Really Dumb Question Re Speaker Cable

[JPhendrick]

All great info. Thanks again folks.

 

[Sgt Shultz]

I think it just took me a minute to wrap my head around this one then I found a video. Am I crazy or is this how this goes?

And this is why I like these from Monster, they connect on the end of the wire

 

[opnly bafld]

I think it just took me a minute to wrap my head around this one then I found a video. Am I crazy or is this how this goes?

I would pull the wire back a little.
If you insert them so the speaker wire is hanging down they shouldn't touch each other (on their own), but if they do it would be the insulated part. In a semi permanent install you could put heat shrink over the exposed wire area. Electrical tape will work, but I don't like the sticky residue.

I bought these and some other types to use with various amplifiers and speakers so I could use banana plugs on all of my speaker wires. Some like me swap amps and speakers once in a while, others hook a system together and don't touch it for years.

 

[Drinkwater]

"So I bought these expecting to be able to run bare wire into them and that doesn’t seem to work. Did I misunderstood something?"

Bare wire or banana plugs, you have to unscrew them to use bare wire.

What would the point be in running bare wire into that type of connector?

I thought you would use that for speaker cables that already have banana plugs, so rather than removing the banana plug or using a different wire, you could use the same cable in a speaker with spring terminals?

In this case it seems redundant…

I guess it could make it easier to swap between speakers, as it would reduce cable fraying and so forth. Maybe a better connection with the bare wire, too?

 

[JPhendrick]

^^^Perfect^^^

Just be sure the stripped end that protrudes does not contact any other connector or the case of the unit causing a potentially catastrophic short.

I would recommend wrapping the connector with some electrical tape as cheap insurance

Thanks! Should I also maybe trim the ends of the bare wire so that it doesn't stick out as much? Sorry for these basic ass questions. Total noob here...

 

[JPhendrick]

What would the point be in running bare wire into that type of connector?

I thought you would use that for speaker cables that already have banana plugs, so rather than removing the banana plug or using a different wire, you could use the same cable in a speaker with spring terminals?

In this case it seems redundant…

I guess it could make it easier to swap between speakers, as it would reduce cable fraying and so forth. Maybe a better connection with the bare wire, too?

I think you pretty much nailed it. Just looking for something less annoying than having to get bare wire securely into the spring clips on my 4240 and from my understanding, potentially better connection?

 

[nerdorama]

One additional small comment. Try to stay away from connectors which are magnetic. They won't be good conductors. Even brass, which is in most inexpensive connectors, isn't that great a conductor but better. I think Blue Jeans Cable sells pretty decent stuff at what I would consider moderate prices.

 

[Sgt Shultz]

What would the point be in running bare wire into that type of connector?

I thought you would use that for speaker cables that already have banana plugs, so rather than removing the banana plug or using a different wire, you could use the same cable in a speaker with spring terminals?

In this case it seems redundant…

I guess it could make it easier to swap between speakers, as it would reduce cable fraying and so forth. Maybe a better connection with the bare wire, too?

It's to allow large speaker wire to connect to spring clips on older gear that won't accept them.

At least that's what the Monster connectors I posted are for.

 

[JPhendrick]

And this is why I like these from Monster, they connect on the end of the wire

View attachment 2792114

Yeeeeah i like those. There’s talk in some amazon reviews though about how if your connector clips are too close together (as they usually are on these older model receivers) there’s a danger of the outer casings touching and causing a short? That can’t be right - that would be an idiotic design flaw, right?

 

[Sgt Shultz]

Yeeeeah i like those. There’s talk in some amazon reviews though about how if your connector clips are too close together (as they usually are on these older model receivers) there’s a danger of the outer casings touching and causing a short? That can’t be right - that would be an idiotic design flaw, right?

That's ridiculous, the outer part of the RCA jacks are all connected inside anyway lol. It makes absolutely no difference if they touch each other.

 

[nerdorama]

It's the speaker connectors with the braided flex ends. If they touch, ouch. I'd put some shrink tube over the bodies.

 

[Drinkwater]

It's to allow large speaker wire to connect to spring clips on older gear that won't accept them.

Ah… that makes sense.

The ones you posted are nice looking. I use similar ones (but banana) from Amazon.

Actually, I think they are the exact same brand - “Sewell.” I like them because the body of the connector is shorter than most. In a perfect world I’d be able to get that style of connector but with set-screws.

 

[Bodyblue]

I think you pretty much nailed it. Just looking for something less annoying than having to get bare wire securely into the spring clips on my 4240 and from my understanding, potentially better connection?

OK....want the best connection? Forget the banana plugs and all that jazz and just use bare wire into the speaker connection.....the way it was designed to used. That is the best connection.

 

[opnly bafld]

Maybe I'm missing something, but I just looked at the Marantz website and did not find any product with spring clips, not even the most expensive pieces.

 

[AC50]

You can use wire strippers to reduce 12awg to 14awg (or 16awg) at the ends that require a thinner gauge. It's so simple it seems wrong.

 

[JPhendrick]

Yeeeeah i like those. There’s talk in some amazon reviews though about how if your connector clips are too close together there’s a danger of the outer casings touching and causing a short? That can’t be right - that would be an idiotic design flaw, right?

Yea on the 4240, speaker inputs are spring clips....

 

[jdcarlson]

I have used 10 gauge stranded copper cable for 40 years. When I built our large house 40 years ago I had a 40 foot run from the speakers to the audio equipment cabinet. With McIntosh power amps I wanted to make sure all of the signal from the macs got to the speakers.

I looked at several expensive esoteric cables.

I also looked at the manual McIntosh issued with their power amp. McIntosh had a table (at least in the manual I had) showing how heavy a cable needed to be for different lengths of speaker cable. The highest size they recommended was 12 gauge.

Since I tend to "over do" everything, I had my local stereo dealer order me 100 feet of 10 gauge stranded copper cable.

It worked wonderfully. Since then I have also used 10 gauge stranded copper cable at my office and in our new retirement apartment.

There s a broadcast supply house (MarkerTek) that carries 10 gauge stranded copper cable. I am very impressed with their customer service. One time I ordered 100 feet on line. The next day I got a call from them apologizing that they only has 98 feet in stock. Would the 98 feet work for me, or did they need to go back to the manufacturer?

WHO DOES THAT ON 2 FEET OF A 100 FOOT ORDER?????

I have been an "over the top" audiophile since 1955. I also have a good music background (having played quasi professionally and taught). I conducted a 50 piece volunteer orchestra for several years. I know what live music sounds like. I have listened to several exotic cables at high end audio shops. Candidly, my 10 gauge stranded copper cable sounds just as musical as any exotic cable I have heard.

Right now I am listening to KLH Model Nine full range electrostatic speakers driven by McIntosh 2255s (one for each channel) with the 10 gauge stranded copper wire from MarkerTek. I could not ask for sound with more clarity and definition unless I were to go back to the orchestra pit

Thanks,

Jim