Which Speaker Plugs + Michell sytle clamp terminals [Archive]

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The Black Adder

15-02-2011, 20:55

Hi.

Has anyone got any recommendations for makes speaker plugs? I'm after banana plugs.

Also, my amp has the Michell style screw clamp terminals, i'm currently clamping the banana plugs of my current cable in them.

Has anyone got any suggestions to maybe change these or is this ok?

Cheers
Joe

hifi_dave

15-02-2011, 21:17

IMO, you want as little metal in the way of your signal as possible. Why not remove the bananas and use the bare wire with just the tip tinned to make a neat job and clamp them in your speaker terminals.

As for bananas, one of the best I know of is those hollow beryllium jobs. Not very robust if you are plugging and unplugging frequently but there is very little metal to interfere. LFD and DNM use them on their cables.

MCRU

15-02-2011, 21:22

I have some milty ones you can have gratis mate if you send your details pm, they are class of course, gold plated double heavy screw jobbies, is 8 enough, hope so now...

MCRU

15-02-2011, 22:21

http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/themainsman/BONI/IMG_2837.jpg

biggzy

16-02-2011, 16:21

http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/themainsman/BONI/IMG_2837.jpg

Hi, is there anywhere on the net to buy a few of these, i always thought the big all gold plugs was best, thanks loads.

Adam.

MCRU

16-02-2011, 16:22

Hi, is there anywhere on the net to buy a few of these, i always thought the big all gold plugs was best, thanks loads.

Adam.

how many you need dude and i will send you some, ?

biggzy

16-02-2011, 16:56

how many you need dude and i will send you some, ?

Hi, i need 8 4mm ones (4 red, 4 black), how much will they cost me? thanks very much.

Adam.

Mr Pig

16-02-2011, 17:00

MCRU

16-02-2011, 17:10

You can get them on eBay: LINK (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/8-Gold-Beryllium-Cu-Z-BANANA-PLUGS-fit-BFA-Cyrus-NEW-/300495095097?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item45f6e74539)

Just crimp and solder the wire in the back. I've used a few different plugs but these are my favourite too.

isn't that called thread hijacking?

those ones on e-bay need soldering, the ones I have don't???:)

MCRU

16-02-2011, 17:12

Hi, i need 8 4mm ones (4 red, 4 black), how much will they cost me? thanks very much.

Adam.

£2.00 each for AOS members post free, pm your address sort payment out later.

biggzy

16-02-2011, 17:13

You can get them on eBay: LINK (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/8-Gold-Beryllium-Cu-Z-BANANA-PLUGS-fit-BFA-Cyrus-NEW-/300495095097?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item45f6e74539)

Just crimp and solder the wire in the back. I've used a few different plugs but these are my favourite too.

I don't yet own a soldering iron (i do need to get one) but those plugs look different than the ones posted in this thread.

Adam.

Mr Pig

16-02-2011, 17:38

those plugs look different than the ones posted in this thread.

The actual blade of the plug is exactly the same. They were not originally designed for audio use, they were just stackable banana plugs for test leads. Quite a few people have added a body of some kind and sold them for Hi-Fi use, they are great plugs. The Milty ones pictured have the blade inserted into a metal sleeve that allows screwed connection of the cable, I have some here. I don't see why you would want a screwed join to the cable plus an interference fit between the blade and plug body when you can solder the cable directly to the blade.

Either way the hollow design of the blade is nice. It'll squash down to fit a tight socket or if it's a loose fit you can open up the plug so it's tighter.

isn't that called thread hijacking?

I don't think so. The guy asked for banana plug recommendations, it's not your thread. I've used those plugs for years, decades. I first bought them from RS components but this eBay seller is a lot cheaper. RS were about £6 fort five plugs, and that was years ago, but that included the plastic body you don't need.

I just looked the RS site but they don't seem to do them but this is the product: LINK (http://amasscn.en.made-in-china.com/product/jeAxsNuMCrUH/China-4mm-Stackable-Plug-25-425-.html)

GaryB

26-02-2011, 18:33

I bought some of these recently and I'm very happy with them.

http://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/dynamic/eshop_products.set/ref/3259/fisual-easy-fix-bfa-camcon-plugs-4-pack/display.html

Currently £5.29 for 4 (2 red + 2 black).

Wire is attached using two screws but these could be removed and the wire soldered directly into the barrel if that is preferred.

Mr Pig

26-02-2011, 18:41

I bought some of these recently and I'm very happy with them.

Yip, that's the same blade again. Pretty much exactly the same as the Milty ones. So many people use them.

Rare Bird

26-02-2011, 20:17

I use LOK Rhodium plated Banana's.. very nice

YNWaN

26-02-2011, 21:51

Mr Pig

26-02-2011, 22:04

If you intend to use the screw-down types you may as well just use bare wire into the speaker terminals.

Quite. I mean what is the point of adding breaks in the signal path for no reason? But then I'm just a donk who claims he can hear the difference between banana plugs! ;0)

Rare Bird

26-02-2011, 23:02

I would solder the connections - as Mr Pig suggests. If you intend to use the screw-down types you may as well just use bare wire into the speaker terminals (my own equipment only allows for 4mm banana plugs).

I believe bare wires to be the best way imho, but they look a mess hence the reason i use the screw-down types.

YNWaN

26-02-2011, 23:15

If you want to use bare wire, neatly twisting the wires and using a touch of solder on the ends (as Dave suggested earlier) should keep things neat and tidy.

Rare Bird

27-02-2011, 00:01

no way ;)

MCRU

27-02-2011, 21:51

I would solder the connections - as Mr Pig suggests. If you intend to use the screw-down types you may as well just use bare wire into the speaker terminals (my own equipment only allows for 4mm banana plugs).

Hi, why suggest soldering when solder contains high amounts of tin which is NOT a good conductor? Bare wires are usually crushed in the binding posts which negates the need for soldering I would have thought? :)

Mr Pig

27-02-2011, 22:16

solder contains high amounts of tin which is NOT a good conductor

Seems to do the job ok for the, often hundreds, of joints inside Hi-Fi components. Or are they screwed together?

I agree that a good crimped joint is a good joint but it's not that simple. There is a difference between the sort of joint a professional will create in a factory with the right tools and what joe blogs might do at home. Most of these speaker plugs have fairly small grub screws which are never going to give you a really great compression joint.

Plus, over time the cables will oxidise and compromise the joint you do get. Soldering gives you a long-lasting reliable joint that works pretty well.