Am I alone in finding quality stereo through panel 3.5mm jacks hard to find?

• Am I alone in finding quality stereo through panel 3.5mm jacks hard to find?
  Posted by Chris Wilson on 21 Jan, 2018 19:22
• I need some decent quality stereo 3.5 mm through panel mount (threaded bush and a nut) jack sockets. I got some Lumberg brand ones from RS and unless you fiddle with the plug and pull it out a tad once fully home you don't get a decent connection. I checked with another make of stereo lead with different molded on plugs and it was the same, so I believe the issue is the sockets. Does anyone know of a good quality through the front panel jack socket I could buy here in the UK please? I am not a gold plated mains plug audiophile, they are for Softrock SDR receivers to take the I/Q outputs to my PC's sound card   Thanks!
• #1 Reply
  Posted by Kjelt on 21 Jan, 2018 20:48
• No you are not the only one.
  I used these for cheap connections to my 12V relais powering my 8 surround sound active monitors and found out that by wiggling a bit the relais start to toggle. Bad connection.
  I think the metal versions are a bit better but I needed isolation.
• #2 Reply
  Posted by tooki on 23 Jan, 2018 00:01
• Surely one of the 31 panel mount 3.5mm jacks in stock at Mouser.co.uk would fit the bill?!
  
  Also, don’t underestimate how many 3.5mm plugs are actually out of spec...
• #3 Reply
  Posted by jh15 on 23 Jan, 2018 04:38
• Can you elaborate or some links about this I can show? ? I've measured it myself, and Apple seems to be the worst in reliability for wear.
  
  I do non-profit broadcast engineering, and many volunteers use mobile or laptop sources.
  
  Wear and tolerances are a major issue with discrepancy reports, and now we have to enjoy bluetooth only connections from consumer crap.
  
  All I-phones should be required to have xlr connectors if connected in a broadcast studio.
  
  You just need a smaller a**for  pocket to put a thick device in.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• #4 Reply
  Posted by stevelup on 23 Jan, 2018 09:01
• Never had a problem with these but they are stupidly expensive:-
  
  https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6659585
  
  We use them because they can be mounted in a standard cut-out - that said, what we actually usually do is fit 3 pole XLR socket and provide the end user with a cable with an XLR on one end and a 3.5mm jack on the other for connecting to the device. You could (should perhaps) consider doing that instead.
  
  These look nice - worth a try and reasonably priced:-
  
  https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/5051429
  
  As one of the other posters suggested though - are you sure it's not your leads?
• #5 Reply
  Posted by Zero999 on 23 Jan, 2018 12:01
• I've just checked out Rapid Electronics.
  
  This? Looks a bit cheap though and they only sell them in quantities of 10.
  https://www.rapidonline.com/truconnect-pj-301dm-3-5mm-stereo-miniature-jack-socket-20-0133
  
  Branded, more expensive, so might be better.
  https://www.rapidonline.com/bkl-audio-jack-socket-3-5-mm-chassis-mount-sheilded-3-pin-stereo-50-1511