Shorting caps/Cardas protective caps worth the $?

The Cardas caps don't short out the connector, they just cover it. No down-side to using them. Since they are solid metal they theoretically could prevent RF from entering the connector. I can't honestly say that's a problem, but it's relatively cheap insurance, at least compared to some of the other things we buy!

Agree with Pmotz...I use the Cardas rca caps on every open input. I used the balanced caps when I ran balanced. No down side here.

I use the caps on both RCA and XLR.

They are really only worth the money if you want to buy MY left over ones.

Richard

I was just about to purchase a bunch of them after hearing of them and (if memory serves me correct) was speaking with Emmanuel Go of First Sound about a possible upgrade on my preamp and he strongly recommended against the use of them on his preamp. *shrug* Well - that is where they would have been going, so I didn't ever order any. I can't recall the reason specifically for his opposition to them.

I use them (shorting plugs) on unused inputs on my integrated and think they they are a tweak that offers a very small performance enhancement. Along similar lines and with a much bigger positive effect is terminating the digital out on your CD player. Lots of info in the digital asylum at audioasylum about what is necessary to make up the appropriate termination; I'm never really focused on the technicals.