View Full Version : Speaker cable: Banana plugs...
From experience,
know the connection quality on speaker cable can make a difference to the sound.
Just out of curiosity more than anything...
What y’all using?
Opti-cal
10-08-2020, 11:03
I usually plumb for something like these: (Z plugs).
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8-Gold-Plated-BFA-Plugs-High-Quality-Z-Type-Speaker-Banana-Connectors-BFAPLU02/161649275565?epid=1926252999&hash=item25a30c32ad:g:lnIAAOSwFJBZUScO
Doesn't add much unnecessary material to the cable itself and the contact pressure and area into most terminals is spot on. They use screws for connection but can be soldered too and give a really solid feel. 24c gold plated means they don't corrode or mark easily with use.
I like banana plugs like this:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Premium-4mm-Gold-BANANA-PLUGS-Twin-Screw-Speaker-Cable-Connectors/292285255281?hash=item440d8f0e71:g:FXMAAMXQSnVRa5P D
They fit really nicely into the terminals and can be plugged/unplugged a million times (the Z plugs do lose a little tension after maybe 20/30 unplugs but you can 'bend them back into shape).
I have experimented with Rhodium plated types but as my system is neutral to begin with things sounded a bit 'cold' by comparison.
I use no plugs on the back of my speakers for the 'jumper' cables as its Duelund DCA16GA (a cable I think you know well!) and as such is tinned so won't corrode. Keep em bare!
I also use https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Premium-4mm-Gold-BANANA-PLUGS-Twin-Screw-Speaker-Cable-Connectors/292285255281?hash=item440d8f0e71:g:FXMAAMXQSnVRa5P D. and find them quite satisfactory - but then I'm not at all anal about these things.
Sensible man Barry!
ta for the replies.
Ali Tait
10-08-2020, 12:47
Using Duelund cable so don't use any, it's tinned copper and designed to be used bare wire.
Interestingly, the Duelund 16Ga I was using didn't sit well with the new Meridian power amp, plumbed the Morrow stuff back in and the sound is better.
Lack of bass with the Duelund, but mids and top are very sweet.
I'll keep it for biwiring further down the line, its fantastic cable.
Reterminating the Morrow as I dont like the spades thats on it, hence the question.
Took a punt on these:
https://hfc-fs.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/kle-classic-harmony-banana-800.jpg
Interestingly, the Duelund 16Ga I was using didn't sit well with the new Meridian power amp, plumbed the Morrow stuff back in and the sound is better.
Lack of bass with the Duelund, but mids and top are very sweet.
I'll keep it for biwiring further down the line, its fantastic cable.
Reterminating the Morrow as I dont like the spades thats on it, hence the question.
Took a punt on these:
https://hfc-fs.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/kle-classic-harmony-banana-800.jpg
maybe not thick enough
That was my thoughts too Grant.
Sound was "bleached" with the Duelund, the bass sounded sucked out.
The thicker 12ga may well be better with this amp, but for biwire the mid and the top are wonderful.
The KLE RCA plugs in Oliver’s Spotfire interconnects are superb so I imagine these are excellent too.
Have the same KLEI RCA plugs in cables I have, can’t doubt the quality of the plug itself.
The connections on my Exposure speaker cable look a bit rough and ready, a basic bit of metal to my eyes. So maybe try these Z plugs out, which somebody else tried to good effect with Exposure gear apparently.
Could be a variation on the old theme of do cable make much of a difference to sound ?
Firebottle
11-08-2020, 06:42
Have you got a link to those plugs Gaz? I like Z plugs myself.
What material are they made of?
Coming right up Alan :)
https://www.hificollective.co.uk/spades_bananas/kle-classic-harmony-banana.html
And some reviews (talks about construction and materials used)
https://kleinnovations.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/20171122_KLEI-Classic-Harmony-Banana-by-Steve-Reeve_1.7.pdf
https://kleinnovations.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/20180113_KLEI-QFLOW7-Jumpers-KLEI-Classic-Harmony-Bananas-by-John-Ransley-Totally-Wired_1.4.pdf
https://kleinnovations.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/20180330_KLEI-Classic-Harmony-Banana-Connector-Adapter-by-Steve-Reeve_1.0.pdf
Get them all hooked up today.
Know that even just taking the slightly naff spade connector and running bare wire into my amp made a noticeable improvement, so looking forward to re-terminating with these.
Have you got a link to those plugs Gaz? I like Z plugs myself.
What material are they made of?
Filterlab
12-08-2020, 19:23
My Chord Clearway is factory terminated with Ohmic banana plugs. The cable certainly works well so I guess the termination is good enough. The sockets on the Bel Canto are nice and tight.
I use some Russ Andrews Banana-to-BFA adapters when I hook them to the Arcam A85. They’re good bits of kit too.
Morrow SP7 cable now reterminated with the Eichman KLEI banana plugs.
Amps were off for the last couple of days whilst I was tinkering, so no final determination yet, BUT:
Improvement from first switch on, sounds like much less between the amps and the speakers, far more direct sounding?
New solder connections, especially silver solder (Use Cardas stuff) from experience can take some time to settle in, so if the sound gets better...
Cool.
These KLEI plugs...highly highly recommended, they make your speakers sound a lot better.
Halfway Tree
14-08-2020, 14:48
Neutrik Speakon connectors for me on my DIY speakers if there is space for them. They're easy to wire and gas tight - yes they're a bit fugly, too, but are generally out of sight so not a problem.
If there isn't space then I'll using locking banana plugs, like these Nakamichi's (nothing to do with the original Nakamichi other tham licensing the name, of course).
Just don't trip over the cable on either of them or you'll have a flying speaker or person! :eek:
https://i.vgy.me/pq7Y6a.jpg
Z-Plugs all the way. Way tighter fit than bananas, which I've often found to be quite loose.
Ali Tait
18-08-2020, 11:14
That was my thoughts too Grant.
Sound was "bleached" with the Duelund, the bass sounded sucked out.
The thicker 12ga may well be better with this amp, but for biwire the mid and the top are wonderful.
That’s how I’m using it on the Bastanis, Duelund on mid and top, a thick gauge cable for the bass.
anthonyTD
18-08-2020, 14:55
Z plugs here too, very basic, minimum material, hence minimum affect, they maintain a very tight fit too! :)
bananas here ...good old ones are better than the new cheap shit you get now. got a big bag of old uns in an auction years ago and still got a few
That’s how I’m using it on the Bastanis, Duelund on mid and top, a thick gauge cable for the bass.
Good stuff Ali,
When I get new speakers sorted I'll call the Duelund up again for biwire duties.
ABCaudio
18-09-2020, 16:02
This is a funny one. We use the lightest, highest quality Z plugs we can get for EWA cables, but of course many people would prefer a chunky Rhodium high mass thing with a carbon handle...
...Which I went out and bought loads of, but now we won't be fitting them to EWA cables because they sound noticably poorer. Lesson learned! But I do understand the desire for something nice and tactile in the hand.
So we are sticking with something similar to those KLE upthread, but with an even lower mass. Super quality berylium copper alloy, with a layer of nickel then really good gold plating.
A lot of work to stand still!
I must be the odd one out then, as I much prefer (good quality) spades!
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/924/3uCdOs.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/922/oQOuof.jpg
I like the fact that they have a larger contact surface area than banana plugs, and as you can see, when paired with their matching solid-copper Cardas binding posts, I can get a spanner on them, and nip up both nice and tight, thereby obtaining a superb connection:)
I also only ever use solid copper or solid silver connections, throughout my system, whether its plugs or sockets, for maximum signal transfer and conductivity, as I can instantly hear the sonic degradation of cheap brass.
The thing I hate with banana plugs is that unless they've been produced by the same manufacturer as the partnering binding posts, the engineering tolerances are always slightly off, thereby affecting how well/tightly they 'mate' together, and as the bishop said to the actress, I like a nice tight fit, not a wobbly one!:D
Z-plugs are better in that respect, but still not ideal. Trust me, I could probably lift my amp up by the speaker cables, and that connection wouldn't budge an inch!! DAT's PROPA:cool:
Marco.
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