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What are shorting plugs? Do you need them?
- Thread starter olds1959special
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They short the center conductor to the shield of a female "RCA" (unbalanced) connector.
You can make one with an RCA plug and a piece of wire (and a soldering iron -- and/or perhaps a crimp tool, as appropriate) if you really want one (or some).
Do you need them? Not as such.
If you needed them, every single ubalanced input on every single component on Earth would be plugged with one... and such is not the case.
They may do something for high-gain inputs (e.g., MM or MC phono, or tape head inputs) on a preamp, integrated amp, or receiver to slightly improve noise levels -- but they're hardly de rigueur. I also wouldn't take for granted that sometimes they might not play well with a specific circuit. I have occasionally encountered weird artifacts when shorting line-level inputs on certain components.
You can make one with an RCA plug and a piece of wire (and a soldering iron -- and/or perhaps a crimp tool, as appropriate) if you really want one (or some).
Do you need them? Not as such.
If you needed them, every single ubalanced input on every single component on Earth would be plugged with one... and such is not the case.
They may do something for high-gain inputs (e.g., MM or MC phono, or tape head inputs) on a preamp, integrated amp, or receiver to slightly improve noise levels -- but they're hardly de rigueur. I also wouldn't take for granted that sometimes they might not play well with a specific circuit. I have occasionally encountered weird artifacts when shorting line-level inputs on certain components.
DVDdoug
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They can reduce the noise measurement and insure that any noise is generated internally rather being picked-up by the open input.
In "real life" the noise might be worse. But if you are a manufacturer you want the best specs/measurements possible.
...Of course they can't be used when you have an audio signal.
Or if you have a receiver or preamp with unused inputs, the can minimize noise when select an unused input. But it shouldn't make THAT much difference. Normally, you're not going go get a loud buzz or anything like that...
In "real life" the noise might be worse. But if you are a manufacturer you want the best specs/measurements possible.
...Of course they can't be used when you have an audio signal.
Or if you have a receiver or preamp with unused inputs, the can minimize noise when select an unused input. But it shouldn't make THAT much difference. Normally, you're not going go get a loud buzz or anything like that...
I use them, and similar XLR and jack versions for making noise measurements, as mentioned above. Otherwise, not of much use in the real world.
S
S
OP
olds1959special
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Can I use them on the unused inputs of my MiniDSP 2x4 HD, Topping A70 Pro, KRK S10?
Yes you can - but as stated above they are unlikely to result in any audible improvement.
Even if you are hearing noise at your listening position - it is unlikely to be pick up from unused inputs. If you are not hearing noise - then there is nothing audible to reduce in any case.
OP
olds1959special
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Amazon advertised them to me and I was wondering what they were.
At least it wasn't some 'phool audio blog/mag thing
They exist there, tho.....FWIW I've never found a reason for one.
Rick63
Senior Member
Back when I was still into HT and AVRs I used red and white silicone RCA jack caps to clean up the back panel with sooo many inputs I never used, and to make it easier to identify the left & right channels and help keep any dust from getting inside.
I didn't see any need to spend more on shorting caps since they do little to nothing.
I didn't see any need to spend more on shorting caps since they do little to nothing.
somebodyelse
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That smells of an expedient fix to a design issue that was missed in early testing and only found when they were already committed to production. I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't supplied with a later batch.
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