High Mass vs Low Mass

[jimbones]

OK I'm back. Great week in Myrtle Beach.

Could someone explain the sonic effects of These 2 different types of connections. I guess I am old school  and always thought big heavy well constructed connections were best. Thanks.

[DaveC]

Like most things, implementation/design is far more important. There are great connectors using "low mass" design and great connectors that do not.

[Response Audio]

There are a lot of opinions on this.  All I will say is take into account the wiring going to these connections. For instance, you're wasting money if you put Eichmann (low mass) connectors on a 16 awe wire. I wouldn't use anything larger than a 22 awg with these connectors.
Big heavy connectors will negate the reasoning for using ultra thin wiring.
In the end, the deign and quality of materials are the most important factors.
If you get a chance, read the Cable Cookbook.

[Werd]

OK I'm back. Great week in Myrtle Beach.

Could someone explain the sonic effects of These 2 different types of connections. I guess I am old school  and always thought big heavy well constructed connections were best. Thanks.

It reminds me the effect locking rca's have. When tighten they tend to add tension to the sound. When left loose they relax the tension. Its the soundstage as a whole and not laser into a particular frequency.

Low mass is very much like loosened rca jacks. 

[rollo]

   Werd take it a step further and remove the locking barrels. Listen with them off and report back. Mine have been off for quite some time.


charles

[Werd]

   Werd take it a step further and remove the locking barrels. Listen with them off and report back. Mine have been off for quite some time.


charles

I sold all my Harmonic Tech. I used to do that too. 

[Response Audio]

   Werd take it a step further and remove the locking barrels   

You have to be carefull when doing this.the most inprtant aspet of a connector is having a tight connection. The best materials in the world dont matter if they dont have a snug contact. The tighter the better. Some (not all) of the less than stellar locking connectors dont have a tight contact until the barrell is tightened. If you have a nice tight contact before tighting the barrell, feel free to remove it. All the barrell does is add more mass and make it look prettier.

[Triode Pete]

There are a lot of opinions on this.  All I will say is take into account the wiring going to these connections. For instance, you're wasting money if you put Eichmann (low mass) connectors on a 16 awe wire. I wouldn't use anything larger than a 22 awg with these connectors.
Big heavy connectors will negate the reasoning for using ultra thin wiring.
In the end, the deign and quality of materials are the most important factors.
If you get a chance, read the Cable Cookbook.

Ditto! Right on!

Putting high mass connectors on low mass wire is not a good idea at all, it negates all reasoning and is a poor design. It may sound OK, but mating low mass with low mass is a smarter design and in my experiences, always sounds better...

My $0.02,
Pete

[richidoo]

Lately I have been using Electra Tube Connectors for speakers. I tried them because they had two factors I wanted, pure copper and no threads. I couldn't afford the more expensive brands that have those qualities, and I've been very happy with how these work and sound. To me they are the ultimate low mass speaker connection, just simple tapered copper tubes that slide together with tight fit, very large contact area. I still use my 5ga speaker cables with them for now, but I'd like to experiment with lower mass silver DIY SCs, if I can keep the same kinda bass control.

[Triode Pete]

Lately I have been using Electra Tube Connectors for speakers. I tried them because they had two factors I wanted, pure copper and no threads. I couldn't afford the more expensive brands that have those qualities, and I've been very happy with how these work and sound. To me they are the ultimate low mass speaker connection, just simple tapered copper tubes that slide together with tight fit, very large contact area. I still use my 5ga speaker cables with them for now, but I'd like to experiment with lower mass silver DIY SCs, if I can keep the same kinda bass control.

Yes, Danny Richie's Electra Tube Connectors work very well. I made a few sets with them and was able to hydraulically cold-fuse them and not use any solder.

I believe one of the "best" connectors is "no connector". Sometimes it's easy to accomplish that goal with speaker cables, as long as the cable is not too large for the binding posts...

[rollo]

Lately I have been using Electra Tube Connectors for speakers. I tried them because they had two factors I wanted, pure copper and no threads. I couldn't afford the more expensive brands that have those qualities, and I've been very happy with how these work and sound. To me they are the ultimate low mass speaker connection, just simple tapered copper tubes that slide together with tight fit, very large contact area. I still use my 5ga speaker cables with them for now, but I'd like to experiment with lower mass silver DIY SCs, if I can keep the same kinda bass control.

Yes, Danny Richie's Electra Tube Connectors work very well. I made a few sets with them and was able to hydraulically cold-fuse them and not use any solder.

I believe one of the "best" connectors is "no connector". Sometimes it's easy to accomplish that goal with speaker cables, as long as the cable is not too large for the binding posts...

  Could not agree more.


charles