Old type binding posts, which connector?

[Pentotark]

On the back of my Marantz Imperial 6 there are this old type of screw binding posts. Right now the bare cable is wrapping around them as you can see in the picture I attached to this post.

I would like to make an easier way to plug and unplug the cables without changing the binding post type and I was thinking that adding a connector at the end of the wires might improve the situation. Only problem is that I do not know what type of connector I should use with these screws and that is why I am asking to you guys.
Note also that the space between the two screws is barely half centimeter.

 

[whoaru99]

Putting spade or hook terminals on the speaker wires would make it easier.

Other than that, sky is sorta the limit on different types of connectors. Given banana plugs are rather common for speaker cables in home audio, I think that would be the logical choice if you are after a quick-disconnect type of arrangement.

Make up some short adapters having spades on one end with banana jacks on the other end. Then, of course, you also need to fit banana plugs to the speaker cables.

 

[boza]

On the back of my Marantz Imperial 6 there are this old type of screw binding posts. Right now the bare cable is wrapping around them as you can see in the picture I attached to this post.

I would like to make an easier way to plug and unplug the cables without changing the binding post type and I was thinking that adding a connector at the end of the wires might improve the situation. Only problem is that I do not know what type of connector I should use with these screws and that is why I am asking to you guys.
Note also that the space between the two screws is barely half centimeter.

these are what i used on my old dynatron speakers with the same connectors

 

[Pentotark]

Putting spade or hook terminals on the speaker wires would make it easier.

I have a pair of those laying around but they do not fit because the fork itself is too big and the + and - would touch and overlap on the back of the speakers. Maybe different sizes exists or a standard size for that type of connector?

Make up some short adapters having spades on one end with banana jacks on the other end. Then, of course, you also need to fit banana plugs to the speaker cables.

There are banana plugs on the other side already.

 

[whoaru99]

Yes, there are different sizes. Here are a few examples I have on hand.

 

[Pentotark]

Yes, there are different sizes. Here are a few examples I have on hand.

I think the smallest one might do the job. Could you gently tell me what size is that or take the measure the width of the fork please?

 

[whoaru99]

The small one is for #6 screw, and the width is 7.2mm.

When narrow width is important look for "block spades". If you want the small lip on the end, as on the lower two terminals in my picture, look for "flanged block spades".

Block spades have more narrow profile than standard spade terminals.

 

[frodaddi]

Here's another option, I use these on my vintage McIntosh amp which has screw terminals. You can find them in all the usual mail order places.

 

[Pentotark]

Here's another option, I use these on my vintage McIntosh amp which has screw terminals. You can find them in all the usual mail order places.

Am I supposed to put a banana plug in them?

 

[frodaddi]

Am I supposed to put a banana plug in them?

Yes, banana plugs will fit into the holes of the posts that are sticking up there, that is their main purpose. Also the posts screw out, then on the other side of the square body (not visible in the picture) is a hole that you can use for bare wire, which is what I do. Then screw the posts down to secure.

 

[Ohighway]

Here's something you could try. I used it on a small amplifier but it would work just the same on your speakers.

Find some banana jack type binding posts that have the same size screw/thread as the screws on the back of your speaker crossovers,

Remove the screws and replace with the banana jacks.

You'll need to install banana plugs on the ends of your speaker wires but that's no hassle.

 

[bimasta]

Here's something you could try.

Ohighway, that's brilliant! I've seen every available solution to this problem, but yours is the simplest, most logical, and best.

And you came up with it YOURSELF! Hats off dude! I'm going to use it every chance I get.

Finding a thread that matches must be hit-and-miss though — esp with Japanese or UK components that use Metric or one of those oddball British threads. Have you had that problem? How do you solve it?

 

[empirelvr]

Here's something you could try. I used it on a small amplifier but it would work just the same on your speakers.

Find some banana jack type binding posts that have the same size screw/thread as the screws on the back of your speaker crossovers,

Remove the screws and replace with the banana jacks.

You'll need to install banana plugs on the ends of your speaker wires but that's no hassle.

View attachment 1037112

View attachment 1037113

Just be careful if you go this route. Many terminal strips like on the posters amplifier and your speakers have the ends of the screws "flattened" so they can't come fully out. (The thinking being you can't lose the screw if you can't take it completely out.) If you try unscrewing a screw treated like this totally out, you'll wind up stripping/enlarging the threaded hole, making using another screw impossible.

 

[WaynerN]

Putting spade or hook terminals on the speaker wires would make it easier.

Other than that, sky is sorta the limit on different types of connectors. Given banana plugs are rather common for speaker cables in home audio, I think that would be the logical choice if you are after a quick-disconnect type of arrangement.

Make up some short adapters having spades on one end with banana jacks on the other end. Then, of course, you also need to fit banana plugs to the speaker cables.

I'd add on that, but I would use eyelet terminals and cut out a portion so it looks like a "?" I do not like the "U" shaped connectors because they always seem to come loose. Of course the addition of an external toothed washer would help makes things very secure.....

 

[whoaru99]

Just be careful if you go this route. Many terminal strips like on the posters amplifier and your speakers have the ends of the screws "flattened" so they can't come fully out. (The thinking being you can't lose the screw if you can't take it completely out.) If you try unscrewing a screw treated like this totally out, you'll wind up stripping/enlarging the threaded hole, making using another screw impossible.

Yeah, that's a consideration.

I think another too is the cables. Those are not held on by too much just threaded into the generally thin metal of the screw terminal. I'd be at least thinking about cantilever load possibly causing a problem.

 

[Ohighway]

Ohighway, that's brilliant! I've seen every available solution to this problem, but yours is the simplest, most logical, and best.

And you came up with it YOURSELF! Hats off dude! I'm going to use it every chance I get.

Finding a thread that matches must be hit-and-miss though — esp with Japanese or UK components that use Metric or one of those oddball British threads. Have you had that problem? How do you solve it?

Thanks. I'd like to claim genius but it was more of an accident. I don't remember where I came across those binding posts but I was surprised at how small a diameter the threaded portion was. At some point not too long after that I was struggling with trying to hook up speakers to those amp terminals (I hate those screw terminals) and then the light went on. Turns out in this case the thread was an exact match to the thread on the screws. If you look around you'll find some binding posts come with different diameter threads.

Just be careful if you go this route. Many terminal strips like on the posters amplifier and your speakers have the ends of the screws "flattened" so they can't come fully out. (The thinking being you can't lose the screw if you can't take it completely out.) If you try unscrewing a screw treated like this totally out, you'll wind up stripping/enlarging the threaded hole, making using another screw impossible.

Could..... I can't remember if the screws had flats or not but if they did they were so shallow as to not cause an issue.

Yeah, that's a consideration.

I think another too is the cables. Those are not held on by too much just threaded into the generally thin metal of the screw terminal. I'd be at least thinking about cantilever load possibly causing a problem.

Mmmmm. I think that's stretching things a bit. On that amp you'd have to apply a huge amount of brute force to get something like that to happen. Those things are study on there. Put differently you'd run about a 100-1 chance of having a screw terminal come loose and/or short the wire across the terminals than you would that cantilever problem.

 

[empirelvr]

Could..... I can't remember if the screws had flats or not but if they did they were so shallow as to not cause an issue..

I'm sure they didn't if you were able to take the screws out easily and screw in the binding posts with no problem. It's something some terminal strips have, but not all.

 

[Ohighway]

I'm sure they didn't if you were able to take the screws out easily and screw in the binding posts with no problem. It's something some terminal strips have, but not all.

Yeah but it's valid to mention as some do have a flat on the screw.

Oh...one more thing. If you're screwing the new binding post into an area you can't see then it would probably be a good idea to shorten the threaded portion so it won't extend any further than the screw did. You don't want it going way back and contacting something you can't see. With my amp I could remove the cover easily to check for clearance inside. With speakers it would be more difficult to check.

 

[Old Guy8]

Guess I would bite bullet and replace binding posts with universal 5 ways at a wider center distance. Those screws look too close together. Fair chance of cables shorting. Maybe make a new masonite plate.
Edit: I use the right angle prong adapters for banana connectors, with screw/nut posts on Advents/KLH speakers. I wrap the adapter body with electrical tape for short protection. But adapter can easily come loose and short. Those posts are not so close together, as OP's.

 

[whoaru99]

Mmmmm. I think that's stretching things a bit. On that amp you'd have to apply a huge amount of brute force to get something like that to happen. Those things are study on there. Put differently you'd run about a 100-1 chance of having a screw terminal come loose and/or short the wire across the terminals than you would that cantilever problem.

Yeah, there are a lot of stretches made on the forum, this one, to me, is one of the more plausible.

A receiver on a shelf where your cables may be somewhat supported is one thing. These are on a speaker where you have full dead hang of the cable on the little screw plate threads.

Some light weight cable, like the OP has in the picture, I don't think would ever be a problem. But, if you get some thicker, heavier cables it is not implausible to me that weight with the cantilever could pull the threads from the terminal plate.