Should you cover your audio inputs?
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- Опубліковано 12 кві 2020
- A lot of audiophiles swear by the use of input shorting plugs on their unused audio inputs. Is this a good practice? What's it trying to accomplish and does it work?
Have a question you want to ask Paul? Go to www.psaudio.com/ask-paul/ - Наука та технологія
Really! I think the more I watch audio videos the more crazy shit people come up with but hey if you hear a difference more power to ya! Have a good day Paul my man and be safe out there in Colorado.
I have always covered unused connectors , but just to keep them clean . No other purpose !
Mr. Rodriguez, do you think a cheap plug would be enough as a dust stopper? I live in Brazil and there are plenty of cheap 1/4, XLR and RCA plugs available. I imagine that XLR and RCA work fine but I'm not sure if 1/4 (P10) will - perhaps if I put a mall rubber ring. Thanks!
That's a reasonable logic.
I bought two cardas cap covers just for fun. I didn’t notice any sound differences, but they do protect my rig from dust, so I’m happy.
@Mike Eastridge
If you're doing it right
@Mike Eastridge
I understand.
"Some foreign languages it's like they've got a different word for everything".
Well, I've been involved in audio since the 70s, both as an enthusiast and professional. For as long as I've known a pro audio system is commonly referred to as a rig... ie., "having ample rig for the gig".
I don't know the origin but I certainly find your inquiry... or any such inquiry, interesting👍
@Mike Eastridge
Thinking about this further, my perspective of using "rig" is primarily rooted in pro audio. Although "system" is more often used, in my circles it's nearly a push either way.
@Mike Eastridge
Love it.
As an aside, recently I was viewing an interview with Colin Norfield, FOH Engineer for Pink Floyd, et al., and he referred to the "punters" a few times. In context it was obvious he's talking about the people in the seats of the venue. That said I rarely hesitate to look up words/phrases to assure I use them correctly etc, it's so quick copy/paste, done, just this thing I do (I'm guessing you as well, no?).
I'm not unfamiliar with the use of "punters", as I've read my share of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, but primarily The Who bio material. I'm not sure why, however I'd always presumed "punters" brought with it slightly negative connotations. But listening to this Colin Norfield it seemed I've been wrong all along. The way he used
"punters" led me to believe there was no negative association with the word.
Quickly looking it up I immediately saw "Attendees", ... damn, well ok then.
Thoughts?
I cover both inputs and outputs with non-conductive caps. The reason is simple - after a year uncovered inputs/outputs get dusty and sometimes under bad conditions may even corrode - depends on sockets and air condition. Dusty and corroded contacts really degenerate the sound - you know that well from switches and potentiometers that need to be cleaned up once in a while.
You have a great approach to the world of High-End Audio, keep up the great work :-)
Great explanation Paul. Shorting plugs are only needed when an amplifier is poorly designed to allow itself to create noise by an unused inputs causing cross-talk into active inputs. If it can do audible cross-talk by just being unconnected, chances are that it can also cause cross-talk when having an actual signal. Get yourself a better pre-amp if you have such problem.
I have Parasound Halo pre and amp. It’s pretty quiet except for the crosstalk I get from tuner cars driving by outside blasting whatever it is they listen to. The bass rattles their car and my windows.
When I set up my lateset system I did many things including rhodium caps. Most of the things I have done make no difference in sound but they make things look nice and clean. Most systems I threw together and never care but the latest I wanted to take things to the next level.
What!!!! I just paid $600 for a pair of Platinum diamond powder infused shorting plugs! The guy at the mall kiosk said they're the hot ticket.
You've got a bargain!
Ha! Imagine Paul saying that an audiophile tip was bullshit! He must not have been able to figure a way to make money on them!
Thanks, just bought some shorting plugs from this suggestion. While you say it doesnt make a difference for most, I think it will help on my vintage receivers that have a lot of noise and channel cross talk. Worth a shot at least!
Tip: when you buy something that has cheap cables provided; cut the cable about an inch (2.5cm if you prefer) from the end and twist the signal and ground ( or earth if you prefer) together and solder the wire together.
That way you can see if shorting the inputs makes any difference to you.
I hope this helps.
I had a PS Audio III phono preamp and PS Audio passive volume control back in the day and loved my first taste of high end audio at a budget price. I lost them in a house move.
Today in the digital domain most of this audiophile fix up business seems to be bunk! Why cover up anything that is unused. If it is not to be used, best to leave it alone. I very much like Paul's reasoning. I have been listening to many of his lecturers, very logical, and practical.
Back in the day, the rotary input selector switch often had a "grounding" wafer that effectively shorted to ground all inputs that were not selected. This helped reduce crosstalk. For example, you have a tuner plugged in and a turntable, signal from the tuner can bleed into the phono input and can be audible in the background. I'm guessing PS Audio's relays have a similar arrangement that shorts unused inputs to ground, I'd be surprised if they didn't.
Only shorting plugs made of unobtamium can be counted on to give you the lowest noise floor. I do agree unused phono inputs should be grounded because of the very high gain the circuitry has.
I owned a Sansui amplifier in the 70s, I think it was a AU7700? It had two phono inputs and they provided a set of shorting plugs if one phono input was unused. Made sense in that application but for line level signals it makes no audible difference electronically. But for dust and dirt, it's not a bad idea. Of course just make your own with cheap RCA plugs. No need for "high end" shorting plugs and just a stock unshorted RCA plug will keep the dirt out just as well.
I used both just-a-metal-cap and shorted metal caps (paying more). My main purpose of using caps is to cover the inputs and some output (plastic caps). This is to avoid the unwanted "by product of oxidative coating" at the surface. Difficult to clean up after a year or two. So I ended up with clean surface of inputs ready for use, and with the feeling of good sounds with clean connections.
A question: any one has seen the oxidative coating at the +ve point (so small hole, not easy to see) if not caped?
For practice, people claimed the shorted caps should preferably be used for more sensitive inputs like cd, DAC and phono. Any comments?
Glad I watched this because I bought caps for all of my inputs and outputs on my streamer/DAC/amp 😬 I had no idea you weren’t supposed to use them on the outputs! Had them on like this for months and thankfully my equipment still works...for now.
I just bought some new gear for first time in decades and wondered why all the inputs (and I think outputs) came with caps in them. I think these are plastic though so they don’t short.
@@Scottlp2 Plastic caps prevent corrosion
If it is a dielectric, there should be no problem. If it shorts pluss and minus then it is another thing. But the impedance on the output is several hundred ohm, and maybe over thousand ohm. So the current going through is not huge. And it only is a problem if you play music through them at high level.
If the corroding tarnishing it is poor metal plated not pure mixes of metals too much oxygen not enough carbon
@@neal00 Gold-plated RCAs don't corrode, and I have gear with 50yo steel RCAs that haven't corroded. The only time that corrosion is a problem is when non-plated steel RCA plugs are left connected to non-plated steel RCA sockets for a long time.
Learned something today!
So only add them to the inputs. Just now learning about this. Being able to lower noise without affecting dynamics in a system is a plus for me. Every bit counts no matter how small the improvement it makes.
Since plastic or rubber is not a conductor. Wouldn't it also help to use them on the outputs? They would be cheap and make things look even neater. For the OCD audiophile lol
Yeah I put a couple of those on the unused tape outs on the back of my old Marantz. & There was absolutely no signal getting through anywhere. No phone, no tape, no FM/AM... nothing.
Thanks Paul, but how about caps that do not short? Besides prevent oxidation on unused RCA inputs or outputs, any other benefits regarding noise from RF ? Thanks.
Informative video, thanks!
I got some caps that cover the RCA jacks, but no shorting pin sticks down the hole. I can't tell any difference in sound quality, but I guess it keeps the dust out.
This is an easy test, put a strong sine wave or something on line A. Turn on line B while shorted. If you detect anyting like the sine wave instead of nothing, then there's a difference.
A lot of stereo stuff encodes an analog signal as + or - a zero level. In reality, this would represent the flow direction of the electron, like in a speaker. In terms of an input I don't know how chassis ground or connector ground relates to other units ground, and how the signal is encoded. Like is there a voltage offset? Or are all chassis at a higher than true ground potential? Can the grounds being different from different products cause a problem? Oh but the question to this is you would not expect an unused channel to effect yours, but there could be a small change somewhere.
I was just thinking about trying this.. I read it somewhere a while ago & it popped in my head the other day. I guess I won't bother then (probably still will because, quarantine lol)
old video but I have a DENON PMA-800NE and something sends a loud audio signal to it e.g. accidentally dropping the stylus off the vinyl etc. I can hear the thud from the speakers even though the amp is switched to a different input. The thud is of course not very loud but this proves the sources aren’t 100% isolated from each other.
One coild cover unused outputs - if there are any that are unused - to prevent accidental short circuits or prevent dirt, fat, or anything else getting in there.
Here's a test you can try - set your amp to normal listening volume and compare the noise level of an unconnected _selected_ input when it is shorted vs when it is open. Note the difference. Now, if that same input is no longer selected, that difference will be scaled down by say >100dB, depending on how good the switch is. That's the benefit you're chasing, multiplied by the number of unused shorted inputs you have. Good luck!
I don''t know about shorting plugs but what I have done is buy a packet of little plastic/nylon covers that I place over the unused RCA input sockets to keep the dust out.
hi Paul hope you'll be fine, my question is that is there any difference in sound quality by using troidal transformer compare to E I core transformer?
Decouplers made out of unicorn horn are the only viable material.
You see this kind of myth is where the problem is. It's unicorn spleen and please try not to spread bad information
Unicorn horns also make great toilet paper holders as well!! Wait.... there is no toilet paper. I will take the horns back to the rainbow I got them from.
@@jimalbruzzess2445 Hell, just grab that bucket of gold at the end of the damn thing, haha.
I took the Brontauzorus one... Much better and, my dog is happy! 😂
I think Paul should have been mentioned that any decent relay-based switching design will inherently short the unused inputs anyway.
Our local Upscale Audio store were giving away those Cardas caps in a radio contest back in 1998. I won a set of 8 and used them anyway on my rig. Do they improve sound quality? Sadly, I'm too busy enjoying my rig to even notice. 🤔
I think the first thing everybody should do (you asked right?) is to measure the SPL in their listening room. Download a free app onto your iphone and ipad. Compare and download another just to compare again. Once you feel that your new instrument’s readout is reliable, turn off the fridge, air circulation, heat pump etc. Because i live at the edge of a small town, my quiet spl is 28-32 db. With the refrigerator it is 42db and with the heat pump fan on high it is 48db. To see how quiet your system is set to your fav input and, with source paused, turn up the gain control, measure the ‘noise’. Now lower the volume and turn your system off. Measure the spl in the room. Turn all your appliances and heating cooling ventilation systems back on. Do the same. Most people do not have to worry about noise floors due to continuous ambient noise being generated from a variety of sources. Most workplace regs stipulate a maximum of 54db as a safe threshold for the office.
When is the new integrated going to be released and cost?
It seems to me that better than a shorting plug one should use a terminating plug with a resistor between contacts. If the resistance is chosen correctly it could serve well as a shorting plug without being damaging or overheating if accidentally put on an output. 100K?...perhaps less like 1K
Covering outputs is in league with stuffing newspaper in wall sockets in order to prevent the electricity from leaking out.
That's why they sell the Noise Harvester 😂
@Larry Niles best to put your finger in the socket no leaks is very important and a big leak can rise your electric bill 🤔
That must be why I'm finding pools of electrons on the floor below the outlets
Actually it a big difference FOR THE WORSE!! MY Chi-fi Audio GD sound was negatively affected when I shunted the un used RCA inputs. I was using the balanced and shunting the RCA had a clear on off affect that one need not have a golden ear to hear,.
At last some one speaking common sense.
Too much weapons grade bullonium floating about the inter web as it is , so no need to add more.
Cheers Paul!
I use just ordinary RCA plugs with nothing connected to them. No shorting links.
I only do it to keep unused inputs clean and free of dust buildup. If I do want to connect to that input in future, the sockets are as new with no risk of plugging into dust.
Not necessary, just an OCD thing. It really makes no difference to anything other than for my own satisfaction. I’ve only got one unused recorder loop and a sub out, which I’ve done this with.
I added platinum plated shorting plugs to my Denon receiver and the soundstage went through the walls to the other room!!
🤣🤗
I got so tired of the biased noise of my Rhodium plugs, the Seebeck effect drove me crazy. So, now I have my ears plugged while waiting for my Unicorinum plated plugs.
Perhaps you need a Turbo Encabulator...
ua-cam.com/video/Ac7G7xOG2Ag/v-deo.html
Forgive me if this has already been addressed but I also seek the best sound possible out of my system just as much as the next guy/woman. However, I cannot help but wonder how many audiophiles after spending money on electricity cleaners, audio input covers and Lord knows what else all in the hope of achieving the best possible sound available from their system actually go to the trouble of addressing the number one influencing factor of the sound output, or rather how the listener perceives the sound output to be, which is by having their own hearing checked in particular for a build up of ear wax - as strange as that may sound😲.
What?
Slows down oxidising I need to do this with silicone caps you can buy online
Lazy audiophile! Love it, even if it does sound like a paradox!
I can't believe my ears - Paul honestly speaks about snakeoil forgetting about Audiophile Correctness. The hell is going to break loose.
The only thing that works is to close the not used digital optical Out / Inputs. Whit a 75 Ohm plug. No need for eny rcas at an amp !
@Larry Niles Correct, Paul has always defended stuff when it needs defending. Usually from those who don't have the experience to have heard the differences themselves.
@Larry Niles Hmm, you take a swipe at everybody who questions anything Paul says. What's your agenda?
I thought the question was going to be regarding dust caps for unused sockets, which is a good idea. However, they're hard to find. Anybody know where one can obtain same?
Amazon
Silver is the best metal for electron flow, shouldn't that be the connector of choice?
Paul seems like an amazing guy. I want to be like Paul. Thanks for the content!
I use shorting plugs on inputs and caps on outputs just to keep the dirt out. Don't believe I hear any difference with or without. Hey I think I'm first.
You're the first person to say so and actually be so.
+1 keep dirt debris and moisture out
Me too! I cap mine to keep the dust out. Don't think I hear a difference, looks pretty though.
James Caldwell Equipment never looks pretty. It should be out of sight whenever possible.
@@Engineer9736 that's what the caps are for, they keep the inputs out of sight... hahaha
I have made my own shorting plugs.
For most equipment they are of little to no value.
Unused phono inputs are the best place to install them.
In the 1970s many amps came equipped with one magnetic phono input and one NAB tape head input. If either of these are unused, shorting plugs was used. This was to prevent noise from being heard when the selector switch was moved past these inputs. It is unnecessary on the high level inputs that are not used.
My wife says my amp sounds 100% better with the outputs shorted.
I love it!
Good one
XD
lol!!
Now we're getting somewhere.
Ok, I just orderd Rhodium plated ones. Thanks Paul.
Paul, now there is a market for them. You can make them and charge a few hundreds for each!
What about on a reel to reel tape machine? Does anyone have any input (pun intended) on that? It would be much appreciated, thanks
what about open XLR input?
I am not sure if this person meant 'termination plugs' on the output, but DEFINITELY not zero ohm shorting plugs! Since outputs are usually terminated by another audio gear in KOhms .. I doubt if any termination plugs would matter, again the switching example for the input, shorting unused inputs might make 'some' difference in measurement equipment but highly doubt it would make a noticeable difference in listening experience. What used to be in video field (and still is) having a number of unused 75 Ohm ins and outs needed to be 'terminated with a 75 Ohm plug' because that would upset the final impedance of the signal going to cameras and video recorders and such, and also on 75 Ohm coaxial antenna splitters with open ends.
Shorting plugs, $1,000 power cables, $50 receptacles and I'm now in audiophile heaven..... even before I spend my kid's college savings on speaker cables.
And your retirement fund on interconnects ! Don't forget the all important inter connects.
I use the Oyaide MWA (Magnetic Wave Absorbers). Relatively cheap, cuts out EMI and RFI and can be used on inputs and outputs as they do not short the signal (as just polymer caps).
I've got the same and it did help with cleaning up the top end a tiny bit. Had two friends have a listen and they confirmed the same. Any improvements on your end?
@@nawafalansari I swear by them. I use them on anything I have in the house with a spare RCA. Compared to other more expensive options and found these to deliver the best bang for buck. I prefer these to shorting caps for sure.
Just cleans up the micro details a smidge.
Hello, Paul! You cleared my questions on this very short video - but now I have another one: which cap and what value I should use if I'm building my own noise stoppers? I'll be using this first on two Mackie mixers I have. Also, how should I do it with XLR inputs? Thanks!!!
My refrigerator makes way more noise than an unshorted input that is not selected. Rhodium shorting plugs come right after I build my listening chamber in a cement bunker twenty five feet below ground level, 60 miles away from the nearest paved road.
Great analogy for us simpletons. Sounds like a non-problem to me.
Paul.
You have not tried my moon rock shorting plugs.
They produce a holographic soundstage, shimnering highs and below15 hz bass. The sound coming out of my BOSE wave radio now rivals a 50-60 k system.
MoonRock shorting plugs
Trust me.
Lol
🤯
Now I need to know. unused MM inputs on my phonostage. us it the same principle with the phonostage as in preamp? I did order some becouse they are cheap and if they work its a cheap upgrade in sound, and we love upgrades :)
Yup, exactly. Let us know what you find.
@@Paulmcgowanpsaudio Yes, will sure do. Should I use them on unused mm input on my phonostage?
@@Paulmcgowanpsaudio My shorting plugs finally arrived. Covid-19 is cousing such delays. Now waiting this time I have allready made a big change to my setup, buying a Vincent hybrid Class A/B integraded vacuumtube amp. I turned it on and set it to phono and turned up the volume and listened to the noice as I plugged the unused inputs and there was a clear diffrence how the noice was reduced. So Yes I confirm shorting plugs work in my setup.
Cheap and easy upgrade. We love that.
💪
Now is that unicorn or eunuch horn?!😆
A perfect excuse to buy more input devices!
This guy should run for President. What’s his golf game like ? 😂😂😂😂
All of my cables and shorting caps are fabricated from pure 9-9's "No-needium" core material. The sound is utterly fantastic!!! Much better than my previous cable & cap setup with 8-9's "No-needium" core material. Just remember if you spend far to much money on your system, you will eventually be forced to convince yourself that you have achieved the "Absolute Sound". Peace.
No offence, but actually, I thought Rhodium Shorting Plugs for optimum sound quality would be EXACTLY the kind of thing PS Audio would recommend and sell for silly prices! 😂😂😂
More rants!
Just disable the audio sources on unused channels ...
Thank you! Chord Company make £500 / $670 blanking plugs for the cash-rich, brain-light.
Only reason for me to cover unused ports is to prevent dust buildup.
Uranium shorting plugs are the best, they tighten the bass up. ;-)
But never use depleted Uranium, it has to be radio active and better still you must be in line of sight with the shortening plug so always turn the rear panel to the room.
Uranium??? So 2019
You probably confuse spam with caviar.
My MoonRock shorting plugs are so amazing that your amp will produce a world class stereo image with only ONE speaker. You could sell the other speaker to a friend who has MoonRock shorting plugs as well and take rhe Missus out for a decent meal. I did. Denny's never tasted so good. Sorta like Victory.
I know. You can thank me later.
@@chrismacdonald4570 I think you mean "lunar class" stereo imaging
@@chrismacdonald4570 Your so called MoonRock is not even certified. My Moon rock is authentic.I think,, well the guy who knows another guy said that it was.
@@waylonk2453 I believe the real trade name is Luniclass stereo imaging.
I’m confused. You say you do it when testing equipment because you can see an obvious noise difference, but then when we want to do it to reduce noise listening, it’s myth?
No, sorry. I do this while testing an active input like a phono stage. That's something you can't do while trying to play something because there would be no signal. The shorting plugs are used on inactive inputs - inputs not being used. So the myth is that they lower noise even when not active and not connected to the device.
Im not judging but I do often wonder if hi-fi also suffers from the pimp my ride syndrome -ie adding a lot of expensive usually visually interesting but often useless superficial bling that offers little to marginal gain at all.
Now please don't get me wrong I'm not against it and I'm am sure people want, hear and perceive the value in doing these things, but I just fall into the old school less is more camp and train of thought and rarely ever go round the back of my hi-fi system except to occasionally check connections and tighten up the bare speaker cable terminals but rarely to ogle at cables..but I guess that makes me an old fart
Well, if there's a guy who touches all the inputs plugs like Paul did here, it's better to put caps before, to keep the connectors clean :'-D
I only cover my audio inputs at concerts where the volume is too high (I use earplugs.)
You should swallow them with a glass of water.
Nope, never use them. I've seen them used but I really can't tell the difference.
On an expensive product there may be extra good rca plugs. everything gets dusty so you should use dust cover for rcs plugs? If you make something and use expensive RCA plugs then you should use dust protection. You should not use cheap cables with cheap rca plugs that can scratch the expensive rca plugs that are in a product!
not enough , you need shorting plugs made of dilithium crystals and adiamantum .
Mine’s are unobtanium!! 😎
Main reason is to keep the dust bunnies out.
If adding a shorting plug makes a difference then I'd say the equipment isn't designed properly.
Placebo effect.
Now I am going to try some shorting plugs on my wife as I really need less noise there! Thanks Paul...
Second time I have disagreed with Paul. If you believe in cable materials or materials in general affecting sound then you have to conclude shorting pin material can do so as well albeit in a very minor fashion. If you don't then at least you're consistent.
Paul did say there is a measurable difference of noise levels when measuring the inputs with a meter. The measured data indicated and can be translated to noise reduction (dB) when using shorted caps. And he has explained that, for the sake of "laziness", he didn't use shorted caps, and feels that you should (use) if you wanted to for the benefits of lower "floor" noise.
The material can make a difference when you have a signal, with a bunch of different frequencies that can react differently to less than ideal connectivity. When you are shorting out the input any noise is very weak and relatively uncomplicated, and the signal to noise ratio is way higher than anything else in the system. I.e. the plug's ability to short out the signal is so high compared to the plug's inability to short out the signal, that it puts it way below any noise floor that you may ever hope to have, and that is even before considering that the noise has to be strong enough to actually affect something that it's not even connected to.
Is it better to put a 10 ohm resistor then just a short
It has to be a 9.8 Ohm 0,0001% tolerance resistor to work the best.
Hugo Bloemers Don’t forget gold plated, forged in the moonlight by elves.
Maybe enclose your whole system in a vacuum sealed room at a constant air conditioning temp
From the snake oil files: If you really, really believe that some insignificant tweak will “improve” your sound, it probably will even if proven otherwise.
Why should input no3 represent your middle finger? So rude...
I know I run the risk of being branded silly for sharing my experience with gold or chrome plated rca/xlr dust caps. But I do hear subtle yet audible differences with these caps. For me they're not just for keeping the jacks dust free. Even gold plated caps from different manufacturers have different sound properties. Why this is so is beyond me, I'm not a tech person and I'm open to agreeing to disagree on this. But I get quieter background with the caps on, and how many they're used is pretty much a matter of trial and error, as "over-correction" can affect tonal balance. As an aside, one night while playing music I put a PVC cover on the HDMI port of the preamp as I suddenly became aware that I'd neglected that hole for so long. What happened was the magic of sound I was so used to was gone, although my friends would still call it great sounding gear, but I knew something was just missing. I plucked it away and the magic was back. Man it was just a tiny piece of plastic, that's crazy, something no one would believe. Nuts I was and nuts I am I humbly confess.
I think a £1000 rhodium plated shortie might sound 0.00000001% better but you'll never hear it and you've just wiped out a chunk of your amp upgrade fund!
Is this the same with AVR's?
FYI: Steve Guttenberg is a 2 input guy.
I think all of us can appreciate a witty reply. However, if your comment includes reference to an audio part made from some extremely precious/unobtainable material, or uses either the term "audiophool" or "snake oil", save us all a little scrolling time and use that delete comment option UA-cam has so mercifully provided. Thanks in advance!
Profesional equipment. No gold no ballshett
Oy VEY. When is this ever ..... GRRRRRR
All my inputs are full. This sounds like a rich persons problem.
Or time to clean up your room, all those unused devices.