1/4" mono jacks MULITCOMP brand $0.58 per 100 at newark, any good?

[big bustle]

found these today when ordering jacks:

http://www.newark.com/multicomp/sj211/audio-video-connector/dp/19P1936

i need to order 400.

anyone have experience with these? are they any good?

where do you get your quality yet super cheap jacks from?

seems like mouser is usually the cheapest in qualities over 100.

[R O Tiree]

The only sure-fire way to prove that they are sufficiently robust for your needs is for you to test them so why not order a couple? Then, if you're happy with them, put in a bigger order. If not, you're only out just over $1 instead of nearly $240.

Some people might answer your question with, "They're fine, go for it," while others might say, "Don't touch them with a 9-foot pole," and you'd really be no further forwards. If you're making some pedals for other people, then scrimping on parts is a false economy. Boss can afford to - "Ya, whatever, here's a new pedal..." Can you afford to have a string of failures all down to one, cheap component? Testing is essential.

[bluesdevil]

You can also get Neutrik 1/4" open frame mono jacks for a good price in quantity from Mouser and Parts Express, I believe. Definitely sturdy quality too.

[big bustle]

The only sure-fire way to prove that they are sufficiently robust for your needs is for you to test them so why not order a couple? Then, if you're happy with them, put in a bigger order. If not, you're only out just over $1 instead of nearly $240.

Some people might answer your question with, "They're fine, go for it," while others might say, "Don't touch them with a 9-foot pole," and you'd really be no further forwards. If you're making some pedals for other people, then scrimping on parts is a false economy. Boss can afford to - "Ya, whatever, here's a new pedal..." Can you afford to have a string of failures all down to one, cheap component? Testing is essential.

Thank you for that fantastically logical advice. It is appreciated/.

I understand that approach with newbs. my friends getting into music production often ask me stuff like "what are your compressor settings?". my response is often similar to yours, "just keep on trying stuff out, you'll figure it out".

however, i have offered no wisdom from my years of experience in that response.

and that's what i was hoping to gain from this posting. maybe a 20+ year experienced engineer can explain why switchcraft jacks are worth the extra $1.50 a pop. or even explain why a certain production quirk of the multicomps is subjectable to a weakness.

[big bustle]

You can also get Neutrik 1/4" open frame mono jacks for a good price in quantity from Mouser and Parts Express, I believe. Definitely sturdy quality too.

i ordered those last time. they were fine.

i have used the long johnny's from effects connection before. those were pretty cheap.

they looked odd but none broke even after severe tightening.

someone should do a shootout of 1/4" jacks and what it takes to break them.

i think that might be my next new thread.

[Processaurus]

Despite switchcraft capitolizing on their name being sononimous with reliabilty, the real difference I think is American steel vs Chinese steel.  The eastern steel is generally a little... watered down?

Cheap jacks for prototyping and making random projects is fun (it's great to have a bunch of cheap jacks around that you don't worry about being stingy with), studio toys and the like, any piece of equipment that might be relied on in by a professional-ish musician (including yourself) really deserves bulletproof jacks that can withstand more than the regular consumer products amount of abuse. Any working musician would gladly pay $5 extra to have one less thing to worry about with their gear. 

Are there any american or european manufactured jacks that are cheaper than switchcraft?

[Processaurus]

Neutrik, for 4 cents more http://www.redco.com/shopexd.asp?id=247

[MarcoMike]

neutrik jacks are definetly tough and sturdy! maybe too much!

[big bustle]

Despite switchcraft capitolizing on their name being sononimous with reliabilty, the real difference I think is American steel vs Chinese steel.  The eastern steel is generally a little... watered down?

is this opinion shared anywhere else? i did some googling but found nothing.

i think i might have to go ahead with shooting a 1/4" jack shootout video. get a few of every kind out there and see what it takes to break them.

[tiges_ tendres]

I dont think breakage is the biggest concern.  There are other failures such as the connections becoming intermittent far sooner than they should.

I also (Luckily) bought one set of cheap jacks from a local place that were just a disaster.  I'm not sure of the technical term, but the "wafers" that separate the ring from the tip seemed to shrink and thus, the ring and tip could be rotated and short out against any number of things, including itself!

Not what you want!

[JasonG]

" Despite switchcraft capitalizing on their name being synonymous with reliability, the real difference I think is American steel vs Chinese steel. "
Z of Zvex fame said that the steel parts for switchcraft jacks are made in Taiwan shipped to the US then assembled .

I like the Nutrek jacks the plugs have a different click to them but they seem like a good switchcraft alternative.

With jacks the " you get what you pay for " adage applies.

[Processaurus]

" Despite switchcraft capitalizing on their name being synonymous with reliability, the real difference I think is American steel vs Chinese steel. "
Z of Zvex fame said that the steel parts for switchcraft jacks are made in Taiwan shipped to the US then assembled .

I like the Nutrek jacks the plugs have a different click to them but they seem like a good switchcraft alternative.

With jacks the " you get what you pay for " adage applies.

Z has to ship the switchcraft jacks to taiwan from the US.  Randomly read that yesterday when I was researching boutique pedal companies that spring for SC.  Switchcraft's manufacturing plant is in Chicago, some neutriks are made in europe, but some are now made in china.  Curious if the cheap open frame jacks are chinese made, probably, given the good price?