Gold connectors a waste of money? - Blu-ray Forum

mike4scuba · 09-24-2009, 04:11 PM

Why do manufactures of connectors produce banana plugs, hdmi connectors and a variety of other interconnects with gold plating? is it to help sell their products at a higher price and be more desirable, or is it for that perfect sound.................

The reason i ask is that nearly all manufactures of av equipment wether it be amps, speakers or blu ray players all have produced the connections in nickel and not gold

if gold was the prefered choice would these manufactures not produce their connections in gold plate

who is kidding who

mugupo · 09-24-2009, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike4scuba

Why do manufactures of connectors produce banana plugs, hdmi connectors and a variety of other interconnects with gold plating? is it to help sell their products at a higher price and be more desirable, or is it for that perfect sound.................

The reason i ask is that nearly all manufactures of av equipment wether it be amps, speakers or blu ray players all have produced the connections in nickel and not gold

if gold was the prefered choice would these manufactures not produce their connections in gold plate

who is kidding who

Banana Plug is a bit useful, is not that pricey, it make easier to move the speaker connector, also if you wire to the receiver without plug it might look ungly.

Steve · 09-24-2009, 04:51 PM

It's my understanding that gold and silver are better electrical conductors than copper and that their use is beneficial when transferring analog signals. With digital it doesn't make a difference. I'm not sure about the use of nickel.

Beta Man · 09-24-2009, 04:55 PM

G = I/R = I (amps) / E (volts)

AKA..... CONDUCTIVITY

mike4scuba · 09-24-2009, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beta Man

G = I/R = I (amps) / E (volts)

AKA..... CONDUCTIVITY

so surely for better CONDUCTIVITY both items would need to be the same material ie gold

why then are amp and speakers not supplied with gold binding posts

Beta Man · 09-24-2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike4scuba

so surely for better CONDUCTIVITY both items would need to be the same material ie gold

why then are amp and speakers not supplied with gold binding posts

The Cost perhaps...... And my speakers do have gold binding posts.....

peterng · 09-24-2009, 05:40 PM

why ? because you're buying those cheap amps and receivers .... step up bro ....gold all the way ... amp, receiver and speakers ... and quality speaker cable...life is short ... so don't waiste ...spend a little more (money ? what the hell ...they printed a lot of them this year ... doesn't mean sh*t) ... you only live once ...

mike4scuba · 09-24-2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterng

why ? because you're buying those cheap amps and receivers .... step up bro ....gold all the way ... amp, receiver and speakers ... and quality speaker cable...life is short ... so don't waiste ...spend a little more (money ? what the hell ...they printed a lot of them this year ... doesn't mean sh*t) ... you only live once ...

so yamaha av amps are cheap because of no gold connectors

[1080-p] · 09-24-2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike4scuba

Why do manufactures of connectors produce banana plugs, hdmi connectors and a variety of other interconnects with gold plating? is it to help sell their products at a higher price and be more desirable, or is it for that perfect sound.................

The reason i ask is that nearly all manufactures of av equipment wether it be amps, speakers or blu ray players all have produced the connections in nickel and not gold

if gold was the prefered choice would these manufactures not produce their connections in gold plate

who is kidding who

of what you said
please stop my sides can't take it anymore

mdabb · 09-24-2009, 07:36 PM

The gold that is used on connectors and such is only a "gold plating". The only reason it is used is that it oxidizes at a much slower rate than silver & copper. Gold is actually a worse conductor than silver and copper.

So "all" connectors are either copper or silver and are just gold plated......... There are no solid gold connectors !!!

Yeha-Noha · 09-24-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdabb

The gold that is used on connectors and such is only a "gold plating". The only reason it is used is that it oxidizes at a much slower rate than silver & copper. Gold is actually a worse conductor than silver and copper.

+1

Gold = 45.2 × 10^6 S·m-1
Copper = 59.6 × 10^6 S·m-1

However, an oxidized copper connector will have lower conductivity than a gold plated copper connector.

Therefore, gold plated connectors are better than bare copper in the long run.

ShockWave · 09-24-2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterng

why ? because you're buying those cheap amps and receivers .... step up bro ....gold all the way ... amp, receiver and speakers ... and quality speaker cable...life is short ... so don't waiste ...spend a little more (money ? what the hell ...they printed a lot of them this year ... doesn't mean sh*t) ... you only live once ...

? = W/T/H=1 (huh) / ? (ok)

Riff Magnum · 09-24-2009, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterng

why ? because you're buying those cheap amps and receivers .... step up bro ....gold all the way ... amp, receiver and speakers ... and quality speaker cable...life is short ... so don't waiste ...spend a little more (money ? what the hell ...they printed a lot of them this year ... doesn't mean sh*t) ... you only live once ...

great advice

Big Daddy · 09-24-2009, 11:48 PM

Silver and copper are better conductors than gold. Gold is generally used for connectors because it is attractive and does not oxidize and tarnish that fast. Copper oxidizes and after a few days silver tarnishes and they both look ugly. Contrary to common belief, oxidized copper continues to conduct electricity. Electrons are not as picky as human beings.

This was discussed in A Guide to Optical, Digital Coaxial, & Speaker Cables. It has a sticky in Audio Theory.

Resistivity in Ohm per Meter
Silver: 1.6 x 10^-8
Copper: 1.7 x 10^-8
Gold: 2.4 x 10^-8
Aluminum or Aluminium: 2.7 x 10^-8

Electrical Conductivity (σ, Siemens/Meter) at 20 degrees (C)
Silver: 6.2 × 10^7, Highest electrical conductivity of any known metal
Copper: 6.0 × 10^7
Gold: 4.5 × 10^7, Gold is commonly used in electrical contacts
Aluminum: 3.8 × 10^7

It appears to me that you are not doing your homework and reading your assignments. Big Daddy is mad and can't take it anymore. You better run and hide.

crazyBLUE · 09-25-2009, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

It appears to me that you are not doing your homework and reading your assignments. Big Daddy is mad and can't take it anymore. You better run and hide.

mike4scuba · 09-25-2009, 06:50 AM

thanks for all the replies

mr.hidef · 09-25-2009, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterng

why ? because you're buying those cheap amps and receivers .... step up bro ....gold all the way ... amp, receiver and speakers ... and quality speaker cable...life is short ... so don't waiste ...spend a little more (money ? what the hell ...they printed a lot of them this year ... doesn't mean sh*t) ... you only live once ...

Soooooo.........my Onkyo 805 is cheap huh? THAT must be why many wish they had one (Onkyo users) instead of an 806. Guess I'm not very smart then.......Besides, who needs Burr Brown Dac's anyways ....right?

mike4scuba · 09-27-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.hidef

Soooooo.........my Onkyo 805 is cheap huh? THAT must be why many wish they had one (Onkyo users) instead of an 806. Guess I'm not very smart then.......Besides, who needs Burr Brown Dac's anyways ....right?

join the poor peoples audio club like me

mr.hidef · 09-28-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike4scuba

join the poor peoples audio club like me

09-24-2009, 04:11 PM	#1
mike4scuba Member Member since:Jan 2009	Gold connectors a waste of money? Why do manufactures of connectors produce banana plugs, hdmi connectors and a variety of other interconnects with gold plating? is it to help sell their products at a higher price and be more desirable, or is it for that perfect sound................. The reason i ask is that nearly all manufactures of av equipment wether it be amps, speakers or blu ray players all have produced the connections in nickel and not gold if gold was the prefered choice would these manufactures not produce their connections in gold plate who is kidding who

09-24-2009, 05:40 PM	#7
peterng Active Member Member since:Jul 2009 Blu-ray reviews:1	why ? because you're buying those cheap amps and receivers .... step up bro ....gold all the way ... amp, receiver and speakers ... and quality speaker cable...life is short ... so don't waiste ...spend a little more (money ? what the hell ...they printed a lot of them this year ... doesn't mean sht) ... you only live once ... Last edited by peterng; 09-24-2009 at 05:45 PM.*

09-24-2009, 11:48 PM	#14
Big Daddy Blu-ray Champion Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Southern California Home Theater Gallery:79 Blu-ray collection:122 Trading Score:1	Silver and copper are better conductors than gold. Gold is generally used for connectors because it is attractive and does not oxidize and tarnish that fast. Copper oxidizes and after a few days silver tarnishes and they both look ugly. Contrary to common belief, oxidized copper continues to conduct electricity. Electrons are not as picky as human beings. This was discussed in A Guide to Optical, Digital Coaxial, & Speaker Cables. It has a sticky in Audio Theory. Resistivity in Ohm per Meter Silver: 1.6 x 10^-8 Copper: 1.7 x 10^-8 Gold: 2.4 x 10^-8 Aluminum or Aluminium: 2.7 x 10^-8 Electrical Conductivity (σ, Siemens/Meter) at 20 degrees (C) Silver: 6.2 × 10^7, Highest electrical conductivity of any known metal Copper: 6.0 × 10^7 Gold: 4.5 × 10^7, Gold is commonly used in electrical contacts Aluminum: 3.8 × 10^7 It appears to me that you are not doing your homework and reading your assignments. Big Daddy is mad and can't take it anymore. You better run and hide. Last edited by Big Daddy; 09-25-2009 at 12:11 AM.

09-25-2009, 06:50 AM	#16
mike4scuba Member Member since:Jan 2009	magpies thanks for all the replies Last edited by mike4scuba; 09-25-2009 at 08:12 AM.

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09-24-2009, 04:51 PM	#3
Steve Blu-ray Knight Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:May 2008 Location:Anna, TX 4K collection:128 Blu-ray collection:416 Trading Score:41	It's my understanding that gold and silver are better electrical conductors than copper and that their use is beneficial when transferring analog signals. With digital it doesn't make a difference. I'm not sure about the use of nickel.

09-24-2009, 04:55 PM	#4
Beta Man Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Juuuuuuuust A Bit Outside.... Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:268 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:25	G = I/R = I (amps) / E (volts) AKA..... CONDUCTIVITY

09-24-2009, 07:36 PM	#10
mdabb Power Member Member since:Jan 2008 Trading Score:1	The gold that is used on connectors and such is only a "gold plating". The only reason it is used is that it oxidizes at a much slower rate than silver & copper. Gold is actually a worse conductor than silver and copper. So "all" connectors are either copper or silver and are just gold plated......... There are no solid gold connectors !!!

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