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Mordaunt-Short connector type?

Jay from MN

Jay from MN

New Member
I have a pair of Mordaunt-Short MS 15 bookshelf speakers (from the late 1980s), and for the life of me I cannot figure out what sort of connectors I need to attach speaker wire. All I’ve seen online is the term “banana plugs,” but standard banana plugs are too big and mini banana plugs are too small. What are the correct connectors named? Thanks for any help!
 

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They were made in Great Britain, I wonder if there is a "special" size speaker connector used there?
Some place, overseas, has wall outlet receptacles with almost identical spacing as "captive/paired banana plugs" which has resulted in some manufacturers inserting small plastic "plugs" in the ends of their 5 way terminals.
images
<----- Example, the outlets I'm thinking of share a similar size and spacing, possibly BS456, or GEC?
GEC outlet
170px-GEC_Plug_and_Socket%2C_1893.jpg
 
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I’ve had two pairs of these, slightly different versions, as well as other MS speakers of the same vintage. They all had sockets for standard 4 mm banana plugs and looked like the OP’s photo.

Maybe try another set of plugs?

I’ve also used bare wire bent back and jammed into the socket, but wouldn’t recommend that for anything other than testing for obvious reasons.
 
Jay from MN said:
I have a pair of Mordaunt-Short MS 15 bookshelf speakers (from the late 1980s), and for the life of me I cannot figure out what sort of connectors I need to attach speaker wire. All I’ve seen online is the term “banana plugs,” but standard banana plugs are too big and mini banana plugs are too small. What are the correct connectors named? Thanks for any help!
Click to expand...

Are the standards too big in diameter or too long and leave conductor exposed?
 
Depending on their construction, OP might be able to squeeze the ends together if too big, or spread the ends if too small since he mentioned both didn't work.
 
Thanks, everyone! The standard banana plugs I tried previously were much too wide. The speakers were my dad's, and though he threw the connectors away (frustrating), I remember what they looked like — and the "captive/paired" plug @goodolpg indicated matches my memory. I'll get a couple of those and see if they work.
 
I have a set of B&W DM10's (UK-made from early '80's) that require a slightly smaller banana than the standard; I got the plugs at Radio Schaak over the internet, but not sure they have them any more...
 
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