What are your preferred connector types?

[RebelMan]

What are your preferred connector types on the amplifier side and also on the speaker side of your connections?

Please feel free to elaborate on your choices.

Thanks!

[David Meek]

Spades at both ends for me. But, they can be problematic if you have the wrong size connectors or the connectors are too close together to accept full size spades, etc. Even though I prefer spades for the their ability to give you the best connection possible, I currently have bananas on both ends of my cables due to convenience.

[Burke Strickland]

I use both spades and bananas, since my BEL “The Wire” speaker cables (purchased before I knew about the site sponsor's products) came preassembled with spade lugs, but my front left/right main speakers require banana plugs. Fortunately, the local dealer where I bought the speakers, the speaker wire and the power amp that drives the main speakers had a pair of inexpensive but effective spade-to-banana adaptors. (If you knew the dealer, you'd recognize how remakarble the "inexpensive" part was.) :>)

Burke

[gd]

Not a strong preference, but I've fallen spades-amp, bare wire-spkr... bare wire when spades won't fit... I just take my time and wind the ends thoroughly, install carefully... if there are sound differences, they're beyond my capacity to discern, but theoretically I suppose you want as much contact area as possible.

Never tried bananas, but they seem like the way to go if one does much upgrading / switching / comparisons etc... which I don't.

[wkhanna]

.....I prefer spades for the their ability to give you the best connection possible.....

OK Dave, I have been following this post with great interest, and was wondering if this in going to turn into a typical Class A vs. A/B, Digital vs. A/B, or god forbid, bi-wire vs. non-bi-wire battle!

I have 'felt' that spades were always a good choice, but have no technical evidence to back that up. Is it more than just a matter of ‘Convenience’, or is there a ‘Right’ answer?

Can you please share your thoughts and any background info you may have?

[RebelMan]

I tend to agree with David that spades provide a more secure connection over "traditional" bananas, however, I find locking bananas to close the gap on spades considerably and like David says they are more convienient to use too, IMO.

[wkhanna]

Hey gd!

You beat me to punch!, I take too long to compose!
I really appreciate your input, and have trusted your advice since I joined the forum, and followed many of the recommendations you made concerning my inquires. You always seem to cut to chase in a very practical (read affordable) way. And your technical knowledge is communicated in a way us novices can understand.

I have never done an A/B, but I like spades, and felt banana’s were more of a ‘Convenience’ type of solution for connections to speakers.

I like spades just cuz they ‘seem’ right.

[gd]

Hey gd!... I really appreciate your input, and have trusted your advice since I joined the forum, and followed many of the recommendations you made concerning my inquires.

And it turned out OK anyway?

You always seem to cut to chase in a very practical (read affordable) way. And your technical knowledge is communicated in a way us novices can understand.

Thanks man!... maybe even more than music itself, I value effective communication... and it's mighty easy to miscommunicate online, even with good intentions.

Meanwhile -- back to the cables... themselves enablers of effective communication...

[r100gs]

I like bannas for both, just in case you are bridging or jumping something. You can use a spad on the same terminal.

[Glen B]

2-Channel system: Spades on both ends.
HT System: Bananas on both ends (primarily for convenience).

[Karma]

HI All,
Spades if at all possible. Bare wire next. Locking bananas when I can't choose the first two. Regular bananas last. I really don't like bananas very much but they are handy.

Here is a tip. If you use bare wire you run the danger of the loose copper strands getting loose and causing a short. To prevent this, twist the strands tightly together and use solder to tin the exposed copper. This works well if using 16 ga. stranded wire like lamp cord.

I know, I know. Lamp cord sounds terrible but often it is a good option especially for temporary hook ups.

Sparky

[wkhanna]

Alright! Everybody here who has NEVER used zip-cord.......

"Raise Your Hand!"

Yep!......That's what I thought!.........LOL

[Burke Strickland]

Everybody here who has NEVER used zip-cord.......

To connect a lamp.... YES! :>)

Burke

[wkhanna]

And it turned out OK anyway?

Hey...there's no Bose in my system!