the never ending battle; Neutrik or Switchcraft connectors?

calaverasgrandes · Post by **calaverasgrandes** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 7:24 pm

I am curious what your preferences are and for what reasons.
I know some folks are fine with either, neither or both. But I have met a few that would rather push a Switchcraft, than drive a Neutrik, so to speak.

calaverasgrandes · Post by **calaverasgrandes** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 9:08 pm

what only one vote?
No "Neutrik ist krieg! Switchcraft is for pussies, I think you know it."

cgarges · Post by **cgarges** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 10:12 pm

I think the Neutriks are easier to deal with when soldering, but the Switchcraft 1/4" connectors are narrower and fit better side-by-side in tight spaces (like the back of an Alesis HD24).

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

The Scum · Post by **The Scum** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 11:04 pm

If I'm doing the soldering, Neutrik. I like the backshell/strain relief better, and they're easier to solder. They don't have that operating room green insert, either.

And they also make a couple of lines of Switchcraft-style skinny TRS connectors...the NYS202 being one I've been using a lot of recently. The nickel plating on them is shinier than Switchcraft, too.

Dead · Post by **Dead** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 11:13 pm

Switchcraft ends, Belden cable. i'm old and set in my ways.

calaverasgrandes · Post by **calaverasgrandes** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 11:55 pm

funny, the old dude that got me into audio was adamant about belden and switchcraft. He would talk about "those toy neutrik XLR's that broke all the time". I think I finally changed his mind when I showed him a 5 year old mic cable that had been my main vocal cable for punk rock shows (50ft, I'd rather lose a mic than have my whole rig pulled down!).

I like neutrik for xlr, switchcraft for 1/4" plugs and jacks.
They are about the same for XLR jacks. Though I dont think Switchcraft has a locking 1/4" or a combo jack.

I HATE switchcraft xlr's. really.

Scodiddly · Post by **Scodiddly** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 6:46 am

Depends on the application. The old Neutrik female XLRs used to break pretty easily, but they are better now. The male Neutrik cable ends tend to get dented up and stuck in a chassis jack. But on the other hand they're a lot easier to assemble and the strain relief is much better than Switchcraft cable end XLRs.

For 1/4" I'd rather have G&H plugs - that's what ProCo uses, though they're harder to find. Sort of like the Switchcraft plugs but much sturdier.

TV Lenny · Post by **TV Lenny** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:08 am

Neutrik for soldering. Switchcraft is fine too although I'm a little biased. We did a service call at Switchcraft and they never paid us for it.

calaverasgrandes · Post by **calaverasgrandes** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:26 am

Scodiddly wrote: The male Neutrik cable ends tend to get dented up and stuck in a chassis jack.

really? Never seen it happen to a neutrik, seen it with more than one switchcraft.
Though if you step on a cable end you are lucky if you dont break the connections.

Cellotron · Post by **Cellotron** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:35 pm

For me it depends on what connector you're talking about.
My preferences:
XLR - Neutrik
TRS - Switchcraft

Best regards,
Steve Berson

woodhenge · Post by **woodhenge** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 4:54 pm

I tend to like right-angle Neutrik XLR's better than their Switchcraft equivalent due to being able to turn the plug any way I need to. For straight XLR's, though, I like the Switchcraft better. They tend to take more of a beating!

1/4" plugs are a draw for me...

winky dinglehoffer · Post by **winky dinglehoffer** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 5:07 pm

I used to detest soldering Switchcraft, but lately I've gotten a lot more comfortable with them & I'm about as happy with either. Switchcraft's strain relief seems, umm, more relieving that Neutriks, so that's a point in Switchcraft's favor. Neutriks tend to be cheaper, so that's a point for Neutrik.

I also recommend grabbing a few vintage(??) ITT/Cannon XLR's for mic cables. Certain mics mate better with the old ITT's than with the other two.

calaverasgrandes · Post by **calaverasgrandes** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 5:34 pm

I was going to make Cannon a choice on the list!
I actually picked up about a dozen of those at a surplus/hobbyist store a while ago. But they are slightly too big for some Jacks. Though for the RCA77 I briefly had tenancy of they mated perfectly. Likewise for the old Sony deck I used to have.

Dead · Post by **Dead** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 5:27 am

calaverasgrandes wrote: I like neutrik for xlr, switchcraft for 1/4" plugs and jacks.

oops, i was only thinking about 1/4" connectors. i agree on the newer Neutrik XLR plugs being better. however, sometimes i prefer the Switchcraft XLR jacks.

thunderboy · Post by **thunderboy** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:49 pm

As long as it isn't Amphenol, I'm happy.

jt

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