Gold coated brass speaker spades

@czarivey 

Actually, a lot of the better Chinese brands like Xangsane do use all copper connectors, and as far as the sonic difference is concerned, I would ask: If there is no difference, why not make cables out of brass?

@mpomerantz 

Just re-realized Shunyata's outlets are brass, can't sound that bad if Caelin produces and sells them, so yeah, maybe sometimes we overthink things. 

SR-Z1 outlet

If Caelin sells brass outlets, then brass is most definitely legit.

So again, why aren't his cables brass?

Well, of course we know copper does sound better as it has less resistance, only bettered by silver, and Shunyata’s top cables are all a blend of silver and Ohno copper.

In regards to the outlets a little research shows that pure copper does not enough ductility, or the ability to bend repeatedly without cracking. Due to the movement inherent in the outlet prongs when inserting and removing cables there isn’t a choice, so the added zinc to the copper to make it brass is a necessity. At least in the design of the Hubbel outlet shown. Sound considerations aside, it would not be good if people’s outlets began to break, and then one gets electricity arcing.

However, Furutech have made their own outlet which does have solid copper contacts and their own stainless spring clamping system, so there is no bending on any solid copper prongs. I have this GTX-R- NCF outlet and like that it doesn’t mar the coating from your expensive power cords. But since it is solid copper it needs to be coated with something to prevent oxidation- Furutech offers a choice of gold or rhodium.

GTX breakdown 

Look ma- no marring!

Unknown to me if Caelin ever experimented with these outlets or approached Furutech instead of Hubbel to make his outlets? But again he and his team have of course listened to his outlets and if they determine they are fine, that gives me enough confidence to use them. I have heard him state he didn’t like rhodium. Actually I have just ordered my first Shunyata power cord, and I will see if the nickel coating on his plug gets along with the rhodium in my GTX outlet. (Again, the coating is just microns thick, 99% of the electrical energy simply travels though the base metal, and I am sure I won’t notice the difference )