Shorties - another cheap upgrade ?

[MikeMusic]

they are handy for blocking up unused inputs so you don't plug into them by mistake when swapping cables about around at the back of a rack in poor lighting conditions.

Now that is a good idea !
Obvious now you mention it
I can see bugger all around the back of my amp when I'm changing around

[Chops]

See also this thread http://theartofsound.net/forum/showt...noise-stoppers from a while ago.

fwiw, I bought some RCA and XLR caps from Vintage Audio Lab on the bay but they don't seem to list now. I put them everywhere I could and I reckon it cleaned things up a small but noticeable amount as well as keeping dust out of the sockets. For the low cost, I wouldn't hesitate in buying more.

Chris

[MikeMusic]

See also this thread http://theartofsound.net/forum/showt...noise-stoppers from a while ago.

fwiw, I bought some RCA and XLR caps from Vintage Audio Lab on the bay but they don't seem to list now. I put them everywhere I could and I reckon it cleaned things up a small but noticeable amount as well as keeping dust out of the sockets. For the low cost, I wouldn't hesitate in buying more.

Chris

Thanks Chris, very useful
Wonder how many useful threads there are from before my time .......

[potatoha]

I would have thought those shorting plugs would provide no benefit for your XP-20 pre as it has relayed input which does the same or better job than the shorties?

[Joe]

Thanks Chris, very useful
Wonder how many useful threads there are from before my time .......

There was a big bust-up in the early days when some clown tried to argue that shellac records would never replace wax cylinders.

[choirboy]

I have some cheap ones (not Russ Andrews) in my system. Have to say I didn't really notice any difference sonically but like everyone says they keep out dust at least.

[MikeMusic]

I would have thought those shorting plugs would provide no benefit for your XP-20 pre as it has relayed input which does the same or better job than the shorties?

No idea, me no techie, but that could be

[MikeMusic]

I have some cheap ones (not Russ Andrews) in my system. Have to say I didn't really notice any difference sonically but like everyone says they keep out dust at least.

Apart from those that say they work the big plus for me would be blocking the inputs I can't see - and don't want to accidentally plug into
Cheap enough to try
I need to count up me inputs

[Barry]

I made a load of these a few years ago.



The difference they make to the sound quality is like night and day*.

*As observed from the bottom of a very deep cave.

Keith, did you find using a low value shunt resistor was better than a direct short. I can't make out the colours, so what value resistor have you used?




I have seen RCA phono socket "dust caps" advertised for sale on ebay. These simply cover the socket, without shorting out the input. Has anybody tried these and are the results obtained different to that using shorting plugs?

For what it's worth, I believe that unless you live near a high power transmitter or relay mast, or live near an airport with an air traffic control radar, the only benefit in using shorting plugs is to keep dust out and to blank off unused inputs. As others have commented, they are cheap and do no harm.

[istari_knight]

I recall reading an article a few years ago... May have been on Decibel Dungeon ? Anyway, the author was showing how to put together "shorties" for unused coax outputs on CD/DVD players & these used a 75R resistor.

FWIW I've got some "shorties" here that came with Denon & NAD amplifiers from the factory and they are all the direct short variety.