RCA Shielding Caps- plastic, or brass/gold plated, shorting/non-shorting?

[thedelihaus]

RCA Shielding Caps- if you believe in 'em working, would you go for the plastic kind (usually only non-shorting), or the brass/gold plated kind?

And if the brass/gold plated kind, would you choose shorting or non-shorting?

For those interested- shorting caps have a center pin. non-shorting do not.

Some models come with a detachable center pin for use as either shorting, when the pin is in, or non-shorting, when the pin is out.

Some preamplifiers I am told work better with the non-shorting versions.

How can I tell?

And what about the rest of the kit? Like a CD player that's being used with it's optical out? For the fixed and variable outputs, should I go for shorting, or non-shorting?

What about for the digital coaxial out not being used?

And the rest of the kit? Like the amplifier with variable and fixed "in" RCAs? I'm only going to use the fixed for now. Plug the variables with what?

 

[EchoWars]

You think too much...

 

[EchoWars]

Oh...sorry.

Only inputs should ever be shorted (but this is generally reserved for unusued phono inputs).

I don't get the non-shorting caps at all. Just something else to make audiophools spend their money, I suppose.

 

[thedelihaus]

Oh...sorry.

Only inputs should ever be shorted (but this is generally reserved for unusued phono inputs).

I don't get the non-shorting caps at all. Just something else to make audiophools spend their money, I suppose.

The non-shorting caps are cheap at 10 for $4 bucks.

But if they don't work, then that cheap becomes expensive in retrospect.

One seller touts 'em as a "good way to keep dust out of your componentry".

This sounds as effective as holding water in a cheese grater.

One would make better progress by wrapping the unit in Saran Wrap to cover the vent slots if the concern of dust was so great to warrant blocking the unused RCAs.

The shorting caps- I've got a few here- I'll most likely stick 'em in the Phono RCAs only, and be done with it.

For the heck of it, how would the clipped-off ends of the cheap, in-the-box RCA cables do?

Any worries/concerns with that?

 

[EchoWars]

They'd look funny...:nutz:

 

[thedelihaus]

They'd look funny...:nutz:

Indeed.

I think I'll go have a cold beer instead.

 

[Jack G]

RCA Shielding Caps- if you believe in 'em working, would you go for the plastic kind (usually only non-shorting), or the brass/gold plated kind?

And if the brass/gold plated kind, would you choose shorting or non-shorting?

For those interested- shorting caps have a center pin. non-shorting do not.

Some models come with a detachable center pin for use as either shorting, when the pin is in, or non-shorting, when the pin is out.

Some preamplifiers I am told work better with the non-shorting versions.

How can I tell?

And what about the rest of the kit? Like a CD player that's being used with it's optical out? For the fixed and variable outputs, should I go for shorting, or non-shorting?

What about for the digital coaxial out not being used?

And the rest of the kit? Like the amplifier with variable and fixed "in" RCAs? I'm only going to use the fixed for now. Plug the variables with what?

You only use the caps on inputs. I was told the idea behind the metal ones, is to block any RFI/EMI from entering the unused inputs, and (possibly) bleeding through to inputs you use and/or the rest of the preamp. I got some many moons ago and tried them on some gear, and *thought* I heard a slight improvement, but have tried them on other gear since, and couldn't tell a difference.
Jack

 

[thedelihaus]

You only use the caps on inputs. I was told the idea behind the metal ones, is to block any RFI/EMI from entering the unused inputs, and (possibly) bleeding through to inputs you use and/or the rest of the preamp. I got some many moons ago and tried them on some gear, and *thought* I heard a slight improvement, but have tried them on other gear since, and couldn't tell a difference.
Jack

thank you, Jack.

Seems they're most beneficial on the phono jacks, whilst use on the others is nominal, if at all.

 

[RichPA]

I've had some gear that benefited from shorting caps on all inputs, some only on phono, and some that it didn't seem to matter at all. I can't see how non-shorting caps would have any function but cosmetic.

 

[thedelihaus]

I've had some gear that benefited from shorting caps on all inputs, some only on phono, and some that it didn't seem to matter at all. I can't see how non-shorting caps would have any function but cosmetic.

The non-shorting- I have tendencies to believe the same thing here.

claims I've read say that some (and some say most) pre-amps prefer the non-shorting. But it's not making lots of sense to me.:scratch2:

anyhow, with personally 4 setups running, a few pair won't break the bank if you shop around (some pair as cheap as $4 for 10 pair).

Of course, I've also seen 'em as much as $45 or more a pair. which I personally don't have any interest in.