[davidrs]

Did a search but was unable to find a relevant discussion on this here at AC.

Also not quite sure where this post ideally belongs. If elsewhere, like The Lab, feel free to move it, lonewolfny42.

Would like to know if anyone has played around with complete or partial covering of the female inputs, positives only, negatives only, etc. on an integrated amp or pre and come to any definitive conclusions or recommendations?

These are the Cardas RCA Caps that fit over unused female RCA connectors to eliminate EMI and RF noise absorption. Unlike traditional shorting plugs, these caps do not short the inputs.

Thanks.

- David.

[Lancelot]

 I tried them in various configurations on a pre ( Bryston) and didn't notice any difference.

 Perhaps in a more polluted RFI environment they might make a difference . I tend to think they are bought ( like I did ) as an inexpensive tweak to play with rather than a real solution to a problem you probably don't even have.

[davidrs]

Thanks for the feedback, Lancelot.

I remember these being recommended by one of the mainstream review magazines as an inexpensive 'necessity/wonder.'

Curious as to what others might have experienced.

Do you still use them?

At the very least, I guess they keep the dust, etc. at bay.

[TheChairGuy]

Thanks for the feedback, Lancelot.

I remember these being recommended by one of the mainstream review magazines as an inexpensive 'necessity/wonder.'

Curious as to what others might have experienced.

At the very least, I guess they keep the dust, etc. at bay.

They keep the dust at bay, but little else I've found.

I first bought them 8+ years ago when I lived in Washington DC....400 yards as the crow flies from the main TV and Radio towers for the DC-area (in Upper NW DC).

My IC's were shielded and I even found shielded loudspeaker cables - and both helped mitigate a lot of the RF leach-thru.  Bought the Cardas caps and thought that might help further....it didn't do a thing that I could tell 

5 years later I'm in a home that is in direct view of Sutro Tower in San Francisco - the main TV & Radio tower for the Bay area.  I was about ~2 miles away from it as the crow flies.  Neither shielded IC's nor loudspeaker cables are needed (in fact, the loudspeaker cables sound terrible, possibly due to higher capacitance added by the shielding) are no longer needed. RCA caps - TOTALLY superfluous.

btw, RF is still something of a problem as the phono stage of a modded Advent 300 is fully swamped with it. But, all TV channels come in without cable quite well

Today, no longer facing Sutro Tower in another home, can't get TV without cable subscription, Advent 300 phono stage sounds clean....and the RCA caps are still quite totally useless except for keeping dust off the jacks.

Regards, John

[decal]

I use RCA caps(non-shorting type) from Audio Additives.They aren't Cardas but then they don't cost a fortune.They do a great job of keeping crud out of unused RCA sockets (the reason I bought them).As far as any sonic benefits go,I can't detect any.They are available from Music Direct.

[lonewolfny42]

I too bought those caps awhile ago...but I misplaced them....don't know where their at....

But....I was just thinking of keeping the dust out of the preamp....my reason for their purchase.

[davidrs]

Thanks for your comments:

The Chair Guy
Decal &
Lonewolfny42

My Melody I2A3 came with rubberized caps, seems as that is all you need, if the only upside is keeping the dust out.

Anyone out there who has experienced an sq upside in your application?

[soundbitten1]

I use Cardas Caps too but like the others I've heard no difference.

[gooberdude]

I gotta add that i'm totally enjoying the audio additives rca caps...on my tv's & DISH box.  The change to the video quality is outstanding.

I have not tested these with any audio gear, but $15 worth of these on the female inputs on the back of your're tv & cable box might shock you. I live in the 'burbs, probably not an RFI rich area.

I don't think these are supposed to go on female outputs, or rather that there isn't  any benefit...except maybe as dust caps. 

The female inputs are a difft story. 

Most ads appear to be very 3-D now...and my tv is only a 720p hd plasma.

YMMV

[Watson]

Shorting caps make a huge difference on some gear (reduced the noise level on my Melos by an audible amount). I've never noticed anything as significant with non-shorting caps, but I imagine it is possible in RF-rich surroundings (though I did live close to a radio station once and didn't notice it there; again, this was with the Melos).

[davidrs]

I gotta add that i'm totally enjoying the audio additives rca caps...on my tv's & DISH box.  The change to the video quality is outstanding.

Most ads appear to be very 3-D now...and my tv is only a 720p hd plasma.

Gdude: Thanks for the suggestion - I will see if it makes a difference with my TV.

[dflee]

Hey Dude: You brought up the obvious which is probably why it never occurred to me to try them in the video inputs. I'm going to give that a try today.

Thanks
Don

PS: didn't hear anything different with them on the pre inlets either. But it also didn't hurt.