2. cables
  3. 1377871485

Budget RCA/Power Plugs for DIY

Long story short, my system is finally getting to the point where I can hear micro-details in the music reproduction. I'm able to hear the differences in cables and even the RCA plugs on my interconnects...a year ago I would have been skeptical about such differences, but my current system is resolving that well!

I have my wire picked out, it's a nice silver plated copper. I'm looking for some quality RCA plugs that *are not* $100+ a pair. I'm not married to any brand or style, and I can solder and finish cables quite well, just looking for good bang for the buck plugs. Currently I'm taking the RCA plugs off 20 year old Monster M350 cable and reusing them - I'm sure most anything aftermarket would be better.

Also, I'm going to try my hand at making myself a power cord - just out of curiosity, to see if I can hear a difference. I've already got a dedicated ground, 20 amp circuit to my tube amp with a basic Hubble Hospital Grade Outlet, and a fresh 100amp circuit to the house for my listening room. What decent but budget IEC and Plug would you recommend I look at? Again, I don't want to spend over $100 for these two plugs.

I'm looking forward to your suggestions!
128x128lonelyraven
lonelyraven's avatar
lonelyraven OP
2 posts
 
I really don't have much to compare the hospital grade Hubble plugs against except for standard plugs, and it seems fine. It is well built and easy to insert and lock down the wire in the walls.

I don't have a source for the 10 gauge wire unfortunately; it was simply some hand-me-down wire from a friend who experimented with many milspec wires he got as end-of-spools or cut-offs. He wound up going with the same stuff but 8 gauge (really hard to find) for $4.50 a foot.

Eichman Bullets are at the top of my list so far. I might also compare to some inexpensive chinese clones of high end RCA plugs just to see if I can get 80%+ of the quality of the high end plugs for 20% of the cost...
billbartuska
83 posts
 
And why do electric plugs have holes in the prongs?
williewonka
3,075 posts
 
Lonelyraven - I tried some chinese "WBT" locking rca's - couldn't get the solder to stick to the outter neutral - ended up tossing them

Will never buy fake tca's again
williewonka
3,075 posts
 
I just put the SONAR QUEST CRYO Ag Audio Grade Silver plated IEC/mains (see my fist post above for link) on my Furutech 10 Gauge cable and connected it to the distribution centre that supplies my sources.

H-O-L-Y C-O-W!

Everything got so much "crisper" - just as it did with the Eichmann's - but even better - a much finer level of detail

Best damn $39 I've spent in a while - and that was for the iec and mains plug.
williewonka
3,075 posts
 
One last note - just be aware of plug design issues - some designs are poorly implemented, so if you are tempted by an advertisement, only buy one at first, to see if it stands up to multiple installations - e.g. the screws fail after only a couple of installations.

The ones I have mentioned install very well - others were not so robust - one failure was a name brand, so do your homework

Two name brands I respect a great deal - Furutech and Oyaide, but the others I have mentioned in this thread also perform very well, for the more budget conscious.

And before anyone asks - I only post the positive reviews :-)

Bon chance ;-)
More to discover