STEREOKRAFT

Below you can find information about the components used in the construction of this product.

• Proprietary mathematical modeling is utilised to produce the Copper Harmony’s ground to signal pin relationship, parameters, and determines the proprietary metallurgical processes that are used. Extrapolated: >105% IACS
• The Harmony RCA socket design is complimentary to, or mirror image of, the Harmony (Bullet) plug design
• Excellent for digital, such as SPDIF, etc
• Utilises a standard M10 Panel hole, M10 Nut (Slim), M10 Washer, and an extremely high temperature melting point polymer which tolerates the high temperature soldering required for high silver content solder
• Higher conductivity. Calculations indicate a progression in IACS percentage, in the series. Greater than that of the Eichmann Cable Pod and Classic Harmony. 
• Recommendations: depending on the audio system...: Burn-in Time: >250hrs and even >500hrs

 

• MATERIALS: From the very outset, KL has had an understanding of and a sensitivity to electron/energy flow. His designs focus on signal integrity, the elimination or mitigation of causes of electron turbulence, most notably eddy currents, capacitive reactance, and micro- arcing. A central theme in his designs has been his choice of materials.
  He made a conscious decision to eliminate metal housings as standard on his connectors, as well as the universally used metal collars. Whether magnetic or not, metals surrounding the conductor contribute to electron chaos, and inhibit smooth signal flow. KL uses highly heat resistant and electrically inert polymers both as housings and for the collar. Not as a cost savings, but for better performance. In fact, the tooling required for these glass impregnated polymer housings arguably results in costs that are higher than those for metal housings. These materials serve to improve signal integrity and reduce or eliminate known compromises for smooth electron flow.
• OPTIMUM MASS: Bigger, thicker, and more massive doesn’t add up to better sound, and in fact, quite the contrary. A studied, optimised, and in most cases a minimalist approach to mass actually results in better sound – and better electron/energy flow. KL’s proprietary signal to ground mathematical formulae, ensure an optimal architectural relationship between all metal complements and dielectrics that have been utilised. The result is control, the avoidance of sonic compromises caused by skin effect, and the reduction of EF and EMF interference. Controlling these parameters ensures a complete, full, and extended frequency range, where harmonics are conveyed from component to component intact.
• METALLURGY: This is of paramount importance; and something that’s been central to KL’s designs from the very beginning. KL is committed to implementing and using, in his current Harmony socket designs, only conductors that are more conductive than pure copper, and even pure silver.
  KL is in fact responsible for bringing IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard) into the audio conversation. Using pure copper (100% IACS) as a reference, the IACS percentage defines a metal’s electrical conductivity relative to pure copper. For example, brass (25%~37% IACS), bronze (15 ~ 48% IACS), and rhodium (35%~38% IACS) are poor to average electrical conductors when compared to pure copper. Pure silver is better at 105% IACS. Gold is about 70% IACS. These numbers — 100, 28, 105 and 70 are known as percentages of IACS.
  KL’s Harmony sockets are all at an IACS rating of 101% or greater, and are breaking the conceptual boundaries that have been previously thought to be absolute. A lot has happened since the days of the original Phono Pod; and the metallurgy utilised in the Harmony sockets represents new understandings that have grown out of research into the processes of forming and finishing—also, metallurgical affinities and intrinsic crystalline structures.
  KL also rejects the use of passivation for preserving and protecting conducting metals – something touted by some connector manufacturers as being a feature. We are opposed to zinc, zinc oxide or these kinds of coatings, and simply will not knowingly compromise our IACS ratings for unnecessary protection.
  It is important to note that the Harmony sockets signal and ground pins are harmoniously formed in a way that the metallurgical processes work together and not in opposition to each other – both electrically and mechanically.
  Extrapolation indicates, electrically, that the utilised metal complements are at least as conductive as pure copper (100% IACS) and/or pure silver (105% IACS). In pure annealed form, pure copper and pure silver are too soft to machine and easily bend. As such, the machinable forms of copper and silver, as used in audio applications, have noticeably lower IACS values than their pure copper and pure silver forms. The bottom line is that conductivity (IACS percentage) is defined by a metal’s formation, ie. its completed form. No matter how you get there and to quote Keith Louis, the proof’s in the pudding/listening. The Harmony sockets excel in this area, and better any RCA connectors we have seen to date.
• ARCHITECTURE: The RCA Socket ground collar/body, which in traditional designs encircles the Signal pin, acts as a conductor that transfers electrons/energy from multiple directions along its surfaces and surrounding the Signal Pin. It is prone to small out-of-control turbulences called eddy currents. These turbulences are nothing less than chaos, exacerbated by the non specific point of ground in the RCA sockets design, especially since an entire surface encircling the centre pin forms the electrical ground. Capacitive reactance and micro-arcing are additional artifacts of this architecture.
  The Harmony RCA socket design addresses these issues and offers an elegant – and arguably major – redesign of the RCA socket, and in itself is fundamental but extensive. Rather than encircle the Signal pin with a Ground metal collar/body, we have opted for...
• The Signal pin that utilises a single point contact/connection, similar to star earthing/grounding as utilised in high-end electronics. Further, after Signal connection the Signal pin acts like, or is similar to, the Ground electron/energy channel as utilised in the Eichmann Phono Pod. 
• Although the Ground pin utilises a traditional collar, which ensures compatibility with all RCA plugs, it is split formed to act like, or is similar to, the Ground electron/energy channel as utilised in the Eichmann Phono Pod. Further, after Ground connection the Ground pin acts like, or is similar to, the electron/energy channel as utilised in the Eichmann Phono Pod.
• The Signal pin is positioned perpendicular to the Ground pin to ensure that EMF and Inductive effects are minimal, ultra-low, and even be regarded as negligible. Further, the Signal and Ground pins are arranged and positioned to maintain and ensure a consistent maximum distance from each other which further improves capacitive and inductive reactance effects, and minimizes cross-talk EMF effects that occur in all other RCA sockets. This allows for significantly higher characteristic impedance, than conventional RCA sockets, and makes the Harmony RCA socket ideal for digital Interconnection requiring RCA connectivity in 50, 75, or 110 ohm impedances and for ultra-low jitter.
• A closer inspection shows that the Harmony RCA socket design is the compliment, or mirror image, of the Harmony (Bullet) plug design. Further, the Harmony RCA socket and Harmony (Bullet) plug connection is designed to make ground before signal but it is always recommended that you turn off all components before plugging or unplugging any electrical connection.
  Our Harmony RCA socket design, features single point Signal connection, optimised ground connection, optimised Ground/Signal pin arrangement/positioning, optimised pin shape, optimised mass and thickness of the conductive elements, and eliminates and controls eddy current turbulence, micro-arcing, and capacitive/inductive reactances.
  We believe this approach solves a series of problems that collectively degrade audio/video performance and does so in an additive manner. The importance of this innovation and redesign cannot be overstated. Its ramifications extend to every RCA interface in which high quality signal transfer is an issue. Extensive listening and critical comparisons played a major role in the evolution of the design, confirming at every juncture the audibility of properly applied science, even in the area of RCA connection.
• MATHEMATICAL MODELING: The relationships between ground and signal pin, i.e. metal complement, mass, and other critical parameters, are derived via KL’s signal to ground mathematical formulae, and differs from Harmony socket to Harmony socket.
• SUMMARY: Each Harmony socket in the product range, from Classic to Perfect Harmony, offers progressively enhanced conductivity from >101% to even >105% IACS, which results in an improved response to those exceptionally fast transient signals in the audio signal, improvement in the transmission and resolution of fine details, and achieves a more realistic reconstruction and presentation of the recorded image.

The KLEI Harmony RCA Socket’s innovations and refinements include:
1. The Ground/Signal pins incorporate highly conductive materials, such as ultra-high purity copper and silver.
2. KL’s proprietary mathematical modelling optimises mass, thickness, and composition of the Ground/Signal pins, resulting in enhanced electron/energy flow.
3. A closer inspection shows that the Harmony RCA socket design is complimentary to, or mirror image of, the Harmony (Bullet) plug design.
4. The Harmony RCA Socket and Harmony (Bullet) plug connection is designed to make ground before signal but it is always recommended that you turn off all components before plugging or unplugging any electrical connection.
5. The Signal pin utilises a single point contact/connection to control and eliminate eddy current distortions, capacitive and inductive reactance effects, and micro-arcing.
6. The Signal pin structure/architecture has been redesigned and improved to allow an easy snap-like connection with and RCA plug, while still ensuring an ultimate connection.
7. Further rejection of the idea of using a metal Ground body to encircle the Signal pin which eliminates co-axial inductive reactances.
8. The Ground/Signal pins are arranged to maintain a consistent maximum distance from each other and positioned perpendicular to each other, which further improves capacitive and inductive reactance effects and minimizes cross-talk EMF effects that occur in all other RCA sockets. This allows for significantly higher characteristic impedance, than conventional RCA sockets, and makes the Harmony socket ideal for digital Interconnection requiring RCA connectivity in 50, 75, or 110 ohm impedances and low jitter.
9. The Ground/Signal pins are strong and allow for small and large conductor wires to be soldered to them.
10. The Harmony RCA Socket utilises a standard M10 Panel hole, M10 Nut (Slim), and M10 Washer, and an extremely high temperature melting point polymer, with excellent electrical and mechanical characteristics where the Socket Body and Nut thread/washer insulate the Ground and Signal pins from the Panel hole.
11. The Mounting Panel maximum width/thickness can be upto 4.5 (w/- Washer) or upto 6.0mm (w/o Washer).
12. The Harmony RCA Socket can be produced to comply with IP65 and/or IP67

 

Standard RCA Sockets	KLEI Harmony RCA Sockets
Gold plated brass or phosphor bronze with a conductivity rating of often less than 28% IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard).	Contact pins formed using proprietary high conductivity metallurgical processes, provides ultra-high conductivity  (>101% IACS and even >106% IACS).    Provides over 360% greater conductivity than gold plated brass binding posts.
Solid signal pin. Metal body / collar completely encircling signal pin. Total thickness and mass not optimized for signal integrity. Sound quality and electron flow compromised.	Single point Signal pin with easy connection, ideal shape, thickness, and mass Controls and eliminates eddy-current turbulences, co-axial inductive reactance, capacitive reactance, and micro-arcing. Provides a superior electron/energy movement/current flow, and minimises skin effect issues. The result is a cleaner, more open sound, with even further detail.
Heavy plating of gold over a nickel substrate. This is often a cause of poor sound quality as electrons flow through 3 dissimilar metals with differing electrical and conductive properties.	Metallurgy process minimizes oxidation.
Ground collar surrounding centre pin has co-axial inductive reactance  effects, which have detrimental effect on electron flow. Eddy current turbulences created as a result of non specific ground contact. Loss of signal integrity due to capacitive and inductive reactances and micro-arcing. Provides a plug with poor and reduced signal transfer resolution.	Compatibility with all RCA plugs and with easy connection. Controls and eliminates eddy-current turbulences, co-axial inductive reactance, capacitive reactance, and micro-arcing. Provides a superior electron/energy movement/current flow, and minimises skin effect issues. Provides a socket that is linear to over 150KHz, which allows excellent sound and video signal quality, signal integrity, electron flow, and extremely high signal transfer resolution.