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Is it bad to constantly plug in and out the jack?

post #1 of 26
4/13/07 at 9:05pm
Thread Starter 
For headphones and speakers.
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post #2 of 26
4/13/07 at 9:11pm
Headphone jacks were originally designed by Ma Bell for manual switchboard operators. They can handle any number of cycles you throw at them. Speaker cables are more delicate, unless you use banana plugs.
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post #3 of 26
4/13/07 at 9:16pm
Gold plated jacks will sometimes peel off. They might develop internal shorts sometime but that would be from consumer misuse.
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post #4 of 26
4/13/07 at 9:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by homie View Post
For headphones and speakers.
As long as you sensibly do it (i.e. not violently or with reasonable care), you will be fine. I switch headphones a lot with my amps and I haven't even noticed any wear signs on my plugs, gold-plated or not.

Cheers!
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post #5 of 26
4/13/07 at 9:24pm
well, whatever gets you through the night. just don't wear it out.
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post #6 of 26
4/13/07 at 10:06pm
Thread Starter 
I noticed that one side of my speakers sometimes doesn't work unless I twist the jack inside the plug. Seems like wear to me.
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post #7 of 26
4/13/07 at 11:13pm
I use this on all of my equipment, and it works great.

http://store.caig.com/s.nl;jsessioni...2&category=292
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post #8 of 26
4/14/07 at 2:39am
According to Switchcraft, their top quality, heavy-duty plugs/jacks generally have a life rating of 5,000 cycles (for their 3.5mm) and 10,000 cycles (for 1/4"). I will assume a cycle is plugging in and out once.

For example, that would mean a 3.5mm plug could be plugged in/out...

Once a day for 13.7 years.
Four times a day for 3.4 years.
Ten times a day for 1.3 years.
Twenty five times a day for 6 months...

"Bad to do" depends on what "constant" is compared to the above list (which should be doubled for 1/4").
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post #9 of 26
4/14/07 at 5:43am
I always unplug my HD650's from my Gilmore before I switch it off to avoid the pop.
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post #10 of 26
4/14/07 at 1:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by homie View Post
I noticed that one side of my speakers sometimes doesn't work unless I twist the jack inside the plug. Seems like wear to me.
That's the basic sign that there's a break in the wire somewhere. That's a result of repeated fatiguing at a certain location.
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post #11 of 26
4/15/07 at 1:39am
Very good question!

Years ago, my headphone jack was detached and half of it was left inside. The jack detached at the black ring. Oh, its a Sony.
My 2 cents.
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post #12 of 26
4/15/07 at 1:46am
as long as you use protection and have consent it is 100% ok
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post #13 of 26
4/15/07 at 1:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wovenhand View Post
I always unplug my HD650's from my Gilmore before I switch it off to avoid the pop.
What pop?
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post #14 of 26
4/15/07 at 2:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by homie View Post
For headphones and speakers.
Maybe, probably not. Why would you do that purposely anyway?
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post #15 of 26
4/15/07 at 2:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rb67 View Post
That's the basic sign that there's a break in the wire somewhere. That's a result of repeated fatiguing at a certain location.
Yes. Either that or you have a cheap set of speakers that were poorly made.
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