As impressive as they may look, gold-plated connectors are not a reliable indicator of quality in cables. Most gold-plated plugs are made of brass, which is plated with bright nickel and a thin layer of gold. Brass and nickel are rather poor conductors that introduce significant loss at the points of contact. Most Wireworld connectors have contacts made of oxygen-free copper and silver for substantial improvements in sound and video quality. SILVER TUBETM plugs Featuring tubular silver-clad OFC contacts and a silicone rubber tension band to produce the lowest contact resistance available, these state-of-the-art connectors make dramatic improvements in sound and image quality. U.S. Patent 5,413,503 GOLD TUBETM plugs A tubular oxygen-free copper pin, plated with gold over silver provides double the conductivity of conventional gold-plated brass plugs, for distinct improvements in clarity, smoothness and dynamic range. INSTA-WIRETM speaker cable system Featuring OFC contacts, plated with silver and gold, these award-winning connectors and cables provide superior sound quality and instant termination without tools. POWER SPRINGTM banana plugs Utilizing an internal spring made of silicone rubber, these convenient plugs provide tight connections that won't loosen over time. HDMI plugs The plugs on Wireworld's award-winning flat HDMI and DVI cables are simply the best available. Their tight-fitting contacts have a thick layer of silver, rather than the standard nickel, under their gold plating, to reduce contact losses by more than half.