I make my cables myself and tried a bunch of jacks. for most cables I’m totally fine with Amphenol ACPM (especially love their right angle plug), but my Ibanez SR has a deep recessed jack on the front, which just calls for a longer and grippier straight jack, compact ones are a pain there. I’ve used Neutriks and Amphenol T-series before getting a HiCon. so:
those are just joy to solder, seem pre-tinned as well. easy to assemble. the rear cap threads are less refined than on Amphenols, so sometimes gets stuck and peels off black powder (I hope, that’s only paint). I wasn’t able to fully close the cap (to the point the ring doesn’t rotate) despite using thin flexible Mogami wire (6mm), but frankly I think that’s good, as I’ll be able to tighten it again when the cable deforms at strain relief, so it won’t slip. in fact, that was my problem with Neutriks.
the weight and bulkiness is on-par with Amphenol T series with metallic backs, so it’s a big and heavy plug. on the upside it’s very grippy, i.e. easy to grab and plug or unplug in a tight socket in inconvenient place, in this regard this plug is definitely better than both Neutriks and Amphenols. you won’t break a metallic back with pushing the jack hard and that comes with a weight.
I’m using only metal shell jacks for years and the thing that surprised me is this one seems like ‘warmer’ to touch (usually a metallic jack is a bit cold to touch, these ones — not so much), notably the front part of the handle. wonder if it’s paint of different alloy used.
I’d love to have a nickel version as well, frankly. I like my jacks shiny, so I don’t step on them plugged in my floor tuner or something like this. they make a HI-J63M tho, but Thomann doesn’t have it.
so, I liked the assembly and ergonomics. will it hold my abuse? only time will tell. my backup cable is wearing TM2PNs for now, let’s see if this one will hold on par.
