Spades vs Bananas:a question of convenience only?

[eyeteeth]

I was thinking of trying a different cable.

Just wondering if anyone believes there is a sonic advantage to either spades or banana connections for speaker cable. I believe in cable differences but differences between connections must be very difficult to hear? Or are the only advantages about the convenience of connecting/disconnecting (like this is done often)?

 

[rickcr42]

you may know that i either build or modify most of my gear and one thing i always if possible change is the speaker connector on amps from clip-springs or banana posts to barrier strips so I can use spades

yes ,bananas also accomodate spades but i like the positive connection when i crank that sucker down , and crank it down i do !

No little girly screwdriver for the rickmonster but a Home Iprovement (the show) "more power " type MAN SIZED tool !

Big as*ed handle ,wide slot,long shaft for extreme focused power......

yeah ,that's what i choose man

 

[jefemeister]

I think spades make the most reliable and best connection.

 

[Mr.PD]

I haven't tested for sonic differences, but spades are a lot more secure. On my stuff the spades don't require such tight bends in the cable as bananas would. That's gotta be a good thing.

Just watch the size of your spades.
I got a Zu Cable, speaker cable and had it done with regular sized spades. They were too big for the back of my Onkyo (consumer-fi grade) receiver. I had to modify the Onkyo.

I should have sent the Onkyo to Rick for modification, I basically butchered it.

 

[rickcr42]

back at ya

 

[eyeteeth]

Thanks Guys, rickcr42-jefemeister-Mr.PD

Spades it shall definitely be.

Now is there a spade that is universal and will fit different sized binding posts? The posts for both my speakers and amp are quite large. (I've checked documentation-no spec.).

Would these Analysis Plus spades fit?
It will fit 1/4” to 3/8” binding post. The spade is 0.55” wide and 0.06 “ thick.

 

[rickcr42]

like Mr.PD said ,it is not about the spade fitting the post but post/terminal spacing that determines what you can use.

The Kimber spades are also nice due to the compression tabs but to be honest I use the cheapy radio shack spades and have never had any problems with them

like a lot of other designer parts it is sometimes more status and cool factor than it is functionality when you try to get the "best" anything

as usual though

YMMV

 

[Mr.PD]

What Rick said.

I did notice that my Zu's fit real tight on the speaker posts. They bend easily to adapt to minor differences. The ones you showed should be okay. See if you have room between binding posts for a half inch wide spade on whatever it is your going to attach it to. You can eyeball that with a tape measure.

Make sure those spades fit your cable!!!!

 

[eyeteeth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickcr42 like a lot of other designer parts it is sometimes more status and cool factor than it is functionality when you try to get the "best" anything

Ironically I'm trying a downgrade out of curiousity. How close will 1/4 price cables come to my present set, or could they even be better. And if I like them I sell the pricey (overpriced?) designer cables. I'm crossing my fingers

 

[rickcr42]

man you do not want to know what i am running for speaker cables these days

it will break your damn heart when i tell you the cost ($8.00) per speaker !

 

[HiGHFLYiN9]

Personally I feel that the materials used for the termination is of utmost importance, especially since most terminations are made of brass, which is about 30% as conductive as copper. If your getting spades the ones to look for are the Analysis Plus ones milled from a copper block, they are about $15 a pop. If your going with bananas the Eichmann Bayonet Plugs are very close to pure copper, they are about $40 for a set of 4. I'm using these on my newest speaker cable because i'll be switching between my home theater setup and my monoblock tube amps from time to time and bananas are so easy

 

[rickcr42]

I don't care for unprotected copper (or silver actually) being exposed to the air and even go as far as using heat shring tubing internally from circuit to rca or other jack to cover the wire that would be exposed otherwise

ever see what the air does to these metals ?

The oxydation ?

Tarnish ?

copper turns green and silver black !

no way that is good for a signal



The eichman bullet plugs are another story and are my favorite

I use thin guage wire and don't want to muck it up with a big heavy metal plug-cool as the designer plugs look

cheapo spades to barrier serve the same purpose-little actual metal in circuit-but gold or nickel for tarnish free life

 

[eyeteeth]

Are there bullet plugs other than eichman at $40 per 4? As the 1/4 priced cables I was going to try are from Signal Cable (i tried their power cables and liked them/kept them) and they have a bullet plug option of $25 per 4! Is this a non-eichman bullet plug?

 

[ooheadsoo]

Looks like eichmann to me. I saw them once about a year ago, I forget where, on sale for $13 a pair. This looks pretty close to me. If you look at heartland cable's website, you will see that they charge $20 to upgrade to bullet plugs.

 

[eyeteeth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeteeth Is this a non-eichman bullet plug?

Visited the eichman web site and they seem to be the patent holders.

"The new Bullet Plug® connector solves the problems of standard and audiophile grade RCA plugs by
"To achieve this we have designed the Bullet Plug® as a
"In our patent-pending design, the return pin of the Bullet Plug®

International Patent Application No: PCT/AU00/00064
USA Patent Application No: 09/744204
®Registered, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
®Registered, European Community