Shorting plugs

I'm a vintage audio guy, a lot of vintage stuff used to come with these as OEM especially for unused phono stages. Not sure they do as much with some of the newer all digital stuff. But they do help with analog setups. 

What I have found is they just clean things up a bit, a little more soundstage, a little more clarity, slight drop in noise floor. There like $15 for 20, not breaking anyones Audio budget, that's less than getting a new record. 

This is what I get 20 for !5

removable center

Any amp/receiver that does't shut off the unused inputs it's a must have. 

nonoise

You can get RCA shorting plugs here.
And you can get XLR shorting plugs here.

No need to pay sky high prices for Cardas

Actually the Cardas plugs are non-shorting:

" ... Unlike traditional shorting plugs, these caps do not short the inputs. Another difference: They completely cover the RCA input with a solid shield comprised of nickel and brass ..."

The same seems to be true of the AQ plugs:

"... The AQ Noise-Stopper caps are grounding plugs (not shorting plugs) that help you block out this unwanted noise ..."

I've never tried any of these.

I made shorting plugs for the unused inputs of 2 battery powered stereo phono preamps (used as mono's) and the improvement in SQ  was easy to judge/hear.

The parts cost from RadioShack was well less than $1 per unit and the assembly time was approx. 30 seconds per unit after the soldering iron came to temp.

DeKay

Wait — I thought shorts in electrical or audio cables or equipment is bad?!  But they were the solution?   

I bought some gold ones.  Being uneducated(no instructions), I plugged everything.  Sat down.  One channel and not full sound.  Cold sweat.  It did not hurt anything.  Lucky.  Glad this thread came up.