using 99%+ due to it most likely containing carcinogens created by the manufacturing process (used to be a part of my DIY record cleaning solution).

For really crusty vintage connections I use Flitz polish, clean with 93% alcohol and then re-clean with the MG Chem.

 

DeKay 

 

 

edcyn
1,876 posts
 

I've never had a single problem with the stuff. It just gives me a bit cleaner, more balanced, better imaged sound.

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