Set of 2 male XLR caps in a blue box.
The Sieveking Sound Male XLR end caps are a useful accessory for all unused analog outputs of HiFi components in XLR format. The caps are made of copper and coated with gold in a vacuum evaporation system. Inside there is an additional Teflon insert. This unique combination allows for outstanding high-frequency absorption.
The XLR end caps are placed over unused inputs and outputs of hi-fi components and fulfill three important functions there.
1. They protect the unused connector from corrosion, which is an advantage for older devices without gold-plated contacts.
2. They prevent dust from entering the unused XLR connectors, which would limit the conductivity of the contact surface in future use.
3. They prevent high-frequency radiation from penetrating the device, since the open sockets no longer protrude from the Faraday cage of the housing like antennas, but are closed. In this way, electromagnetic radiation, which would otherwise be fed directly into the device via the positive contact of the cinch socket, is consistently shielded and diverted to the housing ground.
While functions 1 and 2 mainly affect the long-term durability of the device, function three is actually audible. The reduced irradiation of HF signals results in a lower background noise. The music appears clearer and, surprisingly, the listener often has the feeling that the music signal has suddenly become quieter. This is a psychoacoustic illusion as we initially associate noise floor reduction with lower volume.
The before and after effect becomes particularly clear when you have listened to the end caps for a few days and then remove them again: the sound suddenly seems undefined and less present.
The extent of the improvement in the sound image depends heavily on the components used. Devices with tube assemblies and hi-fi systems on loudspeakers with high efficiency react more clearly than transistor amplifiers with high negative feedback on loudspeakers that require large amounts of current.
Regardless of the size of the impact on your music enjoyment, the Sieveking Sound Caps are an ornament for your system and an investment in long-term listening pleasure with your high-quality components.
