Spades or Bananas
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thunderroad
Life begins at 140 mph.
I think it is more personal preference than anything else.
In my systems, I usually use spades on the amplifier end of the speaker cables, because my McIntosh amps all have terminal strips instead of binding posts, but I use banana plugs on the speaker ends, because it is easier to swap out speakers. So I use both!
The only caution I would give to you about using banana plugs is to ensure that they fit snugly and give a good firm contact. Some of my older cables have banana plugs that have loosened-up with use and should be replaced. Whatever you use, they should fit tight and make good solid contact.
In a lot of ways, spades would seem to have an edge here because if properly sized and installed they would always be tight. Plus they're easy to tighten if they are not.
If I remember correctly, Monster Cable makes some gold-plated banana plug adapters that take spades on the top and provide banana plugs on the bottom, that can be tightened and internally expanded. I've seen those used at dealers to facilitate swapping speakers.
In my systems, I usually use spades on the amplifier end of the speaker cables, because my McIntosh amps all have terminal strips instead of binding posts, but I use banana plugs on the speaker ends, because it is easier to swap out speakers. So I use both!
The only caution I would give to you about using banana plugs is to ensure that they fit snugly and give a good firm contact. Some of my older cables have banana plugs that have loosened-up with use and should be replaced. Whatever you use, they should fit tight and make good solid contact.
In a lot of ways, spades would seem to have an edge here because if properly sized and installed they would always be tight. Plus they're easy to tighten if they are not.
If I remember correctly, Monster Cable makes some gold-plated banana plug adapters that take spades on the top and provide banana plugs on the bottom, that can be tightened and internally expanded. I've seen those used at dealers to facilitate swapping speakers.
hornertuber
macgyver
I like spades as well. Though they are not the most convenient they do imo provide better contact.
MJWPicMan
MJWPicMan
Bananas are more convenient, but my experience tells me spades are a better connection.
Use both, don't hear much difference, assuming proper termination and tightness.
I use bananas in my HT and main system because the speakers and amps accept them. I use spades on my original large Advents because that's what they accept. I also have speakers and amps that accept neither. Bare wire is used in those instances. If I had a choice, I would always use bananas.
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
+1.
1tumbleweed
Kozmik Kowboy
+2. I've never really been happy with the contact most bananas make, especially after removing and reinserting a few times. However, if you want to use bananas for convenience sake, there is one type that seems to offer a better connection - the Audioquest BFA. Rather than the springy "fingers" that most bananas have, the AQ style is a round tube with a squiggly opening that can expand and contract - making contact all along the tube rather than just one spot. They're easy to attach on all but the thickest wire, and are secured by setscrews. I've used them for quite a while.
hornertuber
macgyver
I think the kind of bananas should be noted. Bananas with a lock and regular slip in bananas are 2 different animals. I still choose spades just saying.....
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Hmm, you guys have me leaning towards spades. I have no problem with some soldering. I was considering getting a set of BJC Tens with their locking bananas which are welded on, but spades are so simple, and my binding posts should all be able to do either. If Multi-Contact LS4 banana plugs weren't so hard to get then maybe I'd do those.
Similar to these Waveflex by GLS Audio and sold by OC Speaker repair?
http://www.speakerrepair.com/mm5/me...oduct_Code=WF20&Category_Code=waveflex-banana
Aside from the additional weight and a solder connection, what's the difference in low mass vs regular (?) mass sleeve contact bananas like the Multi-Contact LS4?
1tumbleweed
Kozmik Kowboy
Similar to these Waveflex by GLS Audio and sold by OC Speaker repair?
http://www.speakerrepair.com/mm5/me...oduct_Code=WF20&Category_Code=waveflex-banana
Yep, that's them for sure. Audioquest must have sold off the design to GLS...who seems to have improved them to boot. The insulated piece on the back is much nicer than mine.
These have the same design:
http://www.knukonceptz.com/productDetail.cfm?prodID=eKs-BP
As do the Multi-Contact LS4 has the same design also:
http://www.takefiveaudio.com/mall/shopexd.asp?id=834
They are just super basic, and I like that. They are reviewed pretty well too.
I like the super simple spades from Vampire Wire. The only problem is they have 12 choices... http://www.vampirewire.com/c-28-spade-connector.aspx
1tumbleweed
Kozmik Kowboy
Interestiing that the knuconceptz are even called "BFA style".
The problem I see with the LS4 is that there's no rear body for set screws...I suppose they intend for us to solder the wire on?
RobRoy
It's just stuff - but fun
I wouldn't pick one over the other regarding sound quality. Rather, it is a convenience, durability thing. I like both. If I don't plan on moving the stuff for a decade or so, I'd go spades. If I expect to be disconnecting and reconnecting a lot, I'd go banana.
I have home-built PA speakers that are loosely based on the Bose towers. Because each 8 foot column is two four foot columns that connect together, I connect top and bottom halves, electrically, via dual banana plugs. This sort of thing:
If they were "permanently" attached, I'd use spades.
I have home-built PA speakers that are loosely based on the Bose towers. Because each 8 foot column is two four foot columns that connect together, I connect top and bottom halves, electrically, via dual banana plugs. This sort of thing:
If they were "permanently" attached, I'd use spades.
Appears to be solder connection, don't look like crimpable, maybe thin for that?
The GLS do have an edge in cost at $2 per in quantity.
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