How to get speaker plugs to fit better

[MikeMusic]

I noticed the speaker cable plugs going into the Naim power amp were quite loose.
They are just under an inch long so have reasonable contact.
I assume better will be better sound quailty
Yes a proper fix is required but what can I do in the meantime to tighten them up a bit ?

[The Grand Wazoo]

We'd need to know what kind of speaker plugs you have Mike.

[MikeMusic]

We'd need to know what kind of speaker plugs you have Mike.

:doh:
It leaves my head ok, it's just when it comes to the words wot I typee

Standard banana, 99% certain
(It was late and this wasn't what I was doing)
They always seemed tight before, but that could have been with the crazy 3 sets of speaker leads causing me so much grief plugging in

[hifi_dave]

:doh:
It leaves my head ok, it's just when it comes to the words wot I typee

Standard banana, 99% certain
(It was late and this wasn't what I was doing)
They always seemed tight before, but that could have been with the crazy 3 sets of speaker leads causing me so much grief plugging in

Why do you have the "crazy 3 sets of speaker leads" ?

[MikeMusic]

Why do you have the "crazy 3 sets of speaker leads" ?

This was before they were amended by the wonderful hifidave !
Sound quality took a big step up after that. crossover mods could also have helped a lot there

Currently and for the last few months the single pair to each speaker

[Firebottle]

If it's the banana type with the spring wire along the barrel then you can just get a small screwdriver blade under the spring from the side, bend the spring wire upwards a bit and then it gives tighter contact.

:cool:Alan

[MikeMusic]

If it's the banana type with the spring wire along the barrel then you can just get a small screwdriver blade under the spring from the side, bend the spring wire upwards a bit and then it gives tighter contact.

:cool:Alan

Thanks
I think they are just the on piece of metal, no springs. Will check tonight

[MartinT]

Yes, most of them have an expandable element to them, Mike. Prise the springy bit out carefully. Don't forget to DeOxit them.

[MikeMusic]

Yes, most of them have an expandable element to them, Mike. Prise the springy bit out carefully. Don't forget to DeOxit them.

Checking tonight
What if no spring ?

[hifi_dave]

Which speaker cable is it now ?

[MikeMusic]

Which speaker cable is it now ?
The same pair you sent back to me

[MartinT]

I've never seen a 4mm plug which is just solid with no spring. The fit would be awful.

[MikeMusic]

I've never seen a 4mm plug which is just solid with no spring. The fit would be awful.

I'm 99% certain I've seen loads of solid
Thought the sticky out bit was only in the past few years

[walpurgis]

The wire spring plugs can be troublesome. I've had several where the wire has popped out of its location and was just flapping about and many where the wire has flattened leaving the plug loose.

[hifi_dave]

The same pair you sent back to me

I can't recall if they are TQ or the old Linn.

If they are Linn, the plugs have a spring up the side which you might be able to tease out a bit. If the sockets are shallow, as some are, this won't be as effective.

If they are TQ, the plugs are hollow and can be opened up a bit and gently to make a better fit. These plugs work very well but aren't very robust.

[MartinT]

The TQ z-plugs are excellent and can be prised out to make a very tight fit.

[MikeMusic]

I can't recall if they are TQ or the old Linn.

If they are Linn, the plugs have a spring up the side which you might be able to tease out a bit. If the sockets are shallow, as some are, this won't be as effective.

If they are TQ, the plugs are hollow and can be opened up a bit and gently to make a better fit. These plugs work very well but aren't very robust.
It's Naim or a Naim clone, possibly Linn

[hifi_dave]

It's Naim or a Naim clone, possibly Linn

Bananas with spring.

Be careful. It's easy to kink the spring and/or it can pop out.

[Effem]

Best speaker plug you can buy is the infamous "Z" plug

http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/1656-large/nakamichi-gold-plated-z-plugs-set-of-4.jpg

Nice tight fit and you can adjust the amount of grip easily, available in either solder or screw fit.

Mr Brook at MCRU can help you out

[MikeMusic]

Best speaker plug you can buy is the infamous "Z" plug

http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/1656-large/nakamichi-gold-plated-z-plugs-set-of-4.jpg

Nice tight fit and you can adjust the amount of grip easily, available in either solder or screw fit.

Mr Brook at MCRU can help you out
Thanks Frank
Quick fix for now
New speaker leads are a way down the path for upgrades but will come

[MartinT]

I think they are what TQ use, Frank, without the outer barrel. As you say, they are excellent.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Best speaker plug you can buy is the infamous "Z" plug

http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/1656-large/nakamichi-gold-plated-z-plugs-set-of-4.jpg

Nice tight fit and you can adjust the amount of grip easily, available in either solder or screw fit.

Mr Brook at MCRU can help you out

Cheap tat IMHO. WBT are expensive but at least ten times better.

[synsei]

And steer clear of those in the pic, I bought a set of these from an ebay seller and within a month three of them had snapped at the shank :eyebrows:

[MikeMusic]

I have springy bits

Thought these were cheap versions of the solid ones. Certainly feel cheap

Will adjust my spring !

Still upgrading at the front end so speaker cables are a way off if I continue working my way through

I did try the TQ, Black and Ultra Black and was unimpressed
My Naim cable was slightly out performed in some areas, better in others

[MartinT]

Cheap tat IMHO. WBT are expensive but at least ten times better.

The z-plugs fit into my speaker's WBT connectors rather well - tight fit to start with, and immovable once I've tightened the sockets down.

[MartinT]

I did try the TQ, Black and Ultra Black and was unimpressed
My Naim cable was slightly out performed in some areas, better in others

Naim amps are notoriously fussy. Wait until you change power amps and then try again ;)

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Martin, I was referring to the shitty Nakamichi ones in picture. Total junk.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

And steer clear of those in the pic, I bought a set of these from an ebay seller and within a month three of them had snapped at the shank :eyebrows:

+1 Total shite.

[MartinT]

Ah ok, it's just that the z-plugs fitted to my TQ cables look just like the inner parts of those Naks. Surprised that they can carry the Nak name if they're that bad.

[MikeMusic]

Naim amps are notoriously fussy. Wait until you change power amps and then try again ;)

That's the 500 and least likely to go - unless you, Marco or anyone else can show me a good time, er a better power amp
:)

[brian2957]

I've bought Nakamichi banana plugs before ( not these ones ) and they were obviously fakes Martin . As with everything , particularly on Ebay , you seem to get what you pay for .

[MartinT]

When you've got everything sorted, and I mean EVERYTHING, I'll bring my Chord over for you to compare.

[brian2957]

Wot , you'd come all the way to Glasgow for me :eek: :) Thanks very much Martin :)

[MikeMusic]

When you've got everything sorted, and I mean EVERYTHING, I'll bring my Chord over for you to compare.

Pre Amp is next, or major next item
I have the special Naim stylie leads to connect your old Pass ..........:eyebrows:

[MartinT]

Wot , you'd come all the way to Glasgow for me :eek: :) Thanks very much Martin :)

Forum delay :doh:

[MartinT]

Pre Amp is next, or major next item
I have the special Naim stylie leads to connect your old Pass ..........:eyebrows:

Yep, can't disagree with you there. Your power amp is fine . . for the moment ;)

[brian2957]

Does that mean you're not coming mate :rolleyes: That's OK :eyebrows: Think you'd have a little trouble getting the amp and those Ushers into the back of your car , so I fully understand your reluctance to make the journey . Can't say I'm not disappointed though :lol:

[Alex_UK]

Does that mean you're not coming mate :rolleyes: That's OK :eyebrows: Think you'd have a little trouble getting the amp and those Ushers into the back of your car , so I fully understand your reluctance to make the journey . Can't say I'm not disappointed though :lol:

If he put that lot in his beemer he'd be wheelying all the way to Scotland! :lol:

[synsei]

Yeah, but he'd have the most expensive and best sounding ICE system EVA!!! :lol:

[brian2957]

:lol:Aye and as it's up norf it's all uphill too .

[Effem]

I posted the photo of those particular "Z" plugs because they illustrated what the plugs look like for those that don't know what they actually look like :ner:

I tried to find others to represent the species but they were mostly of the solder on variety and I made the naive assumption that soldering is one of those black arts not to be trifled with by the faint hearted :lol:

Finally, I unashamedly lifted the photo off MCRU's website and am pretty sure they are not the cheap flimsy ebay fakes :eyebrows:

[MartinT]

Them's proper z-plugs:

http://hifipig.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/UB-reeeeallly-close.jpg

[guy]

You could use a rubber band (or tie wrap) around both sets of bananna plugs to splay them - should result in better contact down one side of the conductor.
I think that the moulded double plug from Naim does something like this.

Guy.

[MikeMusic]

You could use a rubber band (or tie wrap) around both sets of bananna plugs to splay them - should result in better contact down one side of the conductor.
I think that the moulded double plug from Naim does something like this.

Guy.

Could work
Have to work out how I do that as it's awkward to get to the back of the 500 as it is

[MikeMusic]

Checked out the plugs
2 out of 4 ok
1 so so
1 needs a tighten

What is the best way ?
I am struggling to get anything in between the spring and the pug body

[Firebottle]

You have to push quite hard, but don't get your hand in the way (been there:()
Cheers
Alan

[hifi_dave]

Checked out the plugs
2 out of 4 ok
1 so so
1 needs a tighten

What is the best way ?
I am struggling to get anything in between the spring and the pug body

Gently insert a small, flat bladed screw driver under the spring and give it a light twist. Do be careful as you can pop the spring out and then you'll be grovelling in the shag pile to find it..:doh:

[MikeMusic]

Gently insert a small, flat bladed screw driver under the spring and give it a light twist. Do be careful as you can pop the spring out and then you'll be grovelling in the shag pile to find it..:doh:

Thanks Dave
I'll try that with lots of light and some glasses on !
Tried Deoxit while I was in there
Unless it was my imagination Blodywn Pig suddenly sound much clearer

[hifi_dave]

When listening to Blodwyn Pig it's probably best to sip the Deoxit.

[MikeMusic]

When listening to Blodwyn Pig it's probably best to sip the Deoxit.

:)

A good band I had the privilidge of seeing - if I remember right :)

[DSJR]

Nah, should have been Gnidrolog :rofl: