Proper orientation of male split pin RCA plug

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  • afterburnt
    afterburnt Posts: 7,892
    mlistens03 wrote: »
    F1nut wrote: »
    mlistens03 wrote: »
    Hey, I need your help, I can't figure out how to ignore @viking64. :wink::tongue:

    Congrats, you just joined the class clown and clipdik on my list. Shame, I thought you might turn out ok.....oh well.
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 9,308
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  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    Clipdat wrote: »
    Wondering if someone can help shed some light on the proper orientation of a male RCA plug with a split pin, in regards to how to correctly insert it into a female RCA jack.

    I notice that with the split pin cables, that when I'm plugging them in and they rotate slightly, sometimes I can hear and feel what I'm guessing is the metal inside getting stuck on the split of the pin slightly. It makes a little twang sound, like it stuck for a second and then releases.

    Looking inside a female RCA jack, there appears to be a horizontal piece of metal. I'm guessing this is what makes contact with the male pin and transfers the signal.

    Now, in regards to the split pin, how should this be plugged in to make "proper" contact? If I plug it in so that the split is sitting exactly horizontal, then the horizontal metal inside the jack will actually get inserted inbetween the split tip! I can't imagine that is ideal..??

    If anyone has a diagram of what the inside of a female RCA jack looks like, maybe that would help. Or any insights from people who having experience using RCA interconnects with split pins. Thanks.

    The below image may help explain the issue you're having. The center contact is simply a "spear" that is designed to engage the pin of the male connector, then deflect slightly during insertion while still maintaining contact.

    Should be not an issue with a solid pin connector. Nice smooth rounded end.

    nwu2kw3kebad.png

    However with a split pin, you have a cut right down the middle of the pin, introducing essentially a "slot" with two sharp edges. Not smooth by any means. Not hard to imagine an orientation of the slot engaging the end of the spear! At that point, the spear may actually be partially engaged in the slot, and with a little twist you bend the spear out of the way, once out of the way, twang!, the spear comes back to it's normal position.

    hfyl5aupc1td.png

    Just a theory of course, would have to be verified via experimentation. FWIW.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,560
    edited May 2018
    Nice explanation, that's exactly what's occurring! Now I know why you get paid the big bucks!

    You can see the "U-shaped" piece of metal that I was trying to describe on the left hand female RCA jack above. Both the sides and the end of it are what can get caught in the split tip.

    So, it seems like the split tip cables would work best for higher quality RCA jacks that feature a full 360 degree cup for the tip to sit in, versus the cheaper/more common style that are on most gear.

    At this point the split tip seems like a bit of a marketing gimmick, imo.
  • mlistens03
    mlistens03 Posts: 2,767
    edited May 2018
    Is there a supposed reason for the split tip? I've only ever seen it and I thought it was some way to make the cables cheaper.
  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    I'm not an expert, but I believe they're designed to mate with a better quality RCA jack (cylindrical IIRC) instead of the spear type. The spear type is about as inexpensive as it gets.

    The split types are designed to deflect themselves (spring loaded) upon insertion, to ensure good contact along the entire mating surfaces, and keep good retention.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,560
    Here's some marketing gibberish I've found just now regarding split pins:


    Split Pin Technology Ensures a Secure Connection.

    split-tipped center pin to ensure a tight connection and flawless signal transfer.

    the split pin and collar gold-plated RCA's also maintain a robust signal path and longevity.

    Split center pin allows for superior signal transfer

    split tip center pin and segmented shield for maximum contact and reliability

  • mlistens03
    mlistens03 Posts: 2,767
    verb wrote: »
    I'm not an expert, but I believe they're designed to mate with a better quality RCA jack (cylindrical IIRC) instead of the spear type. The spear type is about as inexpensive as it gets.

    The split types are designed to deflect themselves (spring loaded) upon insertion, to ensure good contact along the entire mating surfaces, and keep good retention.
    Clipdat wrote: »
    Here's some marketing gibberish I've found just now regarding split pins:


    Split Pin Technology Ensures a Secure Connection.

    split-tipped center pin to ensure a tight connection and flawless signal transfer.

    the split pin and collar gold-plated RCA's also maintain a robust signal path and longevity.

    Split center pin allows for superior signal transfer

    split tip center pin and segmented shield for maximum contact and reliability

    nice idea, but it doesn't seem like a winner to me... basically, your paying more money for less material?
    nbrowser wrote: »
    Marketing lies at its best....

    definitely.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    nbrowser wrote: »
    Marketing BS at its best....

    Indeed....same people who wrote that probably also write for womens magazines. ;)
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    Clipdat wrote: »
    However the issue/situation here is that for a cable that has some weight/body to it, when you plug one end in, and then attempt to run it to the other piece of gear you are connecting, the weight and bulk of the cable can actually inadvertently rotate the plug in the jack.

    How about....resting the plug inside the jack without inserting all the way, then when the other end is connected, and the weight of the cable settles....you push it in. That way no additional turning happens.
    HT SYSTEM-
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    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

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    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,477
    tonyb wrote: »
    Clipdat wrote: »
    However the issue/situation here is that for a cable that has some weight/body to it, when you plug one end in, and then attempt to run it to the other piece of gear you are connecting, the weight and bulk of the cable can actually inadvertently rotate the plug in the jack.

    How about....resting the plug inside the jack without inserting all the way, then when the other end is connected, and the weight of the cable settles....you push it in. That way no additional turning happens.

    Know it all!!!
  • machone
    machone Posts: 1,471
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