Why gold?

It is expensive but totally unnecessary. Don't worry you are not missing out. Perhaps you may need to clean you connections more often or give the RCA jacks a a twist now and then to ensure a good connection but that is about it. FWIW: It is rare to see gold XLR connectors - so the recorded music you listen to was probably made using ordinary connectors.

Yeah, wait another 20 years and you will know why.

Expensive? Unnecessary? Really? Gold has a warmer sound, silver more air and detail- all things considered. Of course there are more to the balance of cables and connectors then just "gold" and "silver" but all things equal (the exact same RCA or Wall Plug) the gold "item" will sound warmer while the silver will sound more open and airy.

Rare on XLRs? Only if one purchases the cheapest out there. Even my least expensive(Mogami) studio/mic cables' Neutrik XLRs are gold plated. All of the Kimber/Audioquest/Silver Audio balanced products I've owned have been terminated with gold or silver-plated Switchcraft XLRs(now the KS-1130s). I don't know where people get the idea that studios use cheap cables. I suppose it's because they never get to any quality recording venues, and/or have never seen what they actually use. Note what this studio says about using "high quality metals" at connection points, and realize that the plating(usually nickel) on inexpensive RCA/XLR connectors is ANYTHING BUT quality, or a good conductor: (http://denverrecordingstudioblog.com/2009/02/02/blogroll/the-benefits-of-using-good-quality-cables-in-your-recording-studio/) On this chart, you'll find that nickel has 25%(IACS) of the conductivity of the reference, annealed copper: (http://www.eddy-current.com/condres.htm)

I suppose it's because they never get to any quality recording venues, and/or have never seen what they actually use.

Perhaps, they just don't have training in "alchemy"? ;-)

Djembeplay,

Don't worry - your ordinary connectors are not stealing the air and warmth out of your music. Corrosion and making a good contact are indeed important - so give the RCA's a twiddle now and then and you 'll be ok. Certainly don't lose any sleep over these anything but good quality connectors.