Buying Electrical Components - Advice Please

[james]

I want to make up an attenuator cable so I need a couple of DIN connectors, some cable and some resistors. In the old days I could go to either Peats or Maplins and see what I was getting.
I had a look at Radioincs, online, but I find their classification of DIN plugs and sockets confusing since they seem to talk about '3 pole DIN' rather than '4 pin DIN'. What are they like to deal with? Do they answer queries by email? What are postage charges like?
Any other suggestions for on-line sources of components?
Any actual physical shops (in Dublin) where I can buy such things?
All help appreciated. Thanks.
James

[Fran]

Don't know where you could get these in Dublin, but I use farnell all the time. Free delivery on all orders by courier.

There is always a challenge in getting the naming right so you can find the part you need. I find doing a google image search, finding the thing you want and then using that description a good start. So "5 pin DIN socket cable mount" or even a google search for "farnell 4 pin DIN" might be useful.

Ebay and aliexpress are good for premade cables, but the wait can be loooooooong.

Fran

[james]

Thanks Fran,
I will have a look at the farnell web-site.
By the way -- do you know of anyone who makes up special order cables? I used to use flashback sales but the owner has died.
James

[Fran]

Nope, that's not something I've heard of anyone doing, although I'm sure some of the boutique makers in the UK would do it easily enough.

[james]

Hi Fran,
Flashback sales used to do it. (i.e. make up custom cables). I got two special cables from them ..
a) Din to double 1/4 inch jack plugs (for connecting a naim pre-amp to a PC sound card for recording)
b) Din to split din sockets to have both input and output available from a naim din socket on a pre-amp (If you connect a headphone amp to naim you lose one of the inputs but this cable restored it).
They were great to deal with (and very reasonably priced) but the owner died recently. They knew naim/quad/din-connectors.
James

PS I had intended to ask them to make up an attenuation cable but now I will have to make it myself. The problem is sourcing the plugs, a tiny number of resistors and a short length of cable. I will probably wait a bit until I see how Brexit works out.