1. Home
  2. cables
  3. 197677-74636

Audioquest XLR cables are overly tight/stuck in equipment sockets. Advice

I’ve got a couple Audioquest XLR cables Yukon’s, that have been a pain in every piece of equipment I’ve used them in. they are tight going into the sockets and hard to get out. I’ve got one in an amp that I cannot remove. I may have to open the amp and see if I can get access to the female socket to see if I can raise the latch higher. I think this is a socket that the latch is not 100% lifting (like 95%) and overly tight male cable.

Before I openthe amp, has anyone seen/know if the latch can be lifted more from the back side of the socket? It’s a $25k amp I’ve got on loan (friend not dealer) I do not want to damage. Yes I’m a tech but no experience with these specifically.

glennewdick
steakster
2,190 posts
 

If you think the problem is just the spring-loaded latch, try sticking jeweler’s screwdriver into the latch.   Or something thin.   Be careful.

theo's avatar
theo
2,765 posts
 

Try to determine if the connection is tight on the well or the conductors too tight on the pins. If it is the pins, send them into Audioquest and they should repair or replace them. But first follow steakster’s advice, very well explained procedure. 

glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick OP
1,979 posts
 
steakster     Good idea,
I don't suspect this in an issue with the socket binding, the latch itself is not coming up enough to release the cable from the socket. I’ll give it a try though, but I don’t suspect a few thousandth of an inch will be sufficient.

I may have to use a pin pusher or similar small probe to see if I can push up the latch further. Looking at that picture you sent it’s not the same connector, but I do see a small hole in the back side I wonder if it lines up with the cable latch. I’ll have to look more closely at the connector. I really do not want to send a 90lb amp in for service.  

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,981 posts
 

Try a very small amount of wd-40  Then push the connector in, release the latch and try pulling it out. Wiggle it while doing it to give it a better chance. 
Another option is to see if you can instert a very thin piece of plastic between the connector and jack barrels to lift the latch. 

More to discover