Do you like a tactile click? Are you a sucker for screws? Or something you can put in any direction? Maybe it’s yours or another country’s power plugs?
This is sounding more sexual than I intended I think
Plugging in a 1/4" jack into a guitar or amp is always pretty satisfying.
bzzzz bzzzzz bzzzzz pop
Even better with a delay pedal 💦
This is mine for sure. Never gets old.
I really enjoy my Eurorack system, but 3.5mm just is not nearly as satisfying and easy to plug and unplug.
Most RJ-45 connectors (without a boot on them)… The connector only fits one way, the orientation is clear on both ends while holding, looking or even by feel if you have to do it blind and it locks into place easily. Only issue is how fragile the clocking part is, which boots are supposed to help protect but make more difficult to use.
I like reversible connectors like lighting and USB-C but I find them too small and fragile in general and they are not very satisfying to connect.
I have a special hate for connectors that are HARD to blind connect or even tell at a distance like USB-A, HDMI and Displayport which are ether rectangles or slightly not rectangles that are close enough that is hard to tell in the dark behind a device.
I have a strong dislike for connectors with thumb screws, but like locking connectors like Centronics or as noted RJ11 or RJ45.
Terminating RJ-45 takes about 2 minutes if you damage the connector, and takes novice techies about an hour to get it down quick. You can’t say that about USB-C.
I love USB-C in a lot of ways but I also have two different projects that are sitting and waiting for me to solder in the USB C connectors, because JESUS H CHRIST. Those things were not built to be attached by human hands.
This guy plugs!
Seriously though. Those damn boots on RJ-45 cables are the bane of my homelab. Sure they protect the needlessly fragile prong on the connector, but have you tried unplugging a single cable from a full switch? I have to leave a pair of pliers next to mine for that. To hell with that! I’ll take SFP over RJ45 any day!
Special “Fuck You” to whoever invented micro-HDMI. Difficult to plug in, super easy to destroy. And for what? It’s not that much smaller that full-size HDMI. I had to send in one (out of warranty) mirrorless camera for service because on that, and it was super expensive.
- Best insertion: Displayport Locking
- Runner-up: Ethernet (RJ45), Apple 30-Pin (Locking)
- Best removal: Magsafe 3
- Runner-ups: USB-C, USB-B 3.0
- Best differential pair connector: Lightning (because it’s so consistent feeling)
- Runner-up: USB-C
- Best residential AC plug: British BS1363 (Type G)
- Best lightbulb base: Bayonet B15s
- Runner-ups: GU10, GU24, Fluorescent Bi-pin
- Best audio port: 6.35mm TRRS (1/4")
- Runner-ups: Banana Jacks, Neutrik SpeakON
- Best video port: HDMI
- Runner-ups: RCA Composite/Component, DVI, BNC, USB-C
- Best device-internal connector: JST GH series
- Runner-up: any miniature mezzanine connector
- Worst differential connectors: USB micro B 3.0, any ethernet cable with a bubble boot or broken latch, mini-HDMI, micro-HDMI
- Worst HF connectors: Coaxial, all miniature HF wire to board connectors (holy crap the naming is inconsistent) i.e. UFL, IPEX
- Worst audio connectors: cheap 3.5mm, spring clip terminal, binding posts (especially plastic knob ones)
- Worst residential AC plug: Europlug
- worst device-internal connectors: wire soldered through-hole, any Molex connector or power connector inside a computer
Worst internal connector by far is dual USB3, the cable is so thick and unwieldly, I always feel like the pressure from trying to bend it is going to rip the header off the board
TRUE especially since the pins are tiny. I bent two of them inside the shroud somehow and they snapped, so now I only have one front USB 3.0 port.
Solid ranking, but on audio you’re neglecting XLR. Quarter inch jacks are indeed very satisfying, but XLR is so reassuring.
The few that I’ve used either require too much force to connect, or are just friction-fit only (like those Neutrik combo XLR + 1/4" receptacles you find on audio interfaces), but I’ll take your word for it. XLR looks like it should feel solid.
What’s wrong with europlug?
Had to go too far for BNC. You don’t often question of that’s seated properly… just if it’s terminated properly
BNC RG59 twist on locking coaxial connector is the superior locking cable form factor.
I dislike the US power plug way more than the Europlug (or compatible sockets like Schuko). It just slides in, only thing holding it in is friction. Also, there is a connection while the contacts are exposed, exposing the user to the risk of shock.
Also, I like DisplayPort more than HDMI, it clicks really nice on insertion and in my opinion pulling it out is also more satisfying.
I have to agree on display ports. Best fit feedback ever.
Really, inserting HDMI is more pleasurable than RCA/composite?
Even after silicone lubing all my molex they still suck ass. Hate those things so much
- Best insertion: Displayport Locking
I love XLR and mini-XLR. Durable connector, nice locking mechanism, satisfying click. Also very easy to wire yourself.
Did you know that XLR is also something of a standard for interchangeable sex machine attachments?
Garden hose. It has a satisfying click, and it stops water flow while disconnected 🤯
Where are you from? Because here in the US, our garden hoses do neither of those things.
These bad boys are the best thing about gardening in Britain
This is what’s used in Australia also, but what do they use in the US then, if not the clicky boys?
Nothing, just metal threading M-F connected to a tap usually. Not very satisfying!
I like USB-C especially when it clicks.
I’m glad that most of the older formats are gone. Screws are cumbersome, USB formats were intentionally varied for profit, and molex would break itself before you could seat it properly.
I love USB-C for its universality and SATA cables are a nice alternative to the old IDE. I wish they’d come up with a better solution to the plastic clips on my Ethernet and PSU cables.
As for my favorite… Maybe 3.5mm? I mean, it’s old as dirt but still super functional. Nice chunky clicks and usually a solid connection. I miss having a 3.5mm port on my phone. It obviously has some drawbacks, but it’s a solid contender.
Thumb screws are great for a secure connection that holds up, and can be undone at any time, and takes the stress away from the port itself, since the screws support the stress, so you cant screw up the port by accidentally yanking the cable out like you can with HDMI.
USB variants? You mean mini and micro? That was so products could be made smaller and smaller, cause no one wanted a phone that had a USB B slot on it, making the phone an inch thick.
Everyone has different experiences, but in all my years of PC building and repairs, I only ever had 1 problem with a molex connector, and it was cause the pins had corroded together (PC had water damage, was seeing if anything was salvageable.)
3.5mm its old as dirt and functional, but its also flimsy. a bad bump and you can break the connections inside it without breaking it externally… Which is what happened to my last pair of headphones…thankfully they had a replaceable cable.
USB-C is a major pain in the ass. You pick up a random USB-C cable. Okay… is it a charging cable, or does it have data? is it Slow speed or high speed? Does it support thunderbolt? Who knows! Hope you label them and keep them properly separated!
USB-A, USB-B, USB-B Superspeed, mini-USB, micro-USB, micro-USB-Super Speed. Some of those also presented the issue of not having a simple visual indication of whether it was USB 1, 2, or 3. At least with USB-C, the cables should all work, even if you get slower speeds, whereas a USB-B-3 connector wouldn’t fit a USB-B-2 port at all.
The solution to the USB-C mystery cable is to just get a pile of Thunderbolt cables and then you can be sure it’ll handle whatever the attached devices do.
Magnets. (How do they work?)
I replaced all my USB-C and Micro-USB connectors with magnetic ones. No more orientation worries, no more fumbling in the dark, no more not-inserting-it-hard-enough. Just bring the two into proximity and them magically snap together.
Bliss.
Yes. The Magsafe connector on MacBooks has a very reassuring snap and feels solid and durable. And the color coded light indicating whether it is charging or fully charged is very satisfying.
Those are only good for charging though, right? I haven’t seen any usb-c that support data transfer.
Yes, there are magnetic USB cables which do data. Here’s my review of one https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2021/10/gadget-review-subbytech-magnetic-charge-sync-cables/
I’ve seen one or two on Amazon that are c types with data, but I haven’t tried one yet. You are correct that most are currently power only.
Apple MagSafe. The magnets snap into place with 0 effort. You can do it quiet or make it click. There is no worry about putting stress on the port, as it can just pop off and back on.
The only big downside would be for things that require constant power, there is too big of a chance for it to disconnect. And if you’re talking about data IO, there would need to be a ton of protections in place to avoid corruption if the connection is lost during writes.
I agree! And it’s reversible, and it’s specially satisfying by holding it from the cable and just approaching it to the macbook and feel (it happens too fast to see it) how it moves and snaps into place no matter what. It’s the only one ever I always have had a 100% success rate ever.
BNC RG59 twist on, locking coaxial connector. The RG59 form factor is the pinnacle of locking cable connector form factors and should be implemented universally.
some connectors are designed to break easily. RG59 would not break, the device would break. Hence why one finds in middle connections.
Yes, some devices are not engineered or manufactured adequately to support the superior form factor that is RG59. Weakness is not permitted.
I’m a sucker for any connector that has a nice solid spring load mechanism that pops into place when properly connected. It should sound like a movie sound effect of a gun being reloaded.
I’ve also used some really nice quick release steering wheels, like on race cars or racing sims, where they have a spline connector with a tight fit and a good spring load.
You ever used a Deutsch Weatherpak connector? We use them on mobile equipment. They have a spring loaded face seal then a solid lever lock that is plastic but substantial enough that it’s usable. They’re pretty good wire to wire connectors. I’ll take anything with a twist lock though, BNC etc.
BNC connector, such a satisfying screw and click into place mechanism.
BNC is the one. No idea how this response is that far down and people are saying stuff like “USB-C”. I guess people have no experience with the wonder that is a BNC connector…
Agree. Twist lock always feels easy to do and secure.
Jumper wire into bread board.
Runner-Up: Paper clip into Socket
Finger in e27 socket 🤤
Was talking about IC sockets but whatever turns you on, i don’t judge
Ergh english AC plugs are garbage, built in 13A fuse? Fix your damn power network, Australian plugs are easily better.
This will be the comment that starts the war between Britain and Australasia. During the first wave we’ll just drop millions of plugs pin upwards on your streets, there will be severe foot damage on a scale you cannot fathom
The fuse thing comes from history but is still good because then each device is fused appropriately for its load. Get a short on a 3A circuit - fail nice and quickly. If you just rely on house wiring your breaker need to be the maximum possible load on the circuit.
That said of all the non UK plugs, the Australian one is up there. US are the worst and schuco (most of Europe) isn’t great.
Obligatory Tom Scott video https://youtu.be/UEfP1OKKz_Q
Here is an alternative Piped link(s): https://piped.video/UEfP1OKKz_Q
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I’m open-source, check me out at GitHub.
Thanks for posting this, but I have some notes.
His first point is nonsense. The holes are big enough for a screw driver full stop. If I have two screw drivers then I can shock myself. Not only that, its a guaranteed shock because I’m now making a perfect path to earth. Simple fix: dont make the holes big enough for screw drivers. UK plugs are even worse than yankee plugs for this. Aussie plugs fix this problem.
Aussie plugs cover the second problem. The letter nonsense is nonsense. The fuse is dumb, as above, FIX YOUR DAMN HOUSE WIRING. The last bit about your plug falling apart is classic British ideology, stop building things that fall apart.
Its clearly better than EU or yankee plugs, but thats not a great selling point when its still garbage.
What exactly do you think it’s wrong with our wiring ??
Sensing a lot of hostility or Aussie patriotism just because Britain did something well and you don’t want to admit it.
No other plug had the safety features the UK plug when it was designed or now AND the plug is just one part of a whole system. You act like our plug is the only line of defence - newsflash it isn’t.
Any new property has built in RCD and breakers at entry to the property. That means it’s hard to shock yourself regardless of the plug design.
The fuse in the plug is arguably not needed anymore but it’s still a safety feature that could be used in some circumstances, so why take it out? The fuse existed before RCDs and as technology improved so did our electrical safety standards. The fact the fuse is still there doesn’t mean it is the only way. The fact the gate is there doesn’t mean it is the only way. You might guess by the number of safety features in the plug design that electrical safety is taken seriously in this country.
I’d also argue that screwdrivers are unlikely to be the thing that gets jammed in there anyway. Paperclips, toys, letter opener, etc more likely to be in kids hands I’d have thought, the gate makes it not matter what the implement is. Plenty of things are metal and will fit in any electrical socket - except the UK one unless the gate is held open with a second object.
The dexterity and understanding needed to open the gate with one hand and shove a metal object in the live in with the other is high enough that you are probably dealing with old enough children that they will know what happens if you do it. Even if they do, our “damn wiring” requires an RCD at the consumer unit so they’d still be safe.
There are older houses of course which have less safe electrics like a fuse box, but if you are going to judge by decades older standards, then I can do the same and then you still come out worse, because you don’t have RCDs way back when and your wall sockets are unprotected.
P.s. A quick Google tells me Electrocution statistics in both countries are exactly the same when taking population into account. 20 deaths per year in Oz, 70 in UK. Most caused by faulty appliances. 1 in a million chance, in both countries.
If the number of electrocutions per capita are the same then it’s clear the fuse is doing nothing. The only reason to keep it is if you don’t trust your domestic network, specifically the protection systems provided. If they are to code then why waste your manufactures time, and the time and space of your users continuing to require them.
My argument isn’t born from patriotism, it’s frustratration at years of having to use an inferior product only to have someone claim it’s not only great but the best. Well, it’s not the best, far from it, but at the end of the day I don’t think I’ll ever live in the UK again so shrug have fun with your garbage connectors =)
Bear in mind that there are very old properties out there maintained by people who don’t care or can’t afford to rewire their house. The fuse remains to protect them not because of trust. Antsy part of my point was that taking one aspect in isolation doesn’t tell the whole story. The Australian plug on its own is not as safe. It is made safe by upstream components.
Thanks I’ll enjoy my garbage plugs.
My first is RJ45, it’s so clicky.
After that is everything held together by magnets. I bought a cheap magnet microusb cable for charging my headphones. It’s like magsafe but way weaker.Fuck a boot though. When trying to remove a bunch at once they just get in the way.
