Remember to look after your connections

I strongly recommend the use of Deoxit spray - it's amazing stuff.  I clean all my connections once a year as part of spring cleaning and it works amazingly well

I've been using Deoxit for years but recently landed on a thread (somewhere) that claimed, that after initial cleaning, could actually end up doing more harm than good.

I was told by a Furutech rep that one of the best things to clean AC plugs is VIM (kitchen cleaner) or ceramic stove top cleaner and a soft toothbrush. You could always follow up with Deoxit Gold as a preventive measure. I tried it and could swear I heard an immediate improvement.

While we're on the subject...if connectors oxidize, what about the inputs?

Unplugging and replugging connections is all that’s needed, and any cleaning products should be avoided, as they can leave residues. When unplugging and replugging you should do it several times - some say 10 or 20. It’s a good idea to do it a couple of times a year, to keep everything tip top. 

This ^^

hungryhalibut posted:

Unplugging and replugging connections is all that’s needed,????"and any cleaning products should be avoided,as they can leave residues"

When unplugging and replugging you should do it several times - some say 10 or 20. It’s a good idea to do it a couple of times a year, to keep everything tip top. 

I really have to agree with what Hungryhalibut writes above.
This is very important,and part of the regular maintenance of your music-system.

◾And this is even more important:????HH wrote "and any cleaning products should be avoided,as they can leave residues"

So do not use cleaning products.!!

/Peder???? 

Naim advise against using liquid contact cleaners and “enhancers” - better to just let the contacts self clean through plugging in and out. 

Richard, do you think that advice holds good for all hifi or just Naim products?

Loki, I guess Naim’s advice refers to their own connectors, ie DINs and 4mm plugs and sockets.

DINs have high pressure "self cleaning" contacts - unplug and reinsert the plug once each year is sufficient; a maximum of 2 times in the same period if you're paranoid!

Loki posted:

Richard, do you think that advice holds good for all hifi or just Naim products? 

???? Loki,....It as Hungryhalibut,me and Richard wrote applies to all contacts,..Regardless of brand.

Now just answered Richard on the subject of Naim's advice,..but as I wrote above,this generally applies to all contacts,banana-contacts etc.

/Peder ????

Most connections, including regular RCA should be tight enough to allow natural abrasion clean (unplugging/plugging). The clouding seen on many connections of low reactivity metals like gold plate interconnects is usually not oxidization but just accumulated airborn grime. Rubbing alcohol is all thats needed to remove it without residue, but as it accumulates on areas not in direct contact, it's fairly cosmetic. If you want something thinner, a 1:1 ratio of isopropyl alcohol and distilled water is the way to go (also the best solution for cleaning fingerprints of cases and front panels).

Contact cleaner or other mildly corrosive cleaners are, I think, perfectly fine for things not in an signal path. I'd not hesitate to use them on mains plugs for example. 

Huge posted:

DINs have high pressure "self cleaning" contacts - unplug and reinsert the plug once each year is sufficient; a maximum of 2 times in the same period if you're paranoid!

I run 5 times in/out series once a year. I am now checking for the closest institution.  

Chag -

Huge posted:

DINs have high pressure "self cleaning" contacts - unplug and reinsert the plug once each year is sufficient

"High pressure", "self cleaning", "once each year" and "sufficient"? Really?

Given differences in listener environments and habits, your basis for such an arbitrary statement is what? 

joerand posted:

Huge posted:

DINs have high pressure "self cleaning" contacts - unplug and reinsert the plug once each year is sufficient

"High pressure", "self cleaning", "once each year" and "sufficient"? Really?

Given differences in listener environments and habits, your basis for such an arbitrary statement is what? 

Yes.  Really.

A degree in chemistry (and having worked in research), an interest in materials science, having done some work as an electronics engineer, the practical experience of having designed, built, tested and optimised audio amplifiers that used DIN connectors and having examined the pins of older DIN connectors after a single removal / insertion cycle.

I read once that 64 times was the correct amount of in outs.  Taking care especially with the wobbly mains input.

Is that a statistical number?
(Refer to 'Statistics' thread.  )

(Connectors other than DIN may well benefit from more than a single reinsertion cycle.)

Great thread - my hi-fi and the majority of cables are getting on for 13 years old and I've never once thought about cleaning contacts. Looks like I have a date with a bottle of record cleaner and a microfibre cloth....

Jonners posted:

Great thread - my hi-fi and the majority of cables are getting on for 13 years old and I've never once thought about cleaning contacts. Looks like I have a date with a bottle of record cleaner and a microfibre cloth....

Don't use record cleaner as it can leave a residue, just use 'pure' isopropyl alcohol.

Huge posted:

A degree in chemistry (and having worked in research), an interest in materials science, having done some work as an electronics engineer and the practical experience of having designed, built, tested and optimised audio amplifiers that used DIN connectors.

Even more interesting! Given your background, your response (below) seems all the more random, arbitrary and pretentious as read by someone with an objective scientific education. 

Huge posted:

DINs have high pressure "self cleaning" contacts - unplug and reinsert the plug once each year is sufficient; a maximum of 2 times in the same period if you're paranoid!

joerand posted:

Huge posted:

A degree in chemistry (and having worked in research), an interest in materials science, having done some work as an electronics engineer and the practical experience of having designed, built, tested and optimised audio amplifiers that used DIN connectors.

Even more interesting! Given your background, your response (below) seems all the more random, arbitrary and pretentious as read by someone with an objective scientific education. 

Huge posted:

DINs have high pressure "self cleaning" contacts - unplug and reinsert the plug once each year is sufficient; a maximum of 2 times in the same period if you're paranoid!

Well then, do the test yourself: take an old DIN, subject it to a single reinsertion cycle, take it apart and inspect it with a microscope - you may just be surprised at what you see.

joerand posted:

Huge posted:

A degree in chemistry (and having worked in research), an interest in materials science, having done some work as an electronics engineer and the practical experience of having designed, built, tested and optimised audio amplifiers that used DIN connectors.

Even more interesting! Given your background, your response (below) seems all the more random, arbitrary and pretentious as read by someone with an objective scientific education. 

Huge posted:

DINs have high pressure "self cleaning" contacts - unplug and reinsert the plug once each year is sufficient; a maximum of 2 times in the same period if you're paranoid!

I take it you disagree with Huge. I’m sure we’d all be interested in your thoughts on the subject.

That's why before auditioning upgrades, clean your connections because that upgrade might just be the clean connections! Rich 

Why on earth can’t some members disagree without being so rude and unpleasant?

Timmo1341 posted:

Why on earth can’t some members disagree without being so rude and unpleasant?

Because it's a forum, and represents a small cross section of society, which, of course, includes rude and unpleasant people.

I find it easiest to simply refrain from responding in print to the more abrasive keyboard warriors who feel that their opinions are all that matter.

Yes all contact connections including DIN and RCA benefit from occasional unplug and re-insertion, even if it’s simply to remove the contact oxidisation. With some of the Naim DIN connectors like Hiline, there is also consideration of the physical tensions for optimum conduction so that the pins in the DIN connections are not under undue pressure and tension, that is is you insert the plug then pull out to a degree such that the DIN pins can be seated optimally in the socket connector cups.. usually worth re doing this every few months or once a year. Many quality RCA plugs (like ETI, or WBT such as Naim use) use high pressure contacts and these benefit from being re inserted and clamped every few months..