To "gold" or not to "gold" ???

[E.J.W.]

I'm looking at a BD player as most people are these days, my decision looks to be between the Sam BDP 3600 and the Pan DMP BD80. (I do have an invite to buy the new Oppo '83 but don't have the extra $150)
The 3600 looks not to have "gold" connectors on the back where the BD80 does. Is that a big issue?
Thanks
E.

 

[Adam]

IMO, gold plating on the connectors isn't a big issue unless you're planning on keeping it for a long time or using it in a corrosive environment. I think that the gold is used to prevent oxidation (for improved performance over time) and to also provide a softer metal (to help make better connections with your cables). I've used plenty of components without gold connectors and never had a problem. I seem to recall seeing some oxidation on some of the connectors on equipment that I've had for twenty-some years, but it cleans off pretty easily.

Just my thoughts on it.

 

[j_garcia]

I'm going to say makes no difference at all. Gold is a better conductor, but I doubt that it will make a noticeable difference in the sound.

 

[E.J.W.]

Thanks for the info.
E.

 

[allargon]

I'm looking at a BD player as most people are these days, my decision looks to be between the Sam BDP 3600 and the Pan DMP BD80. (I do have an invite to buy the new Oppo '83 but don't have the extra $150)
The 3600 looks not to have "gold" connectors on the back where the BD80 does. Is that a big issue?
Thanks
E.

Are you using the player's DAC's? If not, then you know it doesn't matter. However, I would consider a Sammy BD-P2500/2550 over the 3600 for the superior Reon upconversion. That's just MHO.

If you are using the player's DAC's, my advice would be to go w/ the Panny instead. My gut says the Panny probably has better DAC's than the Sammy.

 

[E.J.W.]

Allargon,
I was leaning towards the Sammy for the Pandora capability which would save me the added expense of a Logitech Squeeze Box if I go with the Panasonic. I agree that the Panasonic is a better player, but I just read in a review that when you plug in the HDMI cable that shuts off the 5.1/7.1 analog outputs. Do you know if that is true or not?
I will be using a HDMI cable to the flat screen and was going to use the analog audio to my older (no HDMI) Integra receiver.
Thanks
E.

 

[j_garcia]

CraigV here has the BD80 he can probably confirm or clear up that question about the m/c analog/HDMI.

 

[jamie2112]

Gold baby !!!!

 

[mtrycrafts]

... Gold is a better conductor, ...

Compared to what?

 

[jostenmeat]

I agree that the Panasonic is a better player, but I just read in a review that when you plug in the HDMI cable that shuts off the 5.1/7.1 analog outputs. Do you know if that is true or not?

Wow, that would be a serious design flaw. That would REALLY surprise me, especially from Panasonic as far as bdp manufacturers go. For if the above was true, you could not enjoy 1080p w/ mch analogs. Which would really mean that the existence of the BD80 is pointless!!

oh yeah, as far connectors are concerned, just clean them once every blue moon. I just ran into this entertaining thread recently.

 

[j_garcia]

Compared to what?

Technically, compared to most materials used for these types of connections (certainly hairy guys in Speedos) with the exception of silver or copper, but nickel has the same or better corrosion resistance and won't affect the sound adversely either When I look for gear, gold terminals is not one of my criteria.

 

[Rickster71]

No gold contacts; it's nothing that this stuff won't fix:
http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.188/.f

 

[ChunkyDark]

jamie2112, whenever i regain my sight from the eye bleach you are soooo getting a red chicklet!

 

[Lordoftherings]

Anyway, the Panny DMP-BD80 is the blu-ray player to get, gold or no gold, period.

I got the sammy BD-UP5000, which is quite similar to the 2550, with the Reon, and I got the Panny BD55, which is quite similar to the BD80, and my favorite is the Panny. Never a single problem since day one (I cannot say the same about the Sammy).

And the Panny BD80 has a great analog section, with good Dacs and good caps too.

If I will not have any blu-ray player now, I'll pick the Panny BD80 over the Sammy, even the 2550 with it's HQV Reon video processor.

And just forget that silly thing about gold or no gold.

 

[Adam]

But gold is so pretty.

 

[mtrycrafts]

...

And just forget that silly thing about gold or no gold.

Hey, gold is hovering around $900/oz Nothing silly about it

 

[s162216]

I'm going to say makes no difference at all. Gold is a better conductor, but I doubt that it will make a noticeable difference in the sound.

That is not actually true. Gold has a resitivity value of 22.14 nΩ·m whilst coppers (assuming this is oxygen free) is actually lower at 16.78 nΩ·m and silver is negliably lower at 15.87 nΩ·m.

There will be no noticable difference in sound quality or picture quality or whatever no matter what one of those you use for connectors, cables etc as the difference is so tiny.

Heres one example: the BBC where I live in the Uk actually apparently has a policy: no 'exotic' cables, copper is just fine and they are transmitting to the whole country.

The only reason that gold is used on connectors is just because everyone assumes that gold is the best as it is the most expensive and is associated with that in everyones mind.

 

[Lordoftherings]

By the way, my Sammy 5000 has gold jacks, my Panny 55 has gold jacks, my Tosh HD-A1 has gold jacks, my Rotel 971 has gold jacks, my Denon 1920 has gold jacks, my Yammy S1000 has gold jacks, my Tosh 3107 has gold jacks, all my speakers have gold binding posts, the star on my noise is a gold star with a diamond, my earring on my left ear is a gold earring, my ring on my finger is a gold ring with diamonds, my bracelet on my wrist is a gold bracelet, and I live right by the ocean (less than 50 feet), so go figure.

GOLD is just less corrosive, period.

 

[Adam]

That is not actually true. Gold has a resitivity value of 22.14 nΩ·m whilst coppers (assuming this is oxygen free) is actually lower at 16.78 nΩ·m and silver is negliably lower at 15.87 nΩ·m.

There will be no noticable difference in sound quality or picture quality or whatever no matter what one of those you use for connectors, cables etc as the difference is so tiny.

Good points, but I'm guessing that you just hadn't made it to John's other post:

Technically, compared to most materials used for these types of connections...with the exception of silver or copper, but nickel has the same or better corrosion resistance and won't affect the sound adversely either ...

 

[j_garcia]

That is not actually true. Gold has a resitivity value of 22.14 nΩ·m whilst coppers (assuming this is oxygen free) is actually lower at 16.78 nΩ·m and silver is negliably lower at 15.87 nΩ·m.

They don't use silver on most connectors that are silver in color. They are most likely nickle plated; and as you will note I already mentioned in the follow up thread that silver and copper are better conductors than gold. Gold does offer considerably better corrosion resistance compared to silver or copper though.