>> 08-15-06: Joncourage
>> I'm not sure I understand how putting something between
>> 2 contacts could enhance the sound, other than by
>> keeping the surface of the contacts clean over time.
this was my question & confusion too. However, after reading some archived posts on this matter + talking to some people, this is what I understand: the RCA signal carrying pin does NOT make contact all along its pin shaft. It makes contact only at the tip end often owing to the larger diameter hole vs. the RCA pin diameter. 2ndly, even tho' the RCA center pin looks smooth to the naked eye, it is not so. It is dimpled, say, much like a golf ball. Thus, even if this center pin makes contact along its pin shaft, the contact is intermittent.
When the entie RCA fits snuggly, it is the outer metal jacket (ground) that is making a snug contact. This gives most of us a mistaken impression that the signal carrying pin is making full contact!
So, when you use a silver-based contact enhancer what it does is (1) build up the center RCA pin's diameter such that a larger surface area of the center pin shaft can make contact & (2) fill in the microscopic pits in the center pin shaft thus smoothing the surface & enhancing the overall contact surface area.
IMHO. FWIW. Some one correct me if I'm wrong. Thanx.
>> I'm not sure I understand how putting something between
>> 2 contacts could enhance the sound, other than by
>> keeping the surface of the contacts clean over time.
this was my question & confusion too. However, after reading some archived posts on this matter + talking to some people, this is what I understand: the RCA signal carrying pin does NOT make contact all along its pin shaft. It makes contact only at the tip end often owing to the larger diameter hole vs. the RCA pin diameter. 2ndly, even tho' the RCA center pin looks smooth to the naked eye, it is not so. It is dimpled, say, much like a golf ball. Thus, even if this center pin makes contact along its pin shaft, the contact is intermittent.
When the entie RCA fits snuggly, it is the outer metal jacket (ground) that is making a snug contact. This gives most of us a mistaken impression that the signal carrying pin is making full contact!
So, when you use a silver-based contact enhancer what it does is (1) build up the center RCA pin's diameter such that a larger surface area of the center pin shaft can make contact & (2) fill in the microscopic pits in the center pin shaft thus smoothing the surface & enhancing the overall contact surface area.
IMHO. FWIW. Some one correct me if I'm wrong. Thanx.