Are Clip Leads Bad? Do I have a Problem?

[Topper]

You guys better all hurry and switch to the copper non-magnetic clip leads before you are stripped of your audiophile credentials, you'll no longer be card carrying, the cops are coming.

Not to start an arms race, but that second picture I posted has Mueller coppers in the forefront then Western KS series, made by Mueller and nickel plated brass. They're doing "finalized" duty on tweeter caps.

If you're chasing purity, though I know your comment is tongue-in-cheek, I'd be suspicious of those Amazon sourced ones. Not all copper is what it seems.

 

[mhardy6647]

Not all copper is what it seems.

Why am I hearing Jimmy Cagney in my head?
@Tom Brennan might know.

EDIT: In all (well... some) seriousness, I did notice the period-correct alligator clips in that earlier photo, @Topper.
And I think I'll refrain from posting some sort of "copper... Topper" doggerel.

 

[MrEd]

Does this warrant the copper clapper clip????

 

[JoeThePop]

Mehdi has done some wonderful stuff with clip leads.

 

[Tom Brennan]

Why am I hearing Jimmy Cagney in my head?
@Tom Brennan might know.

Whaddaya hear, whaddaya say?

 

[MikeyFresh]

You know, alligator clips with some burn marks or some kind of resin on them still conduct electricity just fine.
Just saying...

Like when an electronic mishap has caused things to go Up In Smoke?

 

[Topper]

Does this warrant the copper clapper clip????

I guess it's come to this:

 

[MikeyFresh]

that second picture I posted has Mueller coppers in the forefront

I did notice that and for a second I thought maybe they had once been nickel plated too, but then I realized what I thought was a small section of remaining nickel plating was actually just a bit of solder.

Agreed on the Amazon cheapies, I too demand only the best in clip leads, I've got some Muellers kicking around here somewhere, and these NTEs are said to be solid copper:

 

[mhardy6647]

I guess it's come to this:
View attachment 74187

You've grokked this place, you really have!

EDIT: I must say, this thread has left me feeling like a clip lead Philistine. Or at least an alligator clip Philistine. 🤦‍♂️

 

[Rudy]

Electronics store: copper.

Amazon and eBay: copper colored ...

 

[MikeyFresh]

My question for the copper clip lead aficionados in the room is when using them longer term in a crossover for example, do you ever have an attack of audiophilia nervosa that causes you to disassemble things to clean any oxidation from the contact points, maybe a bit of emery cloth and a drop or two of DeoxIT, or perhaps just good ol' steel wool?

 

[mhardy6647]

Not as such, but I've always got some emery cloth fairly handy. I think I even know where it is.

 

[MrEd]

audiophilia nervosa ?
Not about the sweet sweet sound of a clip lead 😄

 

[Topper]

My question for the copper clip lead aficionados in the room is when using them longer term in a crossover for example, do you ever have an attack of audiophilia nervosa that causes you to disassemble things to clean any oxidation from the contact points, maybe a bit of emery cloth and a drop or two of DeoxIT, or perhaps just good ol' steel wool?

Ask me again in 10 years...

 

[Billet]

I've been think of permantly adding alligator clips to my speakers wires! Seriously, I have... They are not bad connections, beats the heck out of cheapo banana plugs.

 

[Redboy]

SEEK
HELP
​

 

[prime minister]

 

[mpholland]

View attachment 74207

Uh oh. You shouldn't have let both of them in the same thread.

 

[targeteye]

i just scanned thru this so sorry if its already been covered. Al lot of the cheap clip leads you can get are junk. So be aware. You need to check them with an ohm meter and even then they might creep up in resistance. Make sure the clip leads you are using are soldered. Many are just crimped and are junk.