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Monster Cable interconnects too tight

I have some older Monster Cable RCA interconnects that grip the connectors on my gear too tightly. One time, I removed the interconnect from my Adcom amp and part of the Adcom's connector ripped off the unit with the interconnect. Another time, the connector stayed on the Adcom, but the solder broke inside the amp's housing, causing an intermittent fault. I always try to use a gentle, twisting motion to remove the interconnects.

I described this problem to a local hi-fi dealer and he said that Monster Cable interconnects are known for gripping too tightly. He suggested that I apply a tiny dab of automotive transmission fluid to the connectors with a Q-tip before inserting the Monster Cable. This seems strange to me -- it would lubricate the connection, but wouldn't it also reduce electrical conduction?

Has anyone tried using any type of lubricating fluid to deal with this problem? I just bought some new electronics, and I don't want to have any problems like I had before. I may not buy Monster Cable again for this reason, but I would like to keep using the cables I have. Thanks.
javachip

Showing 4 responses by eldartford

eldartford
4,262 posts
 
If the connectors are gold plated no special fluid is necessary. That's the purpose of the gold plating.

I have never seen a tube with gold pins, although I suspect there may be some. However, at the rate which tube enthusiasts "roll" them there should be no concern about corrosion building up.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Albertporter...The tube rolling comment was a :-) Maybe it doesn't get done that much, but it sure gets talked about.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Albertporter...What is "microarcing"? If the two parts of the connector are making any sort of electrical contact the potential between them is near zero, which rules out arcing. Maybe the stuff does something, but I don't believe the explanation.

Generally it is LOW voltage (high current) connections that benefit from protective paste and the like. Your car battery is the prime example.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Albertporter...Please note that I did not assert that your fluid has no effect...only that micro arcing seems like an unlikely explanation. The basis for my view is that unless there is a difference of electrical potential there can be no arc, and I doubt that any audio connector is so bad that it allows a measurable differential potential. Micro arcing in connectors occurs when the mechanical contact is seriously loose, for example due to differential thermal expansion of aluminum wire and copper terminals. The term is also used in other contexts, for example: to describe discharge through microscopic holes in the dielectric of capacitors.

To tell the truth the best connector is no connector...in other words solder the wire at one end, like a "captive" line cord. I had a Mission CD player that had a captive output interconnect, and that too (IMHO) was a good idea. Of course this prevents trial and error experiments with different power cords and interconnects, and so is definitely non-audiophile.

Oh, and by the way...we agree about line array speakers.
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