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Plating Question

Few things bring out OCD like connectors.  What seems to be so simple often is not. For example, did you know that tin joined to copper is a bad idea.  The metals can react and form dreaded dendrites. Yikes!

More recently was looking for pure copper spades plated with rhodium.  It sounds like in the real world that is not done as copper contaminates the rhodium plating solution.  That might be why why Cardas uses silver over copper, then plates a layer of rhodium.  But silver also ruins the rhodium plating solution.  Apparently, a layer of nickel or palladium in needed before rhodium plating takes place.

Makes me really question what you are buying--especially when it comes to Chinese goods.  Who the heck really knows what's under that shiny rhodium plating?

Any thoughts?

corelli
dekay's avatar
dekay
6,197 posts
 

I use bare copper (sans connectors) whenever possible and have avoided using binding posts and "metal" RCA connectors in the past/present.

Omitting "chunks of metal" from the signal path is what works for me.

My main cable (both IC and speaker for the past 20+ years) has been 47 Labs OTA and their nonmetallic RCA's.

 

DeKay

mihorn
909 posts
 

The rhodium is a hard metal. The audio signal moves more surface of the metal connectors. The rhodium plating makes the sound harder and accentuates some freq. I'd never use the rhodium plated connectors. But every ears are different. Alex/Wavetouch audio

dekay's avatar
dekay
6,197 posts
 

For binding posts I would look for  low mass tellurium copper/gold plated, or if you are daring, and leave things alone, low mass softer/purer copper plated/or not.

 

DeKay

 

richardbrand's avatar
richardbrand
1,389 posts
 

@corelli 

did you know that tin joined to copper is a bad idea.  The metals can react and form dreaded dendrites

Why are dendrites dreaded?  Where do they grow?  What about solder?

lordmelton's avatar
lordmelton
1,181 posts
 

https://gr-research.com/product/electra-cable-tube-connectors/?zCountry=US

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