Sure could use a little expert advice.

Like many on this forum, I'm a firm believer that the straighter the wire, the better the audio.

Unfortunately, my growing gear selection is forcing me to install a patchbay. A perfect configuration for my studio has 24 1/4" (standard, not long-frame) balanced ports in/out and insert, just like the Samson S-Patch Plus. The front panel switch between Normal, Half-Normal and Thru is very nice, but not critical. I have solid reasons staying with 1/4" balanced in this region--besides the fact I'm pretty sloppy with a soldering iron.

I've run a search on the S-Patch Plus and the results were:
Recent:
Chris L. recommended it to Dr. DeltaM who thinks he'll get one.

In 2005:
Warren Dent recommends it, noting no noticable loss of audio quality.
Shane has three and gives it a thumbs up.
Pigpen is looking into it.

Jay Kahrs makes the point that all your audio is going through it--why compromise your hard-earned sonic quality by skimping on a less than high-end patchbay (which I agree).

I've never been impressed with the sonic quality of anything Samson, which is not to say this isn't a fine box.

Can any of you slutz give an update on your S-Patch Plus experience (or anyone else who owns/owned one)?

or,

Can anyone recommend a high-end patchbay manufacturer with the same configuration of the S-Patch Plus? Better yet, a quality manufacturer that will do custom (but not exotic) configurations at a less-than-ridiculous price?

Oh yeah, if your a dealer/distributor/employee/friend of the manufacturer recommended, please identify yourself as such. It kinda pisses me off when I find out later.

Thanks all

Laser

This guy started the thread I need right now two years ago
I have a high end equipped home studio and I'm feeling the need for a patchbay. The Samson S-Patch Plus will do for me, but I don't know how much I'd be compromising signal integrity.
Any opinion? Does someone else use it without worries? Thanx!

Seems I missed this thread 2 years ago :-)

FWIW, I have a Samson S-Patch Plus patchbay for a few years now. Works great, feels sturdy, no sonic issues at all. Still recommended for a good jack-patchbay!

I still use mine also, 3-4 years later I suppose.

No issues, works like a charm.

Maybe I should do a test bypassing it and having it in, and null them?

War

I dont think a patchbay has any components aside from wires which subtly affect audio at best. but if you wanted to get super slutty gold or silver would be the conductors that would add the lest resistance, therefore would affect the signal the least. So all you need is solid gold trs input/outputs and wiring though I highly doubt the difference would justify the cost, if even be audible at all. But it would be a great conversation piece and bragging rights

Not quite what the OP was asking, but the fact is that to get more high end than the S-Patch Plus, you really need to move to a different format. IOW if you're staying with 1/4" TRS, the S-Patch+ is really about as good as it gets.

TT is a better idea, though, if you ever intend to have more than a handful of pieces of gear racked. Unless you're happy to devote a whole wall to patchbays, that is...

If Jay Kahrs can tell the difference between a signal passing through a Samson Patchbay and a Switchcraft just by lending an ear, I'll give up this business right here, right now and start selling lemon.

In my experience, there's nothing wrong with Samson Patch Plus at all.

B.

Picked up a couple recently - nothing bad to say and I like the front panel switches...

I really dig mine too. No problems!

Consider the quality of connections... Now i have to admit, i owned 3, however down here in florida, where we average 85% humidity, I found the quality and reliability of the Samson lacking. Now I work for GC, so full discloser, the samson is proprietary Sam Ash. I do have a solution however for all the samson/behringer/POS 1/4" patchbays. Neutrick makes a patchbay to much tighter tolerances and better/more transparent connections. FWIW

If you are talking about that NYS-SPPL or whatever, that's a pile of garbage. You couldn't pay me to get it.

B.

All of the modular trs bays are pretty much interchangeable. The Jacks are not designed for heavy duty use like an ADC, Will you wear one out ? Maybe so if your going to buy one I would buy another for some back up modules as parts they aren't cheap! Almost as much as a new bay.
I do keep 2 Nady bays around they were cheaper than vent panels at The MF outlet!

I have 8 of these ( I also live in Puerto Rico with a ridiculously high amount of humidity ) and I've never had a problem with them. Not a single problem in 4 years and counting. Used to have these other ones that had plastic connectors and THOSE just sucked!

Glad you disclosed your vested interest in steering this discussion the way you did.

Notwithstanding that, you've offered very poor advice here. The Neutrik bays are utter rubbish, and provide poor and unreliable connections, even right out of the box (believe me, I have more experience of this than I'd wish for). Tighter tolerances my ass, sorry. Anyone who cares about their audio should pay to have them taken away.

By contrast, he S-Patch Plus bays are in fact a substantial step up in quality and utility from the Neutriks, are better than the modular type bays (Samson use metal parts, not plastic, throughout) and appear to have been the best TRS format bays on the market in recent years.

This is four years ago. Is Samson still the best for trs ??

yep. Unless you wanna invest in TT, the S-patch still seems to hold the title. No complaints here. I bought the c-control based on the strength of the s-patch's performance. No issues, sound and build quality seem excellent for the money.

+1

researched, bought (from Warren Dent/Zen Pro, upthread), more than satisfied.

Yeah thanks guys I went with it as well. I would have paid premium on it, but I haven't heard of anything else besides this for trs

Only about a year in, but I love my 3 S-Patch Plus bays! The build is much sturdier than the competition (Behringer, Nady, Neutrik) and is the only one with front panel switches. The only cons I can think of are the tiny label area (due to having the switches out front - worth it IMO) and, if you have young kids, you better check your normalling before every use!

I can only wish I had started out with the Samson by the looks of it here. I got 2 Neutrik 1/4" TRS patch-bays to replace a REAN (which it turns out is made by Neutrik) which had many inserts that wouldn't pass signal. When I had trouble with some of the new Neutrik patch points (either not passing audio or the 'Normal' not working right) I bought yet another one as I found the cost of replacing each module to be $30.

Haha

Apologies for the zombie thread revival! Currently considering picking one of these bad boys up as am fed up of climbing behind the racks. Just wondering if you guys still feel as you did in 2014? Any new user feedback appreciated. Essentially just want to ensure these units don't degrade the Sonics at all. The above thread seems pretty positive but just wanted to check with you all here in 2017!

Yeah I guess not a lot has changed in the patchbay game in the last 11 years...!

Samson S-Patch is still the way to go. I got one new for... I think it was $100 or just over $100? Talk to a sales rep and they should be able to work with you on the new price. Not generally an area I'd go used (budget patchbay...) unless you know for sure it saw very light use, or was like an open-box or something.

They are better quality than Neutrik, REAN, etc. Have had absolutely zero problems. Yes, it's not a ton of channels due to being TRS, but two of these things are still super cheap, and not much rack space. Perfect for us weekend warriors or smaller operations who may not be plugging/unplugging hundreds of times a week accommodating various clients.

I think these guys had the best bulk prices on molded mogami cables last I checked if you can get free shipping:

Buy 25 for $6.58 each - https://www.pacrad.com/mogami-stereo...ord-37018.html

The mogami is maybe overkill, the ubiquitous color-coded Hosa's are what I see everywhere. But as has been mentioned, everything passes through the patchbay, and I have Mogami everywhere else these days already thanks to Brian Rainwater who keeps me stocked for literally less than I could solder them myself not buying in bulk last I priced it out (and he's a forum member). Try contacting him directly and see if he'll shave off some of the ebay fees.

Rainwater Sound | eBay Stores

https://www.facebook.com/Rainwater-S...3866313352564/

Good luck.

Just came to say that in 2020, the S-Patch Plus is still the best TRS patchbay you're gonna get. The switches on the front is insanely convenient, all metal construction, all metal jacks... about as high end at this stuff gets.

I am amazed someone recommended the Neutrik patchbay, but it makes sense once he said he was a Guitar Center employee "much tighter tolerances and better/more transparent connections" what a load of BS. I hope customers don't actually believe that. When you search patchbays at Sweetwater, they don't even show that it's rated 3-stars.

That being said, earlier this year I bought a Redco TT patchbay with DB25 connections on the back, and I LOVE IT! Half the price of the Switchcraft patchbay, but the Redco doesn't have the convenient normalling switches on the front (like the S-Patch!). Hasn't been an issue for me, I set my normalling when I put it in the rack and haven't had to change it, but I triple-checked everything first.

Highly recommend the Redco if you're looking for the next step up from TRS patchbays. Price of patch cables is definitely more, but they should have the same lifespan as any well-treated patch cable.

But the Samson S-Patch Plus is still the best bang for your buck in 2020!!

What the heck - thought I'd get a 2021 reply in here. I've never had a problem with an S-Patch Plus. I own at least 4. "B" Brand 1/4" bay and a lesser model of "S" brand both had channels that failed rather early in the game. Unless something changes, the S-Patch Plus is just one of those pieces of gear that seems a perfect juncture of price, versatility, and reliability.

I'm a contended S-Patch Plus user (two here), but there was a thread recently in the High End Forum about the next step up in 1/4" patchbays for those with deeper pockets.

If anyone wants to sell their Samson s patch plus (preferably uk based) pm me.

Thanks

Thanks everyone this thread has been a big help

It helped me, just received my Samson - thanks everyone!

Looking forward to figuring out how best to deploy it …..

Can confirm that in 2022 (and 2023), the samson s patch plus is still the way to go.

Just got mine from sweetwater and am impressed. I guess at the price point theyre offering it at, nobody really wants to come in and try and make it cheaper... then wait years waiting to return a profit on their R&D and overhead production costs