To terminate or not, that is the question

[Dr_jitsu]

I see many many higher priced speaker cables with very nice spades and banana plugs but is it not possible to get a better (and more reliable) connection by simply using raw cable and properly threading it into the binding post?

That is just one less possible connection that can go bad (or at least that's what Blue Jean thinks). Am I just a foolish newcomer to AV (I am definitely a newcomer).

Excuse me is this question has been posted before, but I searched and had no luck.

 

[DonH50]

If the connectors are attached by good solder joints it probably doesn't matter much, otherwise raw cable is likely to be better. I have done both over the years and am not sure I have ever heard or measured any difference with good connectors and connections. I generally use bare wire (and am now). Spades and banana plugs have less potential for stray wire shorts in the hands of the less-experienced.

FWIWFM - Don

 

[mep]

I see many many higher priced speaker cables with very nice spades and banana plugs but is it not possible to get a better (and more reliable) connection by simply using raw cable and properly threading it into the binding post?

That is just one less possible connection that can go bad (or at least that's what Blue Jean thinks). Am I just a foolish newcomer to AV (I am definitely a newcomer).

Excuse me is this question has been posted before, but I searched and had no luck.

Blue Jean Cables should think that because I bought a pair of speaker cables from them and one of the spade lugs fell off. I have had very good luck with their interconnects though. I’m not a big fan of un-terminated speaker cables. It’s just one more thing to make your life a little more difficult.

 

[Dr_jitsu]

Thanks everyone....so I have my cables narrowed down to either Audioquest or Blue Jean. However I have heard that Audioquest are difficult to strip and bind to a post, true?

 

[audioguy]

I use all blue jean for speaker wire and interconnects.

They have a banana plug connector that can bit tightened up to provide a GREAT connection.

 

[Dr_jitsu]

I am adding another choice: http://www.ramelectronics.net/product-view.ep?pID=HSWSB&update=viewCart&cartItemId=422739991 As mentioned by another board member, these have the high quality WTB connects.

 

[amirm]

I have found two problems with bare cables (even though I use them that way all the time ):

1. The wires oxidize after a few years. At least the ones I have used do. Soldering them and having gold connectors on the spade or whatever stops that.

2. It is easy to have them fray and potentially short out.

 

[Dr_jitsu]

Good point...in any event, here is what I am going with for my speakers (all 13 of them): Blue jean/Belden 5000UE 12 g, and these banana plugs; http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1J0FBVCGKH7GXPD2VWKC

Actually, I was going to go w/ the Canare quad cable, but I don't think it will fit into the Belkin plugs.

 

[garylkoh]

Blue Jean Cables should think that because I bought a pair of speaker cables from them and one of the spade lugs fell off. I have had very good luck with their interconnects though. I’m not a big fan of un-terminated speaker cables. It’s just one more thing to make your life a little more difficult.

I'm surprised to hear this, and to hear the Blue Jeans is recommending unterminated speaker cables. I thought that they bought an ultrasonic welder??
http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/ultrasonic-welding.htm

Anyway, I am not a fan of unterminated cables. Amir mentioned corrosion, also binding post nuts can loosen after a while with all the vibration. For that reason, I prefer banana plugs at the speaker end (but I prefer spades at the amplifier end).

 

[garylkoh]

Actually, I was going to go w/ the Canare quad cable, but I don't think it will fit into the Belkin plugs.

Try these:
http://www.amazon.com/GLS-Audio-Locking-Generation-Connector/dp/B000O8AHLA/ref=pd_cp_e_2

They will take up to 10g wire, and are locking bananas.

 

[Dr_jitsu]

Thank you, Gary. I have narrowed my plug choice down to the GLS' and these nakamichis:http://www.nakamichiplug.com/product-0575G50.html http://www.nakamichiplug.com/product-0857F50.html

Which do you think are better?

 

[garylkoh]

The Nakamichi's are a generic made-in-China-type that I do not like.

The actual contact material is that spring steel part that is a loose rotating collar around the actual banana. Even if the banana has good quality copper (it's usually brass available), there is then another interface between the banana and the spring. It looks like a good design until you really start examining the engineering.

It's probably one of the worst designs I've encountered. The Belkin you originally found is a much better design. I'm mindful of your requirement to keep everything below $400, because there are far better products, but for some of these, just 4 pairs of bananas would already bust your budget.

 

[Dr_jitsu]

So I take that these Naks woulkd also be a bad choice:http://www.nakamichiplug.com/product-0534E50.html

From what I have gathered, the GLS's that you recommended are the best choice, yes?

 

[naturephoto1]

So I take that these Naks woulkd also be a bad choice:http://www.nakamichiplug.com/product-0534E50.html

From what I have gathered, the GLS's that you recommended are the best choice, yes?

Another option, and more expensive than what Gary suggested are these from Kevin in Taiwan who makes my speaker cables and many of my ICs as well:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rhodium-Plated-Speaker-Banana-Plug-Connector-2-pairs-/290545724439?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a5dfec17

These are the Banana plugs used on some of my speaker cables (other connectors are his spades). Kevin makes very nice, well constructed, relatively inexpensive high end cabling.

Rich

 

[Dr_jitsu]

Both the Rohdium and GLS's are w/ in my budget....can someone help me choose? Sorry for all the questions, but I want to soak up as much of the incredible knowledge of this board as possible.

The reviews on the Rhodium are impressive.

 

[garylkoh]

Another option, and more expensive than what Gary suggested are these from Kevin in Taiwan who makes my speaker cables and many of my ICs as well:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rhodium-Plated-Speaker-Banana-Plug-Connector-2-pairs-/290545724439?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a5dfec17

These are the Banana plugs used on some of my speaker cables (other connectors are his spades). Kevin makes very nice, well constructed, relatively inexpensive high end cabling.

Rich

Nice. This is the first time I've seen these. They may be a little too "massive" and the following may sound better:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Beryllium-Coppe...ultDomain_0&hash=item43a6556604#ht_1196wt_905

 

[garylkoh]

Both the Rohdium and GLS's are w/ in my budget....can someone help me choose? Sorry for all the questions, but I want to soak up as much of the incredible knowledge of this board as possible.

The reviews on the Rhodium are impressive.

Dr Jitsu - this is the "What's Best" forum.... and you're likely to get more advise than you know what to do with because there's a wealth of knowledge here. You might want to try both out, and then come back and update us.

 

[garylkoh]

So I take that these Naks woulkd also be a bad choice:http://www.nakamichiplug.com/product-0534E50.html

From what I have gathered, the GLS's that you recommended are the best choice, yes?

These would be a better choice. The GLS's might not be the best choice - just the best of the really cheap ones I've looked at. But the similar rhodium plated ones from Rich's suggestion may be better than the Naka's.

 

[Dr_jitsu]

The Rohdiums for $16 a pair are definately a good deal. I do have 9 speakers (only rewireing 7 of them) and 4 subs so the connects will run around $200, but I can swing that no prob.

I can also buy the more expensive Rohdiums if they will give better sound.

 

[DonH50]

Hmmm... No comment on your choices, Dr_jitsu, but want to briefly sidetrack this thread to ask Gary about banana plugs being better than bare wire in a screw terminal. I read about spades vibrating loose; isn't the same true of banana plugs? (For the record, I have had problems with both in the past, but more with banana plugs so admit my bias.) And, without a really good mechanism for expanding and capturing the banana plug, won't their connection impedance be higher than a screw-type bare-wire connection? At least, I found that to be true in the past, but I am not sure I ever actually measured one of the expanding types of banana plugs that provide more positive capture and retention, and I have not looked recently.

Curious - Don