RCA connectors-how to tighten them up.

I woke up in the middle of the night and an idea just popped into my head. I took a strip of ALUMINUM DUCT TAPE (used for A/C ducts) and I wound it two times around the outside of the RCA connector jack. Lo and behold the RCA plug is snugly fit and it really works.

REMEMBER: The duct tape must be the shiny aluminum (which is conductive) and not the gray standard one.

You are really at the mercy of your components, and most of them use female RCA's from Taiwan.  Some companies offer locking RCA plugs. You may want to have your cables re-terminated with those if your connection is poor.  The system is only as good as it's weakest link, so don't let that be a connection point.

Thanks Ken, I never would have found that.
Bob

Back in the day you just bent the center pin ever so lightly to one side.

On the AQ Sky, one can unscrew the silver end cap over the RCA barrel and there you will find a very small screw that can be tightened to increase pressure on the outer RCA connectors(flaps). Or, one can take a small jewelers flat blade screw driver and push it in between the outer connector contacts(flaps)and the barrel. 

Either way has worked for me with no issues. Also, if you have good soldering skills, you can change the batteries in the Vandersteen crossovers but only if they're out of warranty. If under warranty, send them to Vandersteen.

PM me for the procedures to change the batteries if you decide to go that route as there are some specific items/procedures that need to be followed closely.

Regards,

Ken

You're right. I give that advice to others. I should have taken it myself.

Ask, Audioquest, they are professional and friendly. Cheers,
Spencer

Thanks Cleeds, I am probably mangling the terminology.

As far as cheap connectors, they are AQ sky pigtails on my Vandy crossover. I have tried them on different equipment, but they just seem loose compared to my other cables. 
I think they were used on some nonstandard rca jack at some point.

Looking inside the female 'jack', there are 4 small tabs along the inside of the housing. I thought those might be responsible for snugging the cable.

At worst, I will send them back to Vandy, the need the batteries replaced soon.
Bob

This is a bit confusing, because I think of a female RCA connector as a "jack," not a "plug." I wouldn't expect the connector to have "flaps," which I associate with a male "plug." But perhaps I'm just misunderstanding you.

In any event - and without trying to start another Cable War - it sounds as though you have cheap connectors. I think one of the biggest differences between high-end cables and run-of-the-mill cables is the quality of the connectors. Good hi-fi connectors should fit snugly. So at a minimum, I'd replace the jack or plug, or consider new cables altogether.