Cable Quality

Casterina · 16-07-2011, 23:10

Is there a difference between silver and gold plated cables and adapters?

Parker · 16-07-2011, 23:20

Which type of cable in particular? If you're talking about HDMI then a £1 cable will do the job just fine and doesn't really matter what metal is used for the connector.

gomezz · 16-07-2011, 23:25

Connectors work best if both the plug on the lead and the socket on the box are made of the same metal. As sockets are never (rarely?) made of gold / silver / unobtanium then plugs do not benefit from being made from these elements.

Casterina · 16-07-2011, 23:30

The cables and adapter I am talking about is RCA Audio cable and RCA Audio Y splitters and RCA Audio Y leads

Chris Frost · 17-07-2011, 00:18

For plugs and connectors what it boils down to is corrosion resistance. Gold plating means the plugs are less likely to tarnish.

Silver plating is rarely used for connectors. Silver tarnishes.

Silver looking connectors are often a chrome-nickel plated rather than being true silver.

For cables silver plating is often used in higher-end audio cables. The plastic coating shields the silver from the air and moisture. The benefits of lower resistance aren't then lost.

However, before we get too esoteric I think it's worth mentioning that anything involving Y splitters is likely to wipe out much of the benefit of higher quality cable. What's the application?

Casterina · 17-07-2011, 09:56

I will be using RCA Audio cable and RCA Audio Y splitters and RCA Audio Y leads on my capture card so I can record gameplays

Nigel Goodwin · 17-07-2011, 10:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casterina

I will be using RCA Audio cable and RCA Audio Y splitters and RCA Audio Y leads on my capture card so I can record gameplays

It's basically all just a con, and in any case your application is only VERY low quality so any wire will do.

16-07-2011, 23:10	#1
Casterina Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 147	Cable Quality Is there a difference between silver and gold plated cables and adapters?

16-07-2011, 23:20	#2
Parker Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 968	Which type of cable in particular? If you're talking about HDMI then a £1 cable will do the job just fine and doesn't really matter what metal is used for the connector.

16-07-2011, 23:25	#3
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	Connectors work best if both the plug on the lead and the socket on the box are made of the same metal. As sockets are never (rarely?) made of gold / silver / unobtanium then plugs do not benefit from being made from these elements.

16-07-2011, 23:30	#4
Casterina Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 147	The cables and adapter I am talking about is RCA Audio cable and RCA Audio Y splitters and RCA Audio Y leads

17-07-2011, 00:18	#5
Chris Frost Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cheshire Posts: 6,462	For plugs and connectors what it boils down to is corrosion resistance. Gold plating means the plugs are less likely to tarnish. Silver plating is rarely used for connectors. Silver tarnishes. Silver looking connectors are often a chrome-nickel plated rather than being true silver. For cables silver plating is often used in higher-end audio cables. The plastic coating shields the silver from the air and moisture. The benefits of lower resistance aren't then lost. However, before we get too esoteric I think it's worth mentioning that anything involving Y splitters is likely to wipe out much of the benefit of higher quality cable. What's the application?

17-07-2011, 09:56	#6
Casterina Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 147	I will be using RCA Audio cable and RCA Audio Y splitters and RCA Audio Y leads on my capture card so I can record gameplays

17-07-2011, 10:45	#7
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by Casterina I will be using RCA Audio cable and RCA Audio Y splitters and RCA Audio Y leads on my capture card so I can record gameplays It's basically all just a con, and in any case your application is only VERY low quality so any wire will do.

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Cable Quality