RCA cleaners

I don't have any of the originals, but I remember them very well. These are described as porous, so, we can hope they're the same... I'll know probably as soon as I touch one; I'll certainly know after I put some cleaning fluid on them and start getting into those RCA jacks.

So, news to come as soon as I get any...

Matt

My Signet RCA cleaners were delivered today. They're molded from what looks like is recycled plastic. One end is male to clean RCA jacks, the other female to clean interconnects. The instructions say they may be used dry or with solution. I ran one sample cleaning and was reasonably pleased. I can't compare to the model Albert has, only to what I have already which is basically nothing (ie qtips and towels). I was surprised that the cleaning solution adhered to the cleaner as well as it did, and it appeared to do a good job of cleaning all contacts (+ and -) with one easy motion. Since the amp I cleaned has not been placed back in service it's too early to vouch for the results. I'm going to work over my whole rig this weekend and will try to report.

The plastic is harder than I remember in the original cleaners. So, if I had to guess, I suspect the cleaner and dirt won't stick to them as they stuck to the original plastic. But I won't know for sure until I try.

The original Signets were made of this fairly soft, pretty obviously porous plastic. These are made of harder, glossier plastic.

Matt

Matt, the ones you describe

The plastic is harder than I remember in the original cleaners. So, if I had to guess, I suspect the cleaner and dirt won't stick to them as they stuck to the original

These (slicker), more recent plastic versions are the kind I obtained a few years ago, thinking I was buying the Japanese original. Since then I've often wondered why the original is no more.

The only possibility I came up with, the originals fit the RCA connectors VERY tight. That made this tool particularly effective, but in one case I actually broke the bond of the RCA male center pin (allowing it to spin) while spinning the Signet tool back and forth.

Granted this was not one of my good Purist cables, but rather a common video connector for the TV. Perhaps the new slicker version was designed to reduce that risk? After all, most of the world revolves around the cables that come packed with VCR's and such.

When my old stocks are depleted I can go for the newer (less effective) version or do without.

I appreciate your hard work searching and testing.

What cleaning fluid to you guys use for RCA's? I heard rubbing alcohol (can't remember where though) works well. I was trying Deoxit. Anyone have good or bad experience with any fluid in particular?

BTW, the deoxit clings nicely to the Fatwire tool and seems to do a good job. As slick as the plastic is I expected it to run right off and do no good at all. This isn't the case though.