Malcolm Stewart wrote:

Hi,

I'm on the lookout for gold plated mono and stereo audio connectors in the
popular 3.5mm diam. fitting. I've noted that the tin plated variety are
noisy when used for microphone input purposes.
They're common enough on the small head- & earphones, microphones etc.
that
come with audio gear. What I'm after is the bare connector so that I can
make up my own leads. RS Components do some at around £5+ each which
seems high when complete earphones (with gold plated plug) can be bought
for £9. (And XLR types would weigh as much as my MiniDisc recorder!)

Any ideas before I go down the cannibalise route?

Rapid electronics part number 20-0066 are very high quality and only £0.55
(less in bulk). The catalog is on their website as pdf.

If you file away the end they accept cables up to 1cm, which I find handly
because I can wire them straight to thickish coax and phono plugs without
adaptors.