Audiocrast RCA Caps

The first time I read about RCA caps was in the instruction manual of the Restek V1 preamplifier. In this it is explained that all unused RCA input circuits must be shortened to suppress noise potential coming from high frequency radiation. It is stated that the unit could not otherwise fulfil its specifications in terms of total harmonic distortion and signal to noise ratio. Not knowing what to make of this information, I was relieved to find out that they come in a dozen varieties and are relatively inexpensive to purchase new.

Despite the Restek V1’s gold plated inputs, I decided to purchase the caps from a Chinese importer called Audiocrast. The base material is brass which has then been rhodium coated. These plugs were much better rated than their golden equivalents, otherwise I would have attempted to lessen the effect of material transitions by using the same contact material as the inputs.

On the Restek the plugs have the effect of making the noise floor dead silent, on all sources except for the phono stage. Listening to Diana Krall’s ‘Turn up the Quiet’, the fading out of the studio’s ambient noise is now much more apparent than before. I also enjoy listening at higher volumes more than I did before, simply because the music stands out more prominently from the background. I especially enjoy the affect the plugs have on stage depth, which has just become that little bit more realistic. If your system is capable of great sound, this little add-on can well be considered an audio essential.