Hi,

I am having problem taking PCA interconnect cable out from the pre-amps input jacks. I am using Outlaw 950 pre-amp and have the outlaw PCA interconnect to the CD-in locked-in. I needed to connect a new component to the input. Attempting to take the interconnect out from my CD player, ended up spoiling the CD players analog RCA jacks. Is this a common problem? I am trying to turn the silver jacket on the cables connector counter-clockwise but it will not turn by itself. The entire connector moves. HELP!!

Thanks,

Locking RCA's can sometimes prove particularly stubborn -- I've used two brands (Outlaw and TMC), and at times both have not wanted to loosen. First, let's get our control volume defined here... If you are looking at the back of the CD player , you should turn the silver barrel clockwise to loosen it (at least, that's the way my memory swears that it turns at the moment -- I've got an extra set in the closet at home that I can verify this on later tonight). If it doesn't want to turn on its own, hold the yellow section at the base of the plug still -- that part should not rotate, and can offer some useful leverage when the plug is particularly tight. If you are looking at the front of the CD player (reaching across from the front and working blind, for example), then the counter-clockwise direction is correct.

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gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

Gonk,

Thanks for your reply. I have the instruction sent along with the cable, and it says to turn the silver portion of the cable counter-clockwise to losen it up. However, it does not say how the cable held: facing towards you or the natural position that I assume when connecting facing back of the equipment. However, I am trying to losen it up by holding the golden part with one set of pliers and trying to rotate the silver part with another and it still would not budge. It is really frustating to try to simply diconnet a simple pair of audio cable and messing up the rca jacks on the components. Also, the way the cables are made and the rca jacks are situated at the back of the equipment, it does not give you much room to work with. It's funny that I already got blisters on my fingers and the damn cables still would not come out. Am I the only one having this problem? Should I demote myself to technically (or mechanically) challanged??

Just the reverse! Looking at things from the rear of the plug, you tighten the connector by turning counter-clockwise, and to loosen, turn clockwise. The threads on mine were somewhat difficult to turn. I removed the outer shells and applied a tad of silicon lube to the threads. They work better now. Once you unscrew one shell you'll see better how the clamping action works.

I checked my cables -- the directions I listed above are correct. Clockwise looking at the back of the unit, counter-clockwise looking at the front of the unit.

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gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

This is why I use BNC connectors on projects I build - it would have been nice if the audio industry had settled on this reliable connector from the start...


[This message has been edited by soundhound (edited May 20, 2003).]

Guys,

Thanks a lot for all the help. I guess I mis-interpreted the instruction. Also I realize that, with all the attempts I made so far, I just made it even more tight. Will try some more to see if they come out easy.

One more question: How easy it is to replace the RCA jacks at the back of componenets. Are they easy to find replacements that you can buy and replace or they come as a more moduler boards?

Thanks Again,
Khaled

[This message has been edited by k2h (edited May 20, 2003).]

I agree that BNC (or lemo) connectors are better. Those RCA pieces parts are a really cheap design: the ground connection is broken before the signal is.

After having a similar problem undoing my Outlaw interconnects, I just make certain that I do not tighten them down too tight.

When I attempt to undo a connection, I just look at the connector for a while and make certain I understand what is acually taking place inside the Outlaw interconnect when I attempt to turn the locking collar a certain direction. If I have not had too many cocktails, I almost always get it right. If I get it wrong, I assume I have not had enough cocktails yet and give up on the interconnect for a while.

Paul

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the 1derful1

Let me guess, it would have cost too much money to silk screen a lock/unlock set of arrows on the PCA connector barrels. Sometimes I have to wonder about about our friends at Outlaw.

On Outlaw's behalf, I haven't seen anybody else including "loosey-tighty" directions on their locking RCA's, and they work the same way as my other locking RCA's do. (For that matter, I haven't seen directions on screwdriver handles, either, but that's a bit sarcastic of me... )

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gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

[This message has been edited by gonk (edited May 22, 2003).]

None of the inter-connects that I have purchased to date have had locking RCA's so I don't have any basis for comparison.

Since I have few mechanical bones in my body and don't have a screwdriver at hand, I could easily be wrong about this but isn't a screw tightened by turning it clockwise (looking from the top of the screw head)? Ditto with a jar cap?

If I am wrong, I owe Outlaw an appology. Otherwise, it would seem that turning the locking mechanism clockwise to open is counter-intuitive.

[This message has been edited by 73Bruin (edited May 23, 2003).]

Agree, definitely counter-intuitive. But that's the way they work.

The problem is deciding what you are unscrewing. Think about this (it occurred to me last week): You drive a screw into something by turning the screw clockwise and extract it by turning counter-clockwise. If the same thread patterns are transferred to locking RCA's (plug body as screw and barrel as "something"), then turning the plug body clockwise would tighten it and counter-clockwise would loosen it. But you can't turn the plug body because it's got a long cable attached, so you turn the barrel instead -- so loosening the locking RCA is like removing a screw by holding the screw in place and turning the object it is screwed into. Intuitive? Hardly. But it would allow them to use existing machine tools to thread the body and barrel.

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gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

gonk:

Your explanation sounds reasonable, and it matches a few items that I have had where you have to turn a barrel.

However, I still believe that putting some indication on the cables of the way to tighten or remove seems like a relatively easy and potentially cheap way for Outlaw to help protect their customers from making an error that might damage an expensive piece of equipment like a 950 or 770.

[This message has been edited by 73Bruin (edited May 27, 2003).]

There is a conspicuous warning sheet packed with the cables explaining the proper procedure to utilize, and that ignoring the info could result in damage to your equipment.

I think that I will start a petition for the U.S. government to outlaw (no pun) RCA connectors RETROACTIVELY, that is, any manufacturer who has used them whenever must immediately change out every one on every unit sold with the much superior BNC connector. They must also swap out all interconnects with RCAs with ones with BNCs. It'll give George B something to do here at home

I'm, like, totally with Soundhound on this, like, ya know. Totally.

I would like to add that as a settlement for mental anguish (for having to deal with the much inferior RCA plugs and jacks for so many long painful years), the BNCs will be mil-spec: made out of nasa-audiophile grade unobtainium of an isotope that maintains quantum temporal alignment acrost all frequencies of audiophile interest.

p.s.

I have, or can readilly get my hands on, so much old equipment that when I get my mil-spec BNC connectors, I can sell them on the used market and make a killing.


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the 1derful1

[This message has been edited by Paul J. Stiles (edited May 27, 2003).]

I just rcvd some 0.5m PSCs. There were no instructions, to start with - makes me mad.
Let me ask this simple question. Does unscrewing the barrel, loosen the grip of the plug. if that is so, then should this be the operating procedure:
1. To insert the cable, unscrew the silver part. insert the plug into the RCA socket on your equipmnent.
2. screw the silver barrel on, to tighten the connection.

I for one is going to try this on my old VCR, to make sure that I have the hang of this before I go and ruin my new sony DVD player.

--taizoon

taizoon -- Unscrewing the barrel a couple of twists (until it is level or slightly forward of the gold collar beneath it) will unlock the RCA. Then screwing it back down so that it looks like this will lock it.

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gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

Hi Khaled,

If you are still trying to get those locking PCA's off of your components you MIGHT want to try the following: Grab a pair of pliars, and using a piece of cloth to protect the plug, rotate the silver plug clockwise while holding onto the gold portion of the plug with your hand. The pliars will make it easy to apply a lot more torque than your hand can, so start with a light amount of pressure, you probably don't want to hurt your cables.

Ryan