Bananas or spades?

Try1256

Very Special Member
Pro's & cons of each. Right now I am using z-plugs but am thinking of going to spades. Worth it?
 
I think spades will give a better initial metal/metal contact when cranked down, and thus in theory yield better sound. They will also maintain that metal/metal contact longer before oxides build back up(gut feeling, based on pressure alone, cant say I know the exact kinetics of the oxide reformation in both situations). I prefer bare wire (solid preferred, though I also use Rat Shack 12 gauge stranded, Im not that picky with wire anymore) cranked down as tight as possible by hand. I also use bananas. Either way, I think differences in sound quality will be extremely difficult to discern even in a very high end setup(which Ive yet to hear so perhaps take that with a grain of salt). Ive not used locking bananas but Im sure Id like them and they will increase the pressure, but when you crank a spade the twisting motion will more easily clearly create fresh metal/metal contact, locking bananas will simply increase the pressure (normal force) but not in a sliding/twisting way bw the two surfaces. A sliding motion (spades) more easily creates fresh metal/metal contact. While bananas have sliding motion when you plug them in, the sliding normal loads are a lot less than a hand cranking down spades, at least with the spades I have and my speakers. While I havent done much speaker cable comparisons, Ive done a bunch of interconnect comparisons. Im fine with any “decent” copper interconnects. In my system I cant hear a difference bw a $30 copper interconnect (Audioquest Turquoise) or a $400 copper interconnect(Audioquest Emeraldx3, Harmonic Tech Truthlink). I have clearly heard differences in copper and silver interconnects though. Back to the topic - soundwise, my opinion is that I dont think the type of speaker connections can be heard. I would just go with what you prefer for whatever reason, or can get a deal on. To summarize, from a sonic performance point of view its about getting the most metal/metal contact initially and getting it to stay the longest. Periodically tightening or repostioning then retightening is a good idea. YMMV of course.
 
Interfaces often lead to problems, so the less the better, generally speaking. I used to work in the “interfacial processes” department (what is now Teledyne Technologies) trying to figure out why stuff failed or did not perform well.
 
I like bare wire and if something more convenient, spades which I believe give you the largest contact area in most cases. It's a good thing to tighten them often though, and with bare wire, this seems to be needed a lot more than with spades.

I'm a less-is-more guy in most things and I think keeping it simple is best. I prefer copper for the most part so shoot for copper wire onto copper binding posts (no brass, plating, etc.), or if spades, un-plated copper spades. Next time I mess with wires (if there is a next time...) I might even experiment with no mechanical connectors and just solder everything together - a little inconvenient (! :) !) but then I don't change things very often on the wire front anymore.
 
Good bananas are hard to beat IMHO. A contant pressure from the spring action of the plugs make a constant solid connection.
A good banana is tasty too :biggrin:
 
Good bananas are hard to beat IMHO. A contant pressure from the spring action of the plugs make a constant solid connection.
A good banana is tasty too :biggrin:
My audioquest z plugs work well but when I added a shotgun run of wire to my cables, I found they were a little loose in the binding posts. I spread them out a bit and now they are nice and tight. I had always heard the z's were better but I'm not so sure now.
 
Next time I mess with wires (if there is a next time...) I might even experiment with no mechanical connectors and just solder everything together
I've considered that too, but I figured people would think I was nuts if I did.

I think I'll definitely do it, sometime.
 
My audioquest z plugs work well but when I added a shotgun run of wire to my cables, I found they were a little loose in the binding posts. I spread them out a bit and now they are nice and tight. I had always heard the z's were better but I'm not so sure now.

Not all binding posts are created equal, though you would think they would be. I’ve used Z plugs in some where they would barely go in without a significant push. Others I’ve experienced the same thing as you @opa1. Insert a pair of needle nose pliers in the center to spread them out and voila, all is good.
 
Oh, and bare wires for me.

Typical audio nerds! You ask 'em a straightforward question -- bananas or spades? -- and they can't answer yes or no.
:LMAO:
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I think these came with the old Heathkit AR1500A my Dad and I built, but I like 'em for their extreme convenience. I use my venerable old Adcom GFA-555 in a small PC based system in my small backroom workspace with KLH Model Sixes and AR4x's.

I guess they count as "bananas".

Unfortunately these plugs don't fit the amps I use in my real system. For those amps I use bare copper stranded wire. I've used a variety of whatever I've had close-by. I hate spades.
 
Locking bananas all day long, and yes the ones on my BJC/Belden cables are the best. Will never move and provides a lot of contact.
 
Bare wire for me, though I do have a set of wires with banana tips and boy are they easy to connect (no screwing and unscrewing or looping wire in place so it doesn’t spin out.....)
 
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