I usually buy my 2 pin DIN plugs and sockets from Maplins, but as they were out of stock, I bought some from eBay instead. The cheapo eBay ones don't have the polarity set out on the screw connectors so could someone please remind me what the spade/pins are respectively, and if they're the same on the socket end? Got some speaker cables to make up and I don't want to mess it up!!

j0hnbarker:

I usually buy my 2 pin DIN plugs and sockets from Maplins, but as they were out of stock, I bought some from eBay instead. The cheapo eBay ones don't have the polarity set out on the screw connectors so could someone please remind me what the spade/pins are respectively, and if they're the same on the socket end? Got some speaker cables to make up and I don't want to mess it up!!

Wikipedia!

Round pin is positive (red), spade is negative (black). Same on the socket end, since reversing them on the socket end would make a terrible fit!

Reversing the wires doesn't break anything, but it inverts the phase of your loudspeakers, which may degrade the audio quality (specifically in the low end) somewhat. Especially when the speakers are accidentally connected in opposing phase, the lows from either side cancel each other out.

Thanks :)

My partner is an academic so bans Wikipedia in our household, but thanks for the link ;)

j0hnbarker:

My partner is an academic so bans Wikipedia in our household

I have librarian friends who don't believe in Wikipedia either

"it is not based on a controlled form of accuracy"

I always think that is humorous coming from carbon-based life-forms that are the product of a chaotic evolutionary process and who live in a democracy

Her objection is that the content is not peer-reviewed and therefore possibly inaccurate. At medical school we are banned from using it too, and I guess if you think of it in that context then it begins to make more sense.

Oh I understand ... but no "system" is perfect ... not even one with peer reviews and review boards 

It is just my sense of humour coupled with the puzzlement that the value of a self-correct system (like evolution) is not fully appreciated :)