i went to a shop to buy good hdmi cable, so i spent 15minutes researching why price difference between two hdmi cables with same specs was around 60euros, well the other one was gold plated…
Had a good laugh about it
ApprehensiveAd6476
But isn’t gold used in PCIE and CPU pins because it has the lowest latency due to its high conductivity?
TheBupherNinja
Gold plating is used because it’s corrosion resistant. But gold plating connectors is not expensive.
AdOverall9859
Well, on the one hand there is folklore (crystals) and beliefs without any scientific basis (such as astrology and homeopathy), on the other hand there is Physics.
New-Audience2639
Science backs the gold plating…. Nothing backs rocks doing magic…
shamonemon
my uncle got a bunch of gold plated cables back when HDTV was becoming a thing and every single cable was some kind of overpriced bullshit he paid for from best buy felt bad he got suckered lol
MattieDevon
Analog cables will benefit from better em shielding and whatnot. Digital cables either work or not. Take the cheapest.
igotshadowbaned
I mean, gold is both very conductive and resistant to corrosion. You want the exposed part of the connector to be both of those things to have the best electrical connection consistently
These ethernet cables are fiber! Guaranteed 100 times faster than WiFi
animals_y_stuff
Also related. People who swear there is a difference in audio quality between Apple Music and Spotify because one has the option for lossless, despite that person (and a majority of people) using Bluetooth devices to listen to music.
AidesAcrossAmerica
Those looks like Monoprice cables. Super dependable and affordable.
Byorski
Everything based on the crystals is nonsense.
Gold plated anything has some science to state better or worse performance.
Why is this even a meme?
bagaget
Wait untill you find HiFi crystals…
SQunX
gold plated oxygen free copper please
PommaGhenna
Meme fail.
Positive_Try929
Gold is a great conductor (silver is better) and resistant to corrosion and tarnishing which makes it reliable and durable
Falkenmond79
True. I’ve had a small window into high end Audio Equipment and prices. And it’s just insanity. Please explain to me what a digital CD Player for 20.000 € can do better than a 100 € one. I’ll wait.
Almost-Anon98
Yeah lol was told that “gold” plated HDMI cables were best same with audio cables
Falkenmond79
It’s purely about corrosion. Copper and Silver would be better conductors, but they both get an oxide layer after some time exposed to air. Gold doesn’t. Everything else is just BS.
Fakula1987
its made because gold dosnt corrode,
So, its better in the long run.
But it isnt expensive either.
Slazagna
Different cables definitely make a difference. But it isn’t the gold plating. In fact, I have no idea what makes the difference. But last year I had to try like 4 different cables before getting one tgat sounded nice. Went and bought some spares after.
VaxxSagi
You should look into audiophile cables…
RSlashBroughtMeHere
I think both camps can appreciate a nice piece of clear quartz
Ghozer
With the cable shown in the image, yes, the gold-plating can help with ANALOGUE signals (such as the audio the cable in the image will carry) as it can help prevent corrosion on the connector, and give a better connection internally for ANALOGUE devices….
for Digital, like HDMI, it’s mostly pointless!
Fuzzy_Connection4971
Hint: copper is a better conductor than gold. Also silver is better than copper.
NotVeryNormalGuy11
“Gold plated you’re spoiling us!” -a wise man
vector_o
Careful or you’ll summon the diehard guitar bros that spent more time arguing about which cables have better **toan** than practicing
ShoWel-Real
Gold is a better conduit, this is literally school physics
asixdrft
theres is no difference in the short term but gold contacts dont rust or tarnish
Dellta-aka-Connor
I thought you were circling the chads beard
Flaky-Wallaby5382
My monster cable is pushing 30 years old now. No issue ever. Gigged it a lot
supermuncher60
Gold is usually the best contact material until you get into even more exotic metals.
Source worked at a company that made high-speed data connection cables for datacenters
Confirmed_AM_EGINEER
It depends on your level. Are gold plated connectors mated to silver wire cables worth it? For 99.999% of people no.
But if you have the money they do make a difference. Can you tell the difference? Probably not, but we can measure the difference and sometimes just knowing you left nothing on the floor makes a difference.
35 Comments
i went to a shop to buy good hdmi cable, so i spent 15minutes researching why price difference between two hdmi cables with same specs was around 60euros, well the other one was gold plated…
Had a good laugh about it
But isn’t gold used in PCIE and CPU pins because it has the lowest latency due to its high conductivity?
Gold plating is used because it’s corrosion resistant. But gold plating connectors is not expensive.
Well, on the one hand there is folklore (crystals) and beliefs without any scientific basis (such as astrology and homeopathy), on the other hand there is Physics.
Science backs the gold plating…. Nothing backs rocks doing magic…
my uncle got a bunch of gold plated cables back when HDTV was becoming a thing and every single cable was some kind of overpriced bullshit he paid for from best buy felt bad he got suckered lol
Analog cables will benefit from better em shielding and whatnot. Digital cables either work or not. Take the cheapest.
I mean, gold is both very conductive and resistant to corrosion. You want the exposed part of the connector to be both of those things to have the best electrical connection consistently
https://preview.redd.it/39oqnl2v8pcf1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=bd3457a513e063dd5d9746f8e9fd0e18799f81d7
Even audiophiles mock these people.
These ethernet cables are fiber! Guaranteed 100 times faster than WiFi
Also related. People who swear there is a difference in audio quality between Apple Music and Spotify because one has the option for lossless, despite that person (and a majority of people) using Bluetooth devices to listen to music.
Those looks like Monoprice cables. Super dependable and affordable.
Everything based on the crystals is nonsense.
Gold plated anything has some science to state better or worse performance.
Why is this even a meme?
Wait untill you find HiFi crystals…
gold plated oxygen free copper please
Meme fail.
Gold is a great conductor (silver is better) and resistant to corrosion and tarnishing which makes it reliable and durable
True. I’ve had a small window into high end Audio Equipment and prices. And it’s just insanity. Please explain to me what a digital CD Player for 20.000 € can do better than a 100 € one. I’ll wait.
Yeah lol was told that “gold” plated HDMI cables were best same with audio cables
It’s purely about corrosion. Copper and Silver would be better conductors, but they both get an oxide layer after some time exposed to air. Gold doesn’t. Everything else is just BS.
its made because gold dosnt corrode,
So, its better in the long run.
But it isnt expensive either.
Different cables definitely make a difference. But it isn’t the gold plating. In fact, I have no idea what makes the difference. But last year I had to try like 4 different cables before getting one tgat sounded nice. Went and bought some spares after.
You should look into audiophile cables…
I think both camps can appreciate a nice piece of clear quartz
With the cable shown in the image, yes, the gold-plating can help with ANALOGUE signals (such as the audio the cable in the image will carry) as it can help prevent corrosion on the connector, and give a better connection internally for ANALOGUE devices….
for Digital, like HDMI, it’s mostly pointless!
Hint: copper is a better conductor than gold. Also silver is better than copper.
“Gold plated you’re spoiling us!” -a wise man
Careful or you’ll summon the diehard guitar bros that spent more time arguing about which cables have better **toan** than practicing
Gold is a better conduit, this is literally school physics
theres is no difference in the short term but gold contacts dont rust or tarnish
I thought you were circling the chads beard
My monster cable is pushing 30 years old now. No issue ever. Gigged it a lot
Gold is usually the best contact material until you get into even more exotic metals.
Source worked at a company that made high-speed data connection cables for datacenters
It depends on your level. Are gold plated connectors mated to silver wire cables worth it? For 99.999% of people no.
But if you have the money they do make a difference. Can you tell the difference? Probably not, but we can measure the difference and sometimes just knowing you left nothing on the floor makes a difference.