Topic: Neutrik quality rant!

[JasonR]

I had better luck using one of those new funky "cold heat" soldering irons with the new Neutrik plugs.  For the most part, I'm not a huge fan of the new soldering iron except when away from an AC outlet, but it does seem to bring the solder up to its melting point very quickly and seems not to result in damaged plastic from excess heat.  YMMV.  Regardless, the new Neutrik connectors are definitely a step in the wrong direction.

- Jason

[d5]

This sucks, but is there any real choice beyond Neutrik?

[flipp]

I've used Deltron in the past and been happy with them except they don't make a right angle connector. I know Switchcraft also makes XLR connectors, including right angles, but I've never used them. I'm sure there are other companies that make XLR connectors besides Neutrik. Deltron amd Switchcraft.

[keith]

Pomona Electronics makes XLr's, and Newark Electronics carries them. The Pomona catalog is here:

http://www.pomonaelectronics.com/pdf/broadcast/2152248_w.pdf

Amphenol also makes XLr's,  and at least one place that carries them is procosound. You have to scroll past the Neutrik connectors to get to the Amphenols:

http://www.procosound.com/downloads/ProCo_bulkparts.pdf

Both of the above connectors appear to be similar to the construction of the Neutriks (i.e. more modern looking than the old Switchcraft connectors.)

'Hope that helps.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

The CEO of Neutrik called me this morning from Germany.

More details to follow.  Never underestimate the German commitment to quality!

[JasonR]

The CEO of Neutrik called me this morning from Germany.

More details to follow.  Never underestimate the German commitment to quality!

Wow!  Curious to hear what comes of this!

[Sebastian]

I've just ordered some Neutrik XLR connectors here in Germany. I'm quite curious as to whether or not they have the new version here, too

Oh, and the company is actually from the small country of Liechtenstein, not Germany.

Edit: Got the connectors today. They are still the old (good) design.

[bdasilva]

So where are we on the connectors... Just ordered a dozen sets from Markerteck and I can only figure they will be the "new" type?

[Nick's Picks]

i've also had troubel w/the neutric connectors...same issues.  hot pins start to move around in the plastic.  shoddy quality.  I'd like to explore other options as well.

"vee germans are not a varlike people"

[it-goes-to-eleven]

So.. As I understand the situation..

The material was removed from the connector in the new design to provide better mold release and precision.  During molding, plastic parts must cool slightly in order for them to shrink and release from the mold. That void in the center allows the shrinkage to be more uniform and probably a little quicker.  It is hard to get a solid plug or cylinder to shrink uniformly.

In Neutrik testing, both new and old components begin to melt after the same amount of time under the iron.  They do not recommend you go beyond that point. It is about 10 to 12 seconds of heat (though it depends on your iron).

My impression is that the old connectors were more stable when taken beyond that point.  Sure, the plastic may melt at the same pin temp. But a slice of butter melts faster than a chunk.

In order to maintain pin alignment, I recommend plugging in another connector to at least maintain alignment.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Welp, I'm just reporting what I was able to find out.  I will forward the new comments on.

Given what people pay for WBT RCAs, some money could probably be made selling high quality teflon XLR's.  Though I do love telling audiophiles that the mic connectors that made the recording cost less than $3.

[Roving Sign]

I also try to use a minimum of solder on the pins - generally you can still see the wire outline. Just create flow.

Make sure your tip is fresh - if its not melting your solder wire easily - replace...

I hate those old switchcraft A3Ms - the pins are hollow!!! - I got good working on those suckers!

[Chuck]

Some don't like working with lead solder because it's a health risk.
High silver content solder does melt at higher temperatures.

[SparkE!]

Lead free solder is going to become a larger and larger issued, especially as July 1, 2006 approaches.  That's the date at which the RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) Directive is to go into effect in Europe.  One of the prime objectives of that directive is to remove lead from the materials that are used to manufacture electronics.  Lead-free solder tends to have a higher melting temperature and tends to crystalize more readily than its lead-bearing counterpart that most people are familar with.

http://www.pb-free.info/laymans_terms.htm
http://www.rohs.gov.uk/

[Chuck]

As always, SparkE! brings the word. 

I don't follow the inside electronics news at all so I'm a little surprised by this actually.  How hazardous is a little lead on some electronic gear?  Kids gonna start sucking PCBs?

I suppose in mass recycling efforts the lead content of gear (TV, radios, etc.) would be something significant to deal with... but then you'd expect them to be able to cope with that, wouldn't you? 

I'm off now to RS to buy a few dozen tubes of silver solder for my old age... 

I have noticed that the RS no lead, silver solder crystalizes fast and cools to look like a cold solder connection. I didn't care for it. YMMV