I do kinda see some point in gold plating electrical cables. Gold doesn’t tarnish so much and is also often used on computer edge connectors.
The issue has always been “audiophiles” telling you they can tell the difference with a gold or gold plated digital connector. Of course you cannot, you either are getting bit errors or not with digital audio. But they do generally provide a more reliable connection overall.
Now don’t ask me about my opinion, you’re talking to the guy that makes radio antennas with speaker wire. I am truly uncultured in terms of electrical connectivity.
Gold doesn’t make an external oxide layer when exposed to air. So, any bit of the plug that touches your contact will conduct well, instead of being a toss up on how much insulating oxide is between them.
But again, that’s only important in electrical cables…
Giving them the benefit of the doubt, I would think it’s to resist corrosion, but there are plenty of cheaper metals to plate with that don’t corrode, so even that’s a stretch.
If you wanted to make a high quality plug, you’d use a stainless steel guide. It has to be steel because it’s elastically deformed during insertion, and any plating will be scratched with enough use.
Most plugs don’t work that way, but this one model does.
Is that an optical cable with gold plating to improve the electrical connection?
Yes.
It’s also for digital signals, so interference doesn’t matter (up to the point it stops everything).
But hey, it also has a silver ABS grip.
I do kinda see some point in gold plating electrical cables. Gold doesn’t tarnish so much and is also often used on computer edge connectors.
The issue has always been “audiophiles” telling you they can tell the difference with a gold or gold plated digital connector. Of course you cannot, you either are getting bit errors or not with digital audio. But they do generally provide a more reliable connection overall.
Now don’t ask me about my opinion, you’re talking to the guy that makes radio antennas with speaker wire. I am truly uncultured in terms of electrical connectivity.
Gold doesn’t make an external oxide layer when exposed to air. So, any bit of the plug that touches your contact will conduct well, instead of being a toss up on how much insulating oxide is between them.
But again, that’s only important in electrical cables…
Isn’t that pretty much what I said?
That’s compatible with your words. I guess I can’t read right at the first time :)
Giving them the benefit of the doubt, I would think it’s to resist corrosion, but there are plenty of cheaper metals to plate with that don’t corrode, so even that’s a stretch.
Or, you know, plastic.
If you wanted to make a high quality plug, you’d use a stainless steel guide. It has to be steel because it’s elastically deformed during insertion, and any plating will be scratched with enough use.
Most plugs don’t work that way, but this one model does.