Next update- PEC potentiometer; headphone jack next?

[Nathan]

Next on my list is the PEC 100k ohm stereo pot. Mine arrived the other day- and it's now installed. It's stiffer than the stock pot. Also found I needed to enlarge the holes a bit. Yes, the low level tracking is better.

Down the road- maybe a different headphone jack. What are folks finding the most satisfactory replacement for the stock jack? And for those that have replaced the jack, is it a worthwhile update? I replaced my RCA jacks with nice Cardas RCAs and I really can't tell any difference.

 

[Strikkflypilot]

A lot of us have installed a Neutrik locking jack, cause it look good, and because it is possible
As for SQ, I wouldn't expect a difference, not that it is a bad thing.
Oh, and for the locking jack, You would have to drill a bigger hole.

 

[Bwaze]

There's also Neutrik NMJ6HC-S, which is the same jack as stock (non locking, switching function), but with chrome ferrule.

Not an upgrade, just a different (potentially nicer looking) jack. I didn't want locking function on a small headphone amp, so I opted for this one.

It's funny how you can find RCA jacks worth tens and hundreds of dollars, but there's almost no boutique headphone jacks... How are we to make the complete signal path with the same type of connectors, as some advise, if I can't get my solid silver headphone jacks, plated with finest hand picked mountain rhodium?

 

[Chris65]

It's funny how you can find RCA jacks worth tens and hundreds of dollars, but there's almost no boutique headphone jacks... How are we to make the complete signal path with the same type of connectors, as some advise, if I can't get my solid silver headphone jacks, plated with finest hand picked mountain rhodium?

Good comment! Always wondered the same myself, fancy RCA's & XLR's, banana plugs & spades, BNC's even, but no boutique headphone jacks as you say...strange.

Another option, quoted from PB:
There is a Switchcraft jack that I would consider an upgrade.  It does require the chassis hole to be drilled out a little bit, and it doesn't have the switching function.  This guy:
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/152B/SC1035-ND/109342
It's not a very glorious looking jack, but the quality is quite good.


One fitted here: http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php?topic=6597.msg67906#msg67906

 

[Bwaze]

I always found this text a cure when thinking about hookup wire, cables and connectors upgrades:

How important are wire and cables really?

Not that it completely helps...  ;D

 

[Grainger49]

  .  .  .  It's funny how you can find RCA jacks worth tens and hundreds of dollars, but there's almost no boutique headphone jacks  .  .  .  . 

I'm just guessing here but it is an educated guess.  The RCA jack signal level is 1/10 or 1/100 the voltage level of an output.  The RCA jack and plug are an awful connection depending on the spring tension of the outer ring of the plug and the contact inside the jack.

The headphone jack is a more positive connection than an RCA jack.  And, again, a much higher voltage level.