Losing my grip - component interconnect question

After 40 years of rheumatoid arthritis I'm literally losing my grip to the point where I now need pliers in order to remove interconnects from my amplifier - which doesn't generally matter because I rarely remove them - but right now I need to give my amp a service and I'm thinking ahead to when I put the cables back in.

All hifi interconnects I've ever used (apart from the really cheap ones that come with entry-level components) have been difficult to insert and remove. It doesn't help that the sockets on the amp are too close together to get a finger between them so you can't even get a good solid grip on them. I know they need to be snug to make a reliable connection but I honestly think that most are ridiculously and unnecessarily tight. Back in the bad old days when I used cheap and cheerful interconnects I never once had one that didn't make a sufficiently snug contact.

Has anyone come across a hifi interconnect cable that inserts and removes fairly easily? For reference I'm currently using a QED QNect II to connect my DAC to my amp so I'm talking that sort of price bracket or a bit more if necessary to solve the problem.

Alternatively does anyone have any useful tricks or tools for making my existing ones easier to insert and remove?

(If you have found every interconnect you've ever used easy to insert and remove then you clearly have finger joints made of titanium :lol:)

Thanks,

Simon.

I don't know if it's only expensive cables that are like that but I only have one that is a struggle and that's an Audioquest I bought more than 30 years ago.

I think the solution would be get some different cables. There's no need for them to fit so tight, and no benefit to it.

I have some Furutech RCA connectors that are screw tight and some Chinese knocks offs of the same that are pretty cheap.

Try and look for something similar? They are easier... you literally control how tight they grip the terminal.

The trouble with RCA phono connectors is the tolerances on both the inner and outer connection is poor, so that on seemingly identical connectors one will be a tight fit, whereas its neighbour might be a looser and more manageable fit.

I make up all my cables, so I can't recommend a particular brand, save to say choose one which use longer housings on their plugs that extend past their neighbours, so it will be easier for you to mate and de-mate them in future.

> Post deleted because I made a mess of trying to edit it on my phone. <

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Originally Posted by User211

I have some Furutech RCA connectors that are screw tight and some Chinese knocks offs of the same that are pretty cheap.

Try and look for something similar? They are easier... you literally control how tight they grip the terminal.

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Oh, that sounds interesting, thank you! I'll look into that.

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Originally Posted by Macca

I don't know if it's only expensive cables that are like that but I only have one that is a struggle and that's an Audioquest I bought more than 30 years ago.

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I could be wrong but if you've only experienced one set of tight cables then I suspect we may have a different definition of "tight"!

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Originally Posted by Barry

... choose one which use longer housings on their plugs that extend past their neighbours, so it will be easier for you to mate and de-mate them in future.

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That's an interesting thought, thank you. Unfortunately I would probably need their neighbours to be longer too. Everything longer than everything else!

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Originally Posted by foxysounds

I could be wrong but if you've only experienced one set of tight cables then I suspect we may have a different definition of "tight"!

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I've got interconnects from 7 different brands plus the 'Red & White' ones you used to get with Jap kit years ago, they all slot in and out with no issue. Just that Audioquest is different. Probably that's not a wide enough selection to have encountered more tight fits? I don't know.

Another thought is to use cables fitted with right-angle plugs. If you alternated these with cables fitted with straight, but long bodied, plugs on neighbouring sockets that might do the trick.

The problem seems to be that the sockets are too close together for you to get a good grip on the plugs.

What's that company that makes fancy ones but they're mainly plastic with little metal contacts inside? They're quite loose from the ones I've had.

Sent from my moto g75 5G using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Lawrence001

What's that company that makes fancy ones but they're mainly plastic with little metal contacts inside? They're quite loose from the ones I've had.

Sent from my moto g75 5G using Tapatalk

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KLE? Have those on mine although there's only 1 set of RCA cables needed in my set up. They're no bother to plug and unplug but I think they're expensive.

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Originally Posted by Macca

I've got interconnects from 7 different brands plus the 'Red & White' ones you used to get with Jap kit years ago, they all slot in and out with no issue. Just that Audioquest is different. Probably that's not a wide enough selection to have encountered more tight fits? I don't know.

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OK that's genuinely surprising to me because I don't have as many different types as that (3 plus the very basic red & whites) and only the cheap ones move easily so perhaps I've been a bit unlucky after all!

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Originally Posted by Barry

Another thought is to use cables fitted with right-angle plugs.

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That's a great idea, thank you!

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Originally Posted by Barry

The problem seems to be that the sockets are too close together for you to get a good grip on the plugs.

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That's at least part of the problem, yes.

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Originally Posted by Macca

KLE? Have those on mine although there's only 1 set of RCA cables needed in my set up. They're no bother to plug and unplug but I think they're expensive.

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Yes, they're a bit pricey really :-(

Would a pair of soft jaw pliers help?
Failing that, look at p,ug pullers. There may be something suitable

Quote:

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Originally Posted by User211

I have some Furutech RCA connectors that are screw tight and some Chinese knocks offs of the same that are pretty cheap.

Try and look for something similar? They are easier... you literally control how tight they grip the terminal.

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I would definitely suggest this - I think the ones I have were probably Furutech too, but the outer casing screws in and out, so you slacken it off which allows the connecting surfaces to expand, allowing easy connection to the socket, then you screw the outer casing back in, which tightens the connection. Great idea, and works very well.

It would help if those who suggested Furutech RCA plugs could state the model number: Furutech make several versions of RCA plugs, and it is difficult to see which ones have the screw tightened collet that have been recommended.

Genuine Furutech items are expensive, some are very expensive. Ali Express offer much cheaper examples, but these are almost certainly Chinese offerings; though probably none the worse for it.