UPA-1 binding posts

[obiwan99]

Hello everyone,

I recently purchased a new set of speaker wires (biwire) to go between my two UPA-1 and Paradigm Studio 100V5. These speakers wires were fairly expensive. www.qed.co.uk/174/gb/product/speaker_cables/silver_anniversary-xt_bi-wire.htm

Attaching the banana plugs into my Paradigm Studio 100V5 went without any issue as it should be. However, on my two UPA-1's, the binding posts were so tight but I managed to push in 5 of the 8 banana plugs. The remaining three just won't go in. I ruled out these three banana plugs being out of spec by plugging them to the ones that I successfully plug the others. I also tried them on an XPA-5 that was just below the UPA-1 and they went in just fine.

Has anyone run into the same issue with quality cables and banana plugs going into the UPA-1. I already emailed Emotiva but I thought I'd ask here.

Thanks.

[orangeLollies]

Hi Obiwan. I dont have this prob myself, but I have certainley witnessed it when I took my UPA-1's over to my mates place to try out. I am using banana plugs that kinda squash down under pressure, so they fit without a problem. However, my mate had standard banana plugs and they were almost impossible to insert. There is definatley an issue with the posts on the UPA-1's, there was a post here ages ago asking the same thing as you... so it has been talked about before.

Some have suggested swapping out the posts for some better quality ones, otherwise you could try changing the banana plugs on your cables for 'squishy' ones.... or just work up a sweat forcing them in, and hope you don't have to un-plug them too often ;D

Shane

[Pauly]

I would just get new binding posts if you can't get them on there without damaging it. One of the only faults of the UPA series are with their binding posts. I had similar problems with the UPA-5.

[gman1234]

Yes, the UPA posts are very TIGHT. I use Nakamichi bannana plugs purchased on Ebay that screw on your wire and provide a tight fit. They go in nicely. Bigger is not always better!
I don't know how many people want to start "hacking up" their cables though. I have XPA-5 in basement and UPA-2 in Family room. I UPA doesn't give up anything in real world performance so I don't mind the binding post issue. The performance of a $2000 krell KAV-150 for less than $400. That's I_N_S_A_N_E! The amps remind me of each other because of their similar size, specs...etc.

[obiwan99]

The QED speaker cables I purchased (see link on my original post) comes with a "Airloc" banana plugs and they are high quality plugs from what I've been told and also from what I can see. Dealer has to use special high pressure crimping tool to get this plug into the cable, maximizing the contact area to a point where the air is excluded from the joint. This apparently also help reduce oxidation? I would NOT want to replace these plugs with another so I can get it into the UPA-1.

I agree that the binding posts on the UPA-1 is not the same quality as the XPA ones. I tried it again on my XPA-5 and all went in smoothly.

I'm now leaning towards replacing the binding post similar to the XPA series.... or perhaps upgrade to an XPA-1 ;D Has anyone done this before and what replacement post was used? WBT binding posts perhaps. How easy is it to do replace the binding posts?

[Nemesis.ie]

Curiously, I have the opposite problem with my X series speaker cables (and U series RCAs on the Emotiva splitters) all are too loose and needed a visit from Mr. Pliers which only helped a little.

[wbedford]

I use Stabilant 22 contact enhancer on my speaker and banana plug connections. Not only does S-22 make the connection as effective as a soldered joint, the lubracative properties help tight banana plug insertion.

An alternative contact enhancer product more readily available in the U.S. is Caig Deoxit Gold. Both also prevent corrosion for bare wire speaker cable connections (which I prefer at the speaker end).

I love Qed speaker cables as well. I also use their HDMI, RCA and Subwoofer cables

[ammosenior]

Be careful trying to put banana plugs into the binders of the U series amplifiers. I had this problem with a UPA-2 and ended up breaking the binding post. The U series speaker wires fit just fine but a (higher end) different cable was too tight. For a price, Emotive replaced the binding post (and amplifier) with a XPA 2. I think the binding posts are just a bit smaller. I would recommend if anyone is connecting to a UPA amplifier they use the U series speaker wires.

[txtarheel]

I prefer to use spades on amp connections. Something you may want to consider.

[obiwan99]

wbedford, great suggestion on the stabilant 22 contact enhancer. I heard of this a while back but was hesitant in using it. How long have you been using this? Have you noticed improvement and have you also used this on other connections such as the rca interconnects between source, preamp, amp?

Well as per my original post, this incident got me thinking and slowly that urge to upgrade came into play. I pulled the trigger this morning and ordered two XPA-1 to power up my Paradigm Studio 100V5. ;D This will replace the UPA-1's and I'll just put the UPA-1's on my second system.... problem solved I guess since these banana plugs fits on my XPA-5, it should not be a problem with the XPA-1 as well...