Silver plated Cardas like RCA plugs

pitdogg2
pitdogg2 Posts: 25,569
edited November 2013 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Anybody have a lead on a USA seller of these type of RCA plugs? I know music direct sells the Cardas but the 25.00pr is way too pricey.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360254698556?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Thanks Ivan
Post edited by pitdogg2 on
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited October 2013
    $25.00 a pair is too pricey? I wouldn't consider them cheap, but not crazy either. IMO, the Aural Thrills Teflon with pure silver plug is one of the best RCA plugs you can buy. They definately more pricey, but they are "mo better" too. I highly recommend buying them Ivan. Whatever you do (IMO) I would not buy those Chinese ebay ones. You have no idea what percentage of "silver" they are. Below is a link to the Aural Thrills RCA plugs. I cannot post a direct link, but on the left side of the page click on "Teflon RCA". These are excellent! For $65 for 2 pairs they are absolutely worth it!:

    http://www.auralthrillsaudio.com/
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,569
    edited October 2013
    Well yes it is too pricey to try and create cables and practice on soldering little tiny plastic pieces...
    At 50.00 for a set it sure makes Audioquest cables look very good, I've found some good wire that sounds pretty good and would like to build on that but if I'm going to spend 250.00 just on ends it puts it WAY out of line with my budget for this.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited October 2013
    They are $24 a pair, but the Luminous Audio silver RCA plugs sound better to me than any other options I've tried.

    http://www.luminousaudio.com/zcart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=22&zenid=52uo6j7r5mj4ipid8t3290vvt0
    Jake
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,569
    edited October 2013
    good grief 24$ a pair ...well you need 4 for left and right hence 50.00. Do not want or need locking come on guys simple question where in the good old USA can I buy the RCA plugs that I listed that are not from CARDAS but a seller who is in the good old USA that sells these plugs. Visa has put blocks on any purchases from CHINA of I would of bought the ebay listed plugs...
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited October 2013
    I've used these with good success a few times:

    http://www.speakerrepair.com/page/product/AHH_RCA/RS10.html
    Jake
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited October 2013
    Sorry Ivan, I didn't know you were doing this as a "learning" project. Makes sense now why you want some "cheapie" RCA plugs. I wish I could give you a good recomendation for some. I don't have a "cheap" alternative like you are looking for.
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,569
    edited October 2013
    Thanks Zingo but I'm on a mission to find the RCA's in my link in post 1

    I actually had someone give me a pair of them and they are short in length and have a good grip without the grip of death. Just thought I'd try and get more for this project. 99.9% of this stuff comes out of Asia anyway but was not prepared for PP and Visa to decline payment due to troubles over there so that is why I'm looking for a USA supplier. Trust me I'm able to Google and I have been scanning pages and pages of RCA plugs most are the same just with a different screened name. My head hurts from looking at the hundreds of pages but have yet to find those in my first post.

    This guy buys them from USA seller VVV
    http://www.ela-audio.com/#!rca-cables/c1yc2

    He told me where he gets all the wire and other things but has yet to point me to a direction for the RCA plugs. He told me he has used both (Cardas and the linked) and the only way he could tell the difference was by the Cardas nautilus logo.
    I even went to the Cardas site and they have been discontinued except for the nautilus logo silver SS. From what I see every Cardas also is made of eutectic Brass then coated with whatever.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,593
    edited October 2013
    Ivan, do you know of someone with a different type of CC (Discover, American Express) that would order them for you if you sent them the funds via PP or check or whatever?

    That or maybe we have a Polkie over that way that can order them and then ship em to ya if its not cost prohibitive.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,569
    edited October 2013
    EndersShadow wrote: »
    Ivan, do you know of someone with a different type of CC (Discover, American Express) that would order them for you if you sent them the funds via PP or check or whatever?

    That or maybe we have a Polkie over that way that can order them and then ship em to ya if its not cost prohibitive.

    At the moment I did not think of that. I'm sure they have to be here in the USA...I have a guy on eBay I have done a lot of business with. He does a lot of business out of China, but I have not hit him up yet either. Just thought for sure someone here would of seen these somewhere...I know they are out there somewhere....got to be.

    PP will not even let me send funds at the moment from my bank account...
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,780
    edited October 2013
    I'm surprised you are unable to order them with PayPal. I ordered two items from Hong Kong, and one from China Sunday. Used PayPal funded with Visa. No issues.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited October 2013
    I have had no paypal problems through ebay either.
    Jake
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,569
    edited October 2013
    Talked to Brian from Cardas he told me they make EVERYTHING here in the USA in house. I showed him the RCA's and he too had seen them they bought them and tested them. For the price he said not bad but still inferior to ours. Told him what i was doing and he made me an offer I could not refuse, BUT first asked that I contact two resellers here in Illinois to check to see if they would work something out for me. I have sent the emails now it is a waiting game to see if they want to play ball. If not I get to play ball with Cardas direct:cheesygrin:

    I would not of thought Cardas made EVERYTHING in house nice to know.
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited October 2013
    Good for you Ivan. Glad you got it worked out and found some RCA's that are a good price and high quality.

    I was not aware that Cardas made everything in house either. Good to know and thanks for the info.

    Edit: After you have practiced soldering and making cables and wish to move up in cable quality, I very highly recommend trying the Aural Thrills RCA connectors. They are some of the best I have heard. Better than Eichmann Silver bullets, and on par with WBT 152's for much less money.
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,569
    edited October 2013
    Thanks Greg.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,593
    edited October 2013
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    Talked to Brian from Cardas he told me they make EVERYTHING here in the USA in house. I showed him the RCA's and he too had seen them they bought them and tested them. For the price he said not bad but still inferior to ours. Told him what i was doing and he made me an offer I could not refuse, BUT first asked that I contact two resellers here in Illinois to check to see if they would work something out for me. I have sent the emails now it is a waiting game to see if they want to play ball. If not I get to play ball with Cardas direct:cheesygrin:

    I would not of thought Cardas made EVERYTHING in house nice to know.

    Lookie at you Ivan, playing with the BIG DOGS!!!!!

    One of these days maybe I will have you make me some silver IC's for my headphone amp :smile:.....
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,305
    edited October 2013
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    I would not of thought Cardas made EVERYTHING in house nice to know.

    Cardas is a 100% company. Have had several sit downs and beers with Colleen Cardas and her husband Mark (Vinyl Anarchist) great couple. Cardas have special designed machines that have been engineered and built for every piece gear and cable they sell. Their products are not OEM stuff wrapped in plastic and clads.
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,569
    edited October 2013
    txcoastal1 wrote: »
    Cardas is a 100% company. Have had several sit downs and beers with Colleen Cardas and her husband Mark (Vinyl Anarchist) great couple. Cardas have special designed machines that have been engineered and built for every piece gear and cable they sell. Their products are not OEM stuff wrapped in plastic and clads.

    Well hook a brother up would ya :lol:

    it is nice to know they take the time to make even the little stuff. Not many companies can afford to do that anymore.
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  • xjarhead1964
    xjarhead1964 Posts: 2
    edited October 2013
    Ok I have a question? Are these connectors any good? http://www.ebay.com/itm/CANARE-RCAP-C5F-75-ohm-RCA-Crimp-Plug-Connectors-10-PACK-/251184752186
    At the end of the day the signal still passes thru copper at some point.

    Thanks Dave
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  • CoolJazz
    CoolJazz Posts: 570
    edited October 2013
    xjarhead1964 wrote: »
    Ok I have a question? Are these connectors any good? http://www.ebay.com/itm/CANARE-RCAP-C5F-75-ohm-RCA-Crimp-Plug-Connectors-10-PACK-/251184752186
    At the end of the day the signal still passes thru copper at some point.

    Thanks Dave

    Hi Dave,

    First, welcome to CP!

    With the exact right crimper, those would be alright. Without the correct crimp tool, you've got trouble! Doing so many RCA's that you want to buy a crimp tool?

    CJ
    A so called science type proudly says... "I do realize that I would fool myself all the time, about listening conclusions and many other observations, if I did listen before buying. That’s why I don’t, I bought all of my current gear based on technical parameters alone, such as specs and measurements."

    More amazing Internet Science Pink Panther wisdom..."My DAC has since been upgraded from Mark Levinson to Topping."
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited October 2013
    xjarhead1964 wrote: »
    Ok I have a question? Are these connectors any good? http://www.ebay.com/itm/CANARE-RCAP-C5F-75-ohm-RCA-Crimp-Plug-Connectors-10-PACK-/251184752186
    At the end of the day the signal still passes thru copper at some point.

    Thanks Dave

    Hello Dave and welcome to Club Polk. I wanted to say that the Aural Thrills teflon RCA plugs use absolutely no metals (brass, copper, etc.) at all except the center pin and ground which is made from 99.999% pure copper OR 99.999% pure silver. This is why these are such high quality with such good sound. With the exception of the Eichmann Silver bullets, all other RCA plugs use brass as for the housing and perhaps a silver or copper solid (or plated) center pin.

    The Canare RCA plugs you listed are nowhere near as good as the Aural Thrills, Eichmann, or WBT RCA plugs. I would recommend any of those. Of course it does depend on what quality of sound you are looking to hear as well as the quality of wire you are using.
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • PolkieMan
    PolkieMan Posts: 2,446
    edited October 2013
    Mouser has a selection too, just saying.
    http://www.mouser.com/Connectors/Audio-Video-Connectors/RCA-Phono-Connectors/_/N-778cx/
    POLK SDA 2.3 TLS BOUGHT NEW IN 1990, Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-198
    POLK CSI-A6 POLK MONITOR 70'S ONKYO TX NR-808 SONY CDP-333ES
    PIONEER PL-510A SONY BDP S5100
    POLK SDA 1C BOUGHT USED 2011,Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-194
    ONKYO HT RC-360 SONY BDP S590 TECHNICS SL BD-1
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited November 2013
    headrott wrote: »
    With the exception of the Eichmann Silver bullets, all other RCA plugs use brass as for the housing and perhaps a silver or copper solid (or plated) center pin.

    This is why I really like the Luminous Audio RCA plugs. Tim took a different route with them and made the metal out of a lower conductivity brass mix. However, a thick layer of pure silver goes over the top of the body and pin, so the conductivity difference between the two metals means that most of the signal is transferred through the silver.
    Jake
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,569
    edited November 2013
    xjarhead1964 wrote: »
    Ok I have a question? Are these connectors any good? http://www.ebay.com/itm/CANARE-RCAP-C5F-75-ohm-RCA-Crimp-Plug-Connectors-10-PACK-/251184752186
    At the end of the day the signal still passes thru copper at some point.

    Thanks Dave

    Yes Dave they are very good and I have bought from that guy before. Cooljazz is right you do need the right crimper tool and it well cost 100.00 from Canare or 60$ from Markertek it is very necessary
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  • xjarhead1964
    xjarhead1964 Posts: 2
    edited November 2013
    Thanks everyone for the responses.

    Dave
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