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 💦
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?
- 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
What’s wrong with europlug?
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.
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
Solid ranking, but on audio you’re neglecting XLR. Quarter inch jacks are indeed very satisfying, but XLR is so reassuring.
Even after silicone lubing all my molex they still suck ass. Hate those things so much
- Best insertion: Displayport Locking
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.
Ethernet. Dat click and dat squishy release. Mmmmmmpppphhhhh
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!
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.
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.
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.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 locking 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.
I like USB-C especially when it clicks.
BNC connector, such a satisfying screw and click into place mechanism.
Agree. Twist lock always feels easy to do and secure.
Standard usb connector because despite my having a 50% chance of having it right side up, the first attempt is always upside down.
So is the second attempt.
I’m convinced that some USB plugs rotate through a fourth spatial dimension.
Could also be that they have a spin of ½ so you need to rotate them by 720° to get back to their original orientation.
Ergh english AC plugs are garbage, built in 13A fuse? Fix your damn power network, Australian plugs are easily better.
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.
