Headphone Extension Cable - Gold Plated Terminals?

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alasta

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#128814 24-Aug-2013 12:50

I recently went out to get a 3m extension cable so that I can use my headphones with my Hifi amp while I'm sitting on the couch. Considering that my Sennheiser headphones have gold plated terminals on the cable and adaptor accessories I was expecting that I should aim to buy an extension cable with gold plated terminals but was surprised that they seem to be extremely difficult to find.

In the end I took the advice of the guy at Jaycar who told me that I wouldn't notice any difference in performance if I buy one without gold plated terminals. Can anyone comment on whether this is correct?

gregmcc

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#883843 24-Aug-2013 13:03

First of all I'm sure Jaycar employees are employed there because of their extensive knowledge of electronics - not

Frequently we have used relays with gold plated contacts because of the static click that standard relays cause when switching audio, it would be fair to say the same reason would apply to headphone extension cables.

psk20

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#883862 24-Aug-2013 13:42

Do you notice any difference?

I'm by no means an expert but I doubt it makes much difference. Audiophile equipment manufacturers seem to occasionally make a big deal out of 'features' of dubious worth. For instance, I've heard it said that generally, those expensive banana connectors for speakers don't improve sound quality, and that its fine to just screw speaker cables into the terminals. At least from a sound quality standpoint. Apparently the same goes for 'bi-wiring' speakers into an amp. I would not be surprised at all if gold plated connectors weren't worth their weight in gold ;) But... don't really know!

Batman

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#883884 24-Aug-2013 14:41

It all depends on what's beneath the plate of gold

SATTV

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#883904 24-Aug-2013 15:44

You will not notice the difference.
The only reason to use gold in audio plugs and sockets is that is does not tarnish and cause high resistance.
In the case of relays as mentioned above, same thing, gold coated realys are used when you have low signal and you dont have the voltage or current to overcome the oxidation on the contacts by silver / tin / copper or whatever alloy they put on relay contacts.
Also just because your headphone socket looks like gold i.e. gold in colour, does not mean that it is gold i.e Au.
I know Sennheiser headphone are not cheap but the plug might have a gold colour coating rather than gold plated alloy.
Gold is a very soft metal, you would only have to do 6 - 10 mating cycles and it would wear off.

I guess it is the whole OFC ( Oxyge Free Copper ) debate.

John

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alasta

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#883916 24-Aug-2013 16:15

Thanks everyone for your input. Some interesting info there.

richms

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#883979 24-Aug-2013 18:14

Gold plating the thickness that they have on headphone and other audio plugs is dirt cheap to do,

Matching metals for corrosion reduction matters most when things are likely to be damp. So don't get the cable wet. The 3.5mm plug is such a piece of crap design that the physical properties of the connectors will make way more difference than plating or not.

Richard rich.ms

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psk20

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#883995 24-Aug-2013 19:01

Ah yes, forgot about electrolytic corrosion...