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Ron Resnick

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Is “mini banana” actually a standard connector?

(This whole hobby can drive one bananas.)
 

beaur

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Ron,

Looks like they would also accept the single pins through the middle. I hate spades so I generally have pins.

These are the speaker terminals on the passive cross-over of the Pendragon ribbon panels.



View attachment 45959



Do these terminals look like they accept banana plugs? No, right?

These terminals look to me like they accept only spade lugs.
 

Mike Lavigne

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spades are a pain to deal with, but properly tightened they will ultimately sound better. it's just physics. a compression 'spring' fit gets loose over time. and how would you know when the 'spring' on the banana plug lost it's mojo (tension)? a screw will stay tightened.....and can be quickly checked for tightness.

oxidation over time is more of a factor with banana plugs. more contact area with less pressure on the connection, a less solid pairing. not that there are any connections that are completely immune to oxidation unless it's a continuous piece of wire.

bananas type plugs work for connections constantly being changed. or if ease of use and a clean look is the highest priority.
 
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microstrip

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These are the speaker terminals on the passive cross-over of the Pendragon ribbon panels.



View attachment 45959



Do these terminals look like they accept banana plugs? No, right?

These terminals look to me like they accept only spade lugs.

From some Gryphon literature "Custom-built Gryphon speaker terminals accept bare wire, spade lugs or banana plugs for a tight, reliable connection ". They do not refer to special banana plugs.

Probably in Europe they ship them with small plastic inlets to block banana plugs, that were ruled out by CE requirements for safety. Fortunately they are very simple to remove.

BTW, WBT has excellent quality locking banana plugs - 0600, 0610 and 0644 types.
 

Ron Resnick

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When you are done setting up your mega system with the AS2000/SME. The ZYX will not sound on a warm side. If you still find it warm, look elsewhere down the chain.

A Coralstone on Axiom on AF1 in my system is still in a different league from the four carts I have on the AS2000. I doubt it moves up a league even if play on the AS. But I dont have a diamond cantilever like Christian and Gian.

Tang :)

This is interesting. In theory the Axiom is the best contemporary tonearm match for a Koetsu. If I went in the Koetsu direction I definitely would have gotten the Axiom for the Koetsu to ride on.
 

Ron Resnick

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spades are a pain to deal with, but properly tightened they will ultimately sound better. it's just physics. a compression 'spring' fit gets loose over time. and how would you know when the 'spring' on the banana plug lost it's mojo (tension)? a screw will stay tightened.....and can be quickly checked for tightness.

oxidation over time is more of a factor with banana plugs. more contact area with less pressure on the connection, a less solid pairing. not that there are any connections that are completely immune to oxidation unless it's a continuous piece of wire.

bananas type plugs work for connections constantly being changed. or if ease of use and a clean look is the highest priority.

This all makes complete sense, and it sounds like very good advice. Thank you, Mike!
 

Ron Resnick

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Ron, why are you asking about banana connections? Have you bought your speaker cables? Can't you simply contact Gryphon and ask them if your speakers accept standard banana plugs?

I am going to be bothering Gryphon plenty; I did not want to start out by asking a question I can get answered otherwise.
 

Ron Resnick

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From some Gryphon literature "Custom-built Gryphon speaker terminals accept bare wire, spade lugs or banana plugs for a tight, reliable connection ". They do not refer to special banana plugs.

Probably in Europe they ship them with small plastic inlets to block banana plugs, that were ruled out by CE requirements for safety. Fortunately they are very simple to remove.

BTW, WBT has excellent quality locking banana plugs - 0600, 0610 and 0644 types.

Thank you, Francisco.
 

PeterA

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This is interesting. In theory the Axiom is the best contemporary tonearm match for a Koetsu. If I went in the Koetsu direction I definitely would have gotten the Axiom for the Koetsu to ride on.

Ron, on what do you base this statement: in theory the Axiom is the best contemporary tonearm match for a Koetsu?
 

PeterA

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I am going to be bothering Gryphon plenty; I did not want to start out by asking a question I can get answered otherwise.

Ron, after these various posts, what is the answer to your question about whether or not these binding posts accept banana plug connections? I thought there is some confusion about the size of the plug. It looks like that is a hole in the end of the binding post, but has that been confirmed? Perhaps I missed it.
 

Ron Resnick

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Ron, on what do you base this statement: in theory the Axiom is the best contemporary tonearm match for a Koetsu?

Dietrich of Acoustical Systems conscientiously designed the Axiom to be the contemporary evolution of the Fidelity Research tonearms, which many Koetsu aficionados consider to be the best tonearm for a Koetsu.

In an interview with hi-fi in 2014 Dietrich Brakemeierth, founder of Acoustical Systems, said:

In terms of tone arm design there’s only one person whom I really admire because his work was not influenced by any audio perspective but by pure mechanical engineering and its consequence. And that is Isamu Ikeda a Japanese engineer and founder of Fidelity Research and later Ikeda Sound Labs who in my perspective invented 40 years ago a tone arm design that has stood the test of time. It has proved, in my opinion, that until late last year it has been on par with any design that followed it. [meaning his Axiom is the only tonearm which has improved upon Isamu's work]

http://www.avhub.com.au/features/hi...trich-brakemeier-of-acoustical-systems-395228
 
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Ron Resnick

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Ron, after these various posts, what is the answer to your question about whether or not these binding posts accept banana plug connections? I thought there is some confusion about the size of the plug. It looks like that is a hole in the end of the binding post, but has that been confirmed? Perhaps I missed it.

The multi-way Gryphon loudspeaker terminals accept standard banana plugs.
 

PeterA

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Dietrich of Acoustical Systems conscientiously designed the Axiom to be the contemporary evolution of the Fidelity Research tonearms, which many Koetsu aficionados consider to be the best tonearm for a Koetsu.

In an interview with hi-fi in 2014 Dietrich Brakemeierth, founder of Acoustical Systems, said:

In terms of tone arm design there’s only one person whom I really admire because his work was not influenced by any audio perspective but by pure mechanical engineering and its consequence. And that is Isamu Ikeda a Japanese engineer and founder of Fidelity Research and later Ikeda Sound Labs who in my perspective invented 40 years ago a tone arm design that has stood the test of time. It has proved, in my opinion, that until late last year it has been on par with any design that followed it. [meaning his Axiom is the only tonearm which has improved upon Isamu's work]

http://www.avhub.com.au/features/hi...trich-brakemeier-of-acoustical-systems-395228

Thanks Ron. I think Syntax and Brakemeierth are friends and that the former loves Koetsu and his FR tonearm. Brakemeierth designed his own cartridge for his Axiom tonearm. Do you know if it sounds anything like a Koetsu?
 

Ron Resnick

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No, Peter. I do not know anything about that cartridge.

The Axiom tonearm offers true, on-the-fly, one knob adjustment of VTA. You would like that feature!
 
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Tango

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No, Peter. I do not know anything about that cartridge.

The Axiom tonearm offers true, on-the-fly, one knob adjustment of VTA. You would like that feature!
Not one knob. Two knobs actually. One is to secure/lock the arm height. You have to release it before adjusting the vta with the other knob. The scale indicating incremental adjustment is also not small enough I ended up using card trick. I am too scare to adjust vta the Axiom on the fly. SAT I could do that with no worry.

That cartridge I have too. It is not as lively as what I have on my AS2000.

Tang
 

bonzo75

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Thanks Ron. I think Syntax and Brakemeierth are friends and that the former loves Koetsu and his FR tonearm. Brakemeierth designed his own cartridge for his Axiom tonearm. Do you know if it sounds anything like a Koetsu?

if that's the Palladian and the other model you are referring to,. I heard thrice, it doesn't
 

bonzo75

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Not one knob. Two knobs actually. One is to secure/lock the arm height. You have to release it before adjusting the vta with the other knob. The scale indicating incremental adjustment is also not small enough I ended up using card trick. I am too scare to adjust vta the Axiom on the fly. SAT I could do that with no worry.

Tang

you should try on the fly VTA with zyx on.

Richard mak said zyx is very sensitive to VTA, which is why he has it on Da Vinci Vertu
 

Tango

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you should try on the fly VTA with zyx on.

Richard mak said zyx is very sensitive to VTA, which is why he has it on Da Vinci Vertu
We dont know why he uses the Davinci. But I dont think adjusting the vta on the fly is his primary reason. The sound, the ease of switching head shell/cart easily, etc. He has that magic software so to get that 92 degree need no on-the-fly. ;)

Xoxo
Tang
 
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