[Trysaeder]

I might be making some interconnects and iem cables for portable use, and it seems like right angled is the way to go.
 
What exactly makes right angled better than straight?

 

[SolidVictory]

A right-angled connector usually does a better job of dealing with pressure by making more use of the strain-relief. The right angle of the connector makes it possible to eliminate some of the pressure points that a straight-angled connector would otherwise experience.

 

[faileas]

The most obvious advantages are that a right angle cable has a lower profile, and since the cable can turn around the plug axis, some additional strain relief of sorts. However i suppose that the room you have to work with a right angle cable will be tighter than an equivilent straight connector.

 

[Trysaeder]

So the best choice would be a right angled plug with a strain relief. I'm looking at these 3 and the price varies a lot.
http://www.redco.com/shopexd.asp?id=770
Right angled but doesn't seem to have a strain relief, high price, looks pretty nice.
 
http://australia.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=0392649
Straight with a strain relief, low price, looks ok.
 
http://australia.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=3951131
(The black one)Straight with no strain relief, low price, looks good.
 
I'm guessing I'll have to use a bit of heatshrink for the last plug if I don't go right angled, but I don't want to spend $20 for 2 right angled plugs for an interconnect.
Manufactured right angled plugs are almost always better than any type of straight plug because of their size, but DIY ones are usually chunky and aren't truly right angled.
 
I'm thinking the biggest benefit would be a smaller centre of mass for less pressure against the jack, so I'll use the right angled plug, replacing the massive cover with some heatshrink.

 

[Wrist-Fi]

 
Quote:

So the best choice would be a right angled plug with a strain relief. I'm looking at these 3 and the price varies a lot.
http://www.redco.com/shopexd.asp?id=770
Right angled but doesn't seem to have a strain relief, high price, looks pretty nice.
 

 

I'm in the middle of a project myself and I spoke to one of the guys over at redco on Friday afternoon inquiring about the very same plug...they are out of stock at the moment.  No definitive answer as to when they get back in, he said when an item reads "backorder" it could be days, a week or a month+.  I don't like the chrome one quite as much, but they do have stock of the plug without the black paint: http://sn.im/chromecon  & it is a few dollars cheaper.
 
Another option would be this Neutrik, http://sn.im/neuplug yet it's not reputed to hold up as well as the Switchcrafts, so I'm going to go chrome for now.