How Often Do You Clean The Connections Of Your Equipment, Speakers and Cables

Posted by: ryder. on 22 May 2016

I can't recall the last time I cleaned the connection points of my equipment and speaker terminals. I found my Deoxit tubes in a closet yesterday after all these years. It must have been at least 5 years since I last used these contact cleaners. Needless to say, I cleaned all the connections of the equipment including the plugs of all interconnect cables, power cords and the NACA5 cables. The exercise lasted for about 20 to 30 minutes.

I have to say, the amount of dirt that come off will be proportionate to the sound changes. Music on test was Bob James "Grand Piano Canyon" (the music of the week) and I was taken aback by the renewed vigour of the system as if a veil had been removed. The tone of the piano sounds richer and has more energy and vitality as the notes linger in the background. Other instruments such as guitars, strings and percussion sound cleaner and more defined with less smearing.

Unfortunately I couldn't reverse the exercise and listen to the system with the uncleaned connections to see if I am hearing things. But so far, the experience is very positive.

The cotton buds that were used for the cleaning :-

 

 Just out of curiosity, when was the last time the connections of your equipment were cleaned?

Posted on: 31 May 2016 by Innocent Bystander

That's a very understandable and reasonable reqction, though in present weather where I am either chilled Prosecco or a malty and distinctlyhoppy concoction seems particularly attractive, even if they require greater volumes to provide same benefits!

Posted on: 31 May 2016 by SNAIC in the Grass

I completely replace all my ends every day, so I don't have to clean them.  It's expensive, and requires a lot of time out of each day to re-solder, but its like a veil is lifted every time I do it!

Posted on: 31 May 2016 by rjstaines
SNAIC in the Grass posted:

I completely replace all my ends every day, so I don't have to clean them.  It's expensive, and requires a lot of time out of each day to re-solder, but its like a veil is lifted every time I do it!

The red anti-oxidant has that same veil lifting effect I find, but it's probably cheaper to do what you're doing, SNAIC.   Thing is, I can imagine the damage mixing the two technology solutions would have on me... soldering iron plus red anti-oxidant... bound to end in tears (and burns).

Tell me this though, do you re-solder any Super Lumia  or  Tuned Array every day, or are they all regular snaics?

Posted on: 31 May 2016 by dayjay

Whenever I feel I the need to clean my connectors I apply an alcoholic substance to the throat until the drive goes away - I find the system sounds much better for the remainder of the night 

Posted on: 02 June 2016 by ursus262

I do all my connectors about once every twelve months.  I find that Deoxit is one of the best cleaners and conditioners on the market and using this really makes a difference.  Usually, that's enough for me though.