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Monday, January 18, 2010

Eichmann Silver Bullet RCA plugs: among the VERY best connectors ever!




Eichmann Silver Bullet Plugs - RCA Connector

Breakthrough in RCA plug technology and the closest approach to no plug at all.

* Use of highly conductive machined solid silver (99.99% pure) for superior conductivity.
* Patented design. Unique single point ground for eddy current reduction and enhanced signal integrity.
* Extensive use of glass impregnated moulded polymers. Ideal resonance and electrical characteristics.
* Unique hollow tube design for best possible signal transmission. Facilitates soldering at the conductor's tip for an even more direct connection.
* Standard in black polymer. Optional aluminium housings available in various colours; un-anodised silver, anodised gold and anodised black.
* Currently used by many cable manufacturers.
* Compatible with all RCA sockets.
* Designed and manufactured in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
* Limited number of special silver with 24 carat hard gold plated pins available, only in black aluminium housing (no presentation box and supplied as 2x black and 2x white)


Why the Bullet Plug connector is better than the RCA plug you presently use: the Bullet Plug connector is a totally new approach to RCA / phono connection where every aspect of electron flow has been considered. Each pack contains 4 connectors (2 black / 2 red).

The result is an RCA compatible connector that can improve the performance of any analogue, digital or video cable - often dramatically. The Eichmann BulletPlug represents a radical departure from conventional RCA designs. Rather than overwhelm the user with mass, thickness, and a jewelled contact surface, the Eichmann BulletPlug is a minimalist design in which thickness, mass, materials, and contact surface area have been optimised for better sound, higher resolution video, and enhanced signal integrity. Listening was a major part of its development.

Most audio / video cables are made from highly conductive annealed copper or silver wires - terminated with low-conductive, nickel and gold-plated brass RCA plugs. Annealed copper has a conductivity rating of at least 100% IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard). Brass has a conductivity rating of 28% IACS. The silver used is rated at 106% IACS!

Because of this low conductivity, we believe conventional RCA plugs act as a bottleneck to electron flow. These plugs may also cause phase errors and smearing through mass and skin effect. Another problem relates to the return / ground collar which can impair electron flow through:

* Eddy current distortion - as electrons proceed to and from the RCA socket into the collar through multiple contact points the equivalent of electron turbulence occurs. Signal degradation results.
* Capacitive distortion - where gaps exist between the socket and collar.
* Micro-arcing distortion - an electrical short that can occur where gaps exist between the socket and collar.

Additionally, RCA plugs are coaxial designs (metal return / ground surrounding signal pin) that have an impedance effect. This impedance can have a varied and adverse impact on performance.

The ETI BulletPlug solves these problems by providing a faster, cleaner signal of high purity and detail. To achieve this they have designed the BulletPlug as a miniature cable.

Silver Bullet Plug

Eichmann Silver Bullet Plugs.

For the ultimate in RCA/phono connection, Eichmann also offers the BulletPlug in pure silver. Utilising the same patented RCA blueprint, the silver Eichmann BulletPlug provides enhanced conductivity for what is arguably the absolute best level of performance available. The contact pins are machined from hard drawn 4-nines pure silver rods (106% IACS), and then treated with Caig PreservIT - which leaves a microscopic protective coating to prevent oxidation and enhance conductivity. Sound quality is superb, with subtle but significant improvements over the standard tellurium copper plug. The silver Eichmann BulletPlug is ideal for silver interconnects and any high performance cable.


Installation notes: The Bullet Plug plug is designed to fit all size RCA sockets.
Optional Rubber Grommets for Thin Cables - supplied as a set of 4.

Connecting the Bullet Plug to Your Cables

Please note - before you connect the Bullet Plug to cables we advise that you allow the polymer of the plug to adjust to the RCA socket. Simply heat the Bullet Plug flange (red or black section of plug) gently with a hairdryer, insert into socket and allow the polymer to cool.

The Bullet Plug connector is a product that needs to be handled delicately. The return pin of the Bullet Plug is small and not as robust as the return on standard RCA plugs. Of course this also accounts for the improved sound quality. If you have limited soldering experience, we are able to do the job.

The Bullet Plug is designed to accept any interconnect, digital or video cable up to 9mm diameter. This accounts for most cables. (Large cables can also be accommodated if you strip the outer sheath and feed the insulated conductors through the housing.)

Step 1
Unscrew the plastic housing and slide the cable through. The front section of the Bullet Plug comprises two contact pins - the signal (large pin) and return (small pin). Both pins have a solder platform at the rear of the pin that is thinner than the rest of the pin.

The platform heats up rapidly allowing quick and easy soldering. This means your soldering iron needs only minimal time in contact with the pins to melt solder. Excess contact time with the soldering iron may deform the plastic polymer housing.

Here's a tip. Insert the Bullet Plug into a secured, but unconnected RCA socket first. This will free up both hands and allow more precise soldering. Always support the cable throughout the soldering process, so the weight of the cable does not exert undue force on the pins.

Step 2
Tin both the wire and platform. And please only use enough solder to make a good connection - don't drown the platform in solder. For best results use eutectic (flowing type) solder or solder with high silver content together with a flux.

Step 3
Solder the return conductor to the return (small) pin. If the return conductor of your cable comprises multiple strands - twist these together and tin before connecting to the return pin. If the return conductor is in the form of a braid - split the braid, gently twist and tin before connecting to the return pin.

Ensure that the return conductor is formed (eg. You may need to gently bend the conductor) so the conductor sits flush in the soldering platform. The objective is to have the return conductor sit comfortably in the solder platform without pressure or stress on the wire.

The small dimension of the return pin can make soldering large groups of wires difficult, however the small size of the pin also contributes to the dramatic sound improvement of the Bullet Plug over standard RCA plugs. As you complete the connection to the return pin, you may notice that the return pin can rotate with the tension of the conductor. This is normal. Simply rotate the pin to a comfortable angle in relation to the signal pin. When you screw down the outer housing, the return pin is locked in this position.

Step 4
Solder the signal conductor to the centre (large) pin.

Step 5
Reattach housing. When reattaching the housing continue to support the cable to avoid undue force on the pins. For 9mm diameter cables, use a silicon spray on the cable to allow smooth rotation of the outer housing.

Step 6
Secure the grub screw to support the cable. Avoid penetrating the cable - a gentle securing action is all that is required.

Step 7
Enjoy better sound! Take your time, prepare your conductors prior to connection, use good solder - and benefit from the improved signal transmission the Bullet Plug can provide. Please note: The Bullet Plug is a firm fit on RCA sockets to start. The polymer used in the plug is designed to adjust after a few hours on the socket.

Using Cables with Bullet Plug Connectors

If you're using a cable incorporating Bullet Plug connectors you may find the plug is a firm fit on RCA sockets to start. This is normal. For some reason RCA sockets tend to vary in size, so Eichmann designed the Bullet Plug to cater to most (if not all) sizes. The polymer used in the plug is a special PBT and glass fibre blend that allows the plug to adjust (and stay adjusted) after a few hours on the socket.

The objective is for the Bullet Plug to be a firm, secure fit on all sockets. For ease of initial connection to RCA sockets heat the Bullet Plug flange (red or black section of plug) gently with a hairdryer prior to inserting into socket. Please do not force the plug onto a socket!

Compatible with ALL RCA sockets!

No hypes, folks... they truly sounds GREAT: detail, soundstage, correctness... let's do not get trapped by those shiny golden stuffs... a phono/RCA plug isn't an earring: it must sound "right"!

If ugly and superbly sounding... who care;-)

I bought'em.

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