Usefullness of Banana Plugs Vs. Cost

[Cowboy Al]

When installing my HT, I had full intentions of installing banana plug on both ends of the speaker cable (12 gauge X 5 speakers = 10 pairs of banana plugs).

So I went to my local Radio Shack / Source by Circuit City of what ever flavour they are now and I think the price was something like $12 or $15 for a pair of gold plated plugs. I looked at the pimply faced kid and said "You're kidding right? $15 for a pair?" "I need 10 pairs for my system (at the speaker and at the reciever end) at $12 or $15 a pair is a little steep" And left.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for paying $ if I receive value for what I pay, and one could argue after spending $5 - 10 K on a HT system what's another $120 - $150 right?

Right now the speaker cable ends are just twisted, threaded throught the connecters and hand tightened at both the reciever and speaker. They are hidden from view.

Is there really a benefit ($120 - $150) improved sound quality using gold plated banana plugs? Someone please convince me. I know I'm likely increasing the resistance of the speaker cable by flattening it, but we're talking about 20 - 25' to the farthest speakers.

Giddy Up!

[Skippy31]

Future shop sells some gold plated banna plugs for about $10 a pair. They also sell some "monster" ones for like $40 which are outa line in my book. $10-$15 seems to be the price for gold plated ones. You may be able to find some on-line for a little less or E-bay?

I've used the gold plated ones in my system, not for sound quality, but for looks. If sound quality is all your concerned about any standard banna plug will be fine. It should be plated just so corrosion does not become an issue, but that's it.

Gold looks nice, but you will not hear a difference. To me $10 is a resonable price for nice looking connector and bannana is a lot easier to change around than those darn screw tight ones which BTW work just fine too from a sound quality perspective.

Skippy31

[rwalker]

My 2 cents...

Terminating speaker wire with bannana, spade or pin plugs looks attractive, is convenient for changes, and seems professional. All good things.

They will not have any effect on sound. Speaker signals are relatively low frequency and any impedance created/eleviated by termination will be miniscule. It's much more important that the connection is secure and doesn't corrode.

A possible downside to consider is that with connectors, you double the "interface points". Think of a pure wire to terminal connection, you have 1 interface, that is between the wire and the terminal. With a connector, you have the wire to connector interface, then the connector to terminal interface.

It's the interfaces that cause problems over time, so less may be more as it where.

So as to advice, maybe the best bet is to "tin" the speaker wire ends and then connect them directly to the terminal. I think it is important to tin them so that they don't fray.

No matter if you tin them, or terminate with connectors, periodically disconnect and clean the connections. That will make the biggest difference over time.

I think it's been posted before, but I really like the perspective of Roger Russel, retired audio engineer from McIntosh Labs.

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

[ctown6412]

http://stores.********/digitotalhomes...toreviewQQtZkm


A STORE CALLED DIGITOTAL HOMES , I bought my plugs from them and they were good quality and CHEAP!

I dont think you really gain any audio quality, they just give you a nice clean install, and MUCH less chance of shorting out your reciever and cooking something with a speaker wire short. I went thru the effort of using techflex and shirk wrap over the wire and the ends and the plugs. It looks so clean.
With the price of the plugs from ebay I would say its very worth it!

[jbracing24]

[QUOTE=Cowboy Al] I looked at the pimply faced kid and said "You're kidding right? /QUOTE]
Did you check out all the "available" plugs at that store? They have carried pairs of solderless plugs for less than $3.00. Have the staff check the computer. I know that these plugs are hard to get. When setting up my Denon 7.1, I had to go to 5 stores (one pair here, two there). Sonically, there is no difference, but it makes a nice, neat and covenient connection. Certainly not worth spending big bucks.

[RNAChemist]

I used plugs on one end and pins on the other.

I got plugs for $2 a piece at a local audiovisual store. Shop around. Parts Express has Dayton Audio Plugs for $6.95 USD for two pair.

I bought Accoustic Research pins for $5 (cost).

[JesseJ]

I only use them on the receiver end for convienence. I see/hear no added benefit, other than asthetics of your system.

[RNAChemist]

When I installed pins at the speaker end my wife was watching tv at the time. I kept turning off the sound in order to hook up the speakers. When I had finished she said, "That sounds better".

[buddz]

if somebody kept turning the sound off and on when i was watching tv, i'd say the same thing in order to get them to quit screwing around.

[mrhooie]

why not just tin the ends of your speaker wire with solder?

[lubmar]

I use the banana plugs from SEARS - 2 pairs for $14.95

[beanagee1]

If you leave in the lower mainland, try RP Electronics. They sell stuff T quarter the price of usual retailers.

[Egghead]

Another vote for tin the ends. Banana plugs are convenience items, I don't believe they will make any difference to the sound......not to sound like the guy at ING direct but......"Save your money".

Cheers

[johnp'in'bc]

Seriously, are you able to 'tin' a 10g (or even 12g) wire and stick it through a hole that's meant to accomodate a 16g, or less wire, WITHOUT SHAVING THE WIRE first!!

[RNAChemist]

Another way to consider this...how useful is the picture hanging over your couch? Yet most people have gone out and bought something to go there.

Visually appealling is exactly that...appealling.