[jriggy]

So I tried the subject combination from preamp to amp and got a huge loud buzz/hum.

The KLEI Absolute Harmony plugs outer ring is constructed of a composite material, as opposed to all metal, and they appear to have only a small ‘dot’ of metal for the outer ring connection to the socket.
The WBT Nextgen RCA socket is also constructed of some sort of plastic, as opposed to all metal, and they have a strip of metal spiraling around it for signal connection.











Did I get this loud buzzing because the metal ‘dot’ did not make contact with the metal spiral???
Do I need to insure that the metal ‘dot’ on the KLEI plug is positioned directly onto a portion of the metal spiral on the WBT socket???

I’ve confirmed the cables are not made wrong and they do perform normally on other gear, like from DAC to pre.

I’d like to try them again but am nervous to get that very loud buzz/hum again and of course afraid of damaging speakers.

Thanks

[glynnw]

  I occasionally have the same problem. Just twist the KLEI in the socket until it makes contact. 

[jriggy]

Ah, ok!

Hard to even think, let alone let that buzz keep going to make the adjustment. I’ll try to position it first.

Thanks for the confirmation.

[Mike B.]

Well if you have them wired correctly then yes play with seating them together. I have used the KLEI's and never had that problem. They are excellent connectors IMO. I have no experience with the WBT sockets.

[jriggy]

Success!

Paid attention to seat the ‘dot’ of the KLEI AH directly on the ending tab of the metal spiral of the WBT and all is fine.

Yes, they are good connectors. Still system dependent, as they do have a smoothness in the upper mids that might not have good synergy with some speakers. [edit: further break-in was needed]

[FullRangeMan]

All my cables are cheap or made by me, I have never liked WBT hi mass connectors  so a few years a go I decided KLE low mass RCAs was better than others Chinese connectors and ordered the top of the line set at PCX, so just after I have received the connectors I found this
https://www.aurealisaudio.com.au/klei-harmony-rca-issues/

[Letitroll98]

There is no mention of metallurgy of any type on the KLEI website regarding any of their connectors, RCA or Banana, any model.  One might suppose something occurred between the link FRM posted and the website viewed today.

Edit: I checked a distributor, VH Audio, and there's no mention of metallurgy either, basically they say they're really good and might have more conductivity than pure silver, but maybe not.  All reviews I've read say that they're a bitch to solder, but they sound great.  I can discern no difference from either website between any of their models other than price.

[munosmario]

FRM's link is exactly what KLI promotional literature said regarding their connectors in company's web page, before dealer in link queried KLI about the issue. Obviously, since then, KLI has removed any pure silver references...however, as you can see in the link, those original pure silver claims were stated as a "pure silver alloy." That is an oxymoron in the highest degree. The metal in question is pure silver or an alloy but it cannot be both. Unless it was meant to indicate an alloy of silver of the purest degree (seven nines or above) and whatever other metal. But, in this case, it is not an alloy at all,  just silver plating!!

This is the definition of alloy: 
     A metal made by combining two or more metallic elements, especially to give greater strength or resistance to corrosion.
     Example: "an alloy of nickel, bronze, and zinc" (bronze itself is an alloy of copper and tin).
     Synonyms:   mixture, mix, amalgam, fusion, meld, blend, compound, combination, admixture, composite, union

[Correction: My reference to "seven nines or above" is incorrect. The finest silver ever produced was five nines or 99,999% pure silver. This was achieved by the Royal Silver Company of Bolivia. Currently, the most common highest standard is three nines or 99.9 % pure silver (called "Fine Silver") used internationally for silver bullion
   

[rollo]

  Not cool. However IMHO excellent connectors. They are a bear to break in and do have a sonic signature. Detailed and bright.

charles

[munosmario]

I agree with you, Charles. Metallurgy aside, I use these connectors very successfully with top of the line unbalanced Mogami cable. Incidentally, I believe you will find interesting my correction at the bottom of my original post.

All the best, Mario

[jriggy]

Detailed but I wouldn’t go as far as to say bright...in my system that is.
They’re def a system dependent piece. I do agree they have a sound signature. They make high freq sound different than I’m used to with other cables I’ve had over the years. Almost like they are smearing the middle sound. The transients are not affected, like the leading and trailing edges are fine but it seems like the middle or peak sound of cymbals are homogenized or slightly synthetic or something. That’s the best I can describe it. Maybe they’re not fully broken in yet.

[Tyson]

IME the copper Harmony plugs sound better than the silver. 

[wushuliu]

IME the copper Harmony plugs sound better than the silver.

The copper is *excellent*.
Couldn't pay me to use anything with silver though. I don't know how some people stand it.

[FullRangeMan]

When I bought my KLE rca I read the manufacturer site and it said the connetors were solid silver but now gone, Iam using it to headphones cable to plug in to cd player. Other thing I dont like are the thin red/blue rings too small to my eyes.

[Letitroll98]

IME the copper Harmony plugs sound better than the silver.

I thought the point was there isn't any silver connectors.  As someone who has obviously used them, what's the difference between the various plugs?  Just from pics on the website I couldn't see any difference in the design or materials.  Thanks for any info you might have.

[rollo]

Detailed but I wouldn’t go as far as to say bright...in my system that is.
They’re def a system dependent piece. I do agree they have a sound signature. They make high freq sound different than I’m used to with other cables I’ve had over the years. Almost like they are smearing the middle sound. The transients are not affected, like the leading and trailing edges are fine but it seems like the middle or peak sound of cymbals are homogenized or slightly synthetic or something. That’s the best I can describe it. Maybe they’re not fully broken in yet.

 At a minimum 185 hours our hands on experience was 250 hours to stop changing. May not bright per say but highlighted.


charles

[ErikMi]

All my cables are cheap or made by me, I have never liked WBT hi mass connectors  so a few years a go I decided KLE low mass RCAs was better than others Chinese connectors and ordered the top of the line set at PCX, so just after I have received the connectors I found this
https://www.aurealisaudio.com.au/klei-harmony-rca-issues/

FWIW The WBT NextGen RCA's are not high mass where it counts.. inside the connector.. Also the metallurgy is top notch. Only problem is they are expensive

[jriggy]

At a minimum 185 hours our hands on experience was 250 hours to stop changing. May not bright per say but highlighted.


charles

Thanks for the hour count. And I’d agree with your use of highlighted in that context