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Post by Axis on Jun 21, 2017 23:04:46 GMT -5
I dropped Banana Plugs for my speakers for spades long ago. I keep them for the back of my gear where they are safe and stay plugged in. Bare wire is better and what my surround speakers have because they are almost never disconnected. You have to cut them and restripe them when they get old and tarnished. Pure copper wire all the way !  |
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DYohn
Emo VIPs 
Posts: 18,493
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Post by DYohn on Jun 21, 2017 23:06:32 GMT -5
Bananas might not shrink as they get old but they can lose their youthful vigor and not show the stamina they once did. They make little blue pills that are supposed to help.
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Post by Axis on Jun 21, 2017 23:08:23 GMT -5
Bananas might not shrink as they get old but they can lose their youthful vigor and not show the stamina they once did. They make little blue pills that are supposed to help. I gave my little blue pills away. I am good without them !  |
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Post by Loop 7 on Jun 21, 2017 23:44:09 GMT -5
Darn! I just realized Audioquest has banana plugs for $50. That's $50 for a single plug not a pair.
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Post by Axis on Jun 21, 2017 23:47:27 GMT -5
Darn! I just realized Audioquest has banana plugs for $50. That's $50 for a single plug not a pair. Amazon or Parts Express ? |
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Post by RichGuy on Jun 22, 2017 0:24:09 GMT -5
I like my cables and wiring to both function and look nice.  |
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Post by Axis on Jun 22, 2017 0:31:52 GMT -5
Your color coded and you got those little rubber covers on your RCA's. Very nice with the cable ties. This is how we wire an Aircraft folks. If you ever saw a picture of my all X series cables on the back of my system, I keep all my soldiers in line as well. I like my cables and wiring to both function and look nice. |
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Post by Boomzilla on Jun 22, 2017 6:03:31 GMT -5
I gave my little blue pills away. I am good without them ! Lucky you! They do nothing for me. |
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Post by vneal on Jun 22, 2017 6:10:19 GMT -5
I like my cables and wiring to both function and look nice. I have to admit you have done one hell of a nice job on cable control. I may try that. |
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Post by geebo on Jun 22, 2017 7:11:51 GMT -5
I've not tried GLS locking bananas but I really like the ones from Blue Jeans Cable. I tried the Sewell brand from Amazon and didn't like them at all.
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Post by 405x5 on Jun 22, 2017 8:03:25 GMT -5
"3. Use the " DYohn method" - Cut the bananas off the wires & use just the bare copper strands tightened into your speaker jacks. This isn't as convenient as having bananas, but it probably gives the best connection, and without any additional steel / solder / copper / gold interfaces." This is the best way IMHO. I never tried the newest locking type connectors myself, but if you really want "trick" ends to the speaker leads, this would be the path to follow. The most important aspect of any of this stuff is a loose, "customized" combination of any banana or wire strand going into a dead 💀 short and doing severe damage to the amplifier. Additionally, some of these gold, larger than life connectors are just that.....TOO LARGE......and on the terminals of some loudspeaker systems, only serve to increase the risk of a contact short. Bill |
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Post by mountain on Jun 22, 2017 8:46:00 GMT -5
I use GLS locking banana plugs on amplifier end, bare wire on speaker end. They work well and were inexpensive through Amazon.
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Post by Bonzo on Jun 22, 2017 9:35:19 GMT -5
Well I'm a bit late to the party as usual, but since I said I would last night in my previous post, here are some links to the ones from Dayton Audio (Parts Express, same place). Here are the two kinds I ended up buying.Locking, Angled, Stackingwww.parts-express.com/angled-locking-and-stacking-banana-plug-with-dual-set-screws-poly-carbonate-shell-and-insu--091-3608$22.69 for 4 plugs = $5.67 eachThese are my favorite plugs. With the angle down shape they put less pressure on the connection and help with wire routing. I’d use these on the amp end if they were up in the air in a rack (mine are near floor level). They have 2 wire locking screws to insure a great wire connection (to hell with soldering), and allow for 8 AWG wire. They also lock, and stack, which is a super easy way to bi-wire if you chose to do so. Not to mention they are very well made, with a full hard plastic “sheath” so accidental shorts are impossible. Compare these to the almost identical European ones and the price savings here is phenomenal.  Regularwww.parts-express.com/nine-tine-banana-plug-with-dual-set-screws-and-poly-carbonate-shell-2-pair--091-3602$15.96 for 4 plugs = $3.99 eachThese are my favorite regular plugs. The way the spring mechanism works on these has the least amount chance for loosening up in my experience, and fits quite tight without strain. They have 2 wire locking screws to insure a great wire connection (to hell with soldering), and allow for 8 AWG wire [this is what the website says, BUT, I can tell you for a fact they allow for more. I used these at the amp end to make a quick easy bi-wire system by taking two 10 gauge wires, twisting them together, then sliding them up side these plugs]. They are very well made, with a full hard plastic “sheath” so accidental shorts are impossible Other alternatives to my regular ones that are made similar but have different types of plugs.Expanding (Locking)www.parts-express.com/expanding-banana-plug-with-dual-set-screws-and-poly-carbonate-shell-2-pair--091-3604$21.91 for 4 plugs = $5.48 eachI didn’t think these looked like they would work as well, and cost nearly as much as the almost perfect angled ones above, so why bother.
BFA Style (what I would call Nordost style)www.parts-express.com/bfa-style-banana-plugs-with-dual-set-screws-and-poly-carbonate-shell-2-pair--091-3600$15.96 for 4 plugs = $3.99 eachAn alternative solid plug that fits very snug and holds it’s shape well And then you have these that look a lot like the GLS ones people are talking about. BFA Style (what I would call Nordost style)www.parts-express.com/bfa-style-banana-plug-with-dual-set-screws-and-carbon-fiber-covered-brass-shell-2-pair--091-3610$24.80 for 4 plugs = $6.20 eachNo point to these when you have the just as good (or even better if you ask me) ones above for cheaper. Regular (with Spade conversion)www.parts-express.com/nine-tine-banana-plug-with-dual-set-screws-and-carbon-fiber-shell-2-pair--091-3612$25.77 for 4 plugs = $6.44 eachThe cool option about these is that you can screw out the bananas and screw in spades. But I’m not sure why that would be necessary. And they are again more expensive. Expanding (Locking)www.parts-express.com/expanding-banana-plug-with-dual-set-screws-and-carbon-fiber-wrapped-brass-shell-2-pair--091-3614$25.29 for 4 plugs = $6.32 eachAgain, I didn’t think these would work as well, and cost more than the almost perfect angled ones above, so why bother. Spade (with Regular conversion)www.parts-express.com/1-4-to-3-8-spade-terminal-with-dual-set-screws-and-carbon-fiber-and-brass-shell-2-pair--091-3616$28.88 for 4 plugs = $7.22 eachNow these being used as spades is very nice. The only downside here is they are the most expensive. These banana plug TIPS the kind you do NOT want. These long open kind of banana tips don’t have very good holding power, and they lose their grip quickly over time.www.parts-express.com/banana-plug-with-dual-set-screws-and-black-aluminum-shell-2-pair--091-3626www.parts-express.com/parts-express-banana-plug-pair-set-screw-type--091-1165www.parts-express.com/parts-express-banana-plug-black--090-460 |
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Post by Bonzo on Jun 22, 2017 9:45:59 GMT -5
I also think these look promising, but have not seen them in person, and can't tell how the wires actually attach inside. But I like the right angle idea. www.broadbandutopia.com/rianbatip.html |
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Post by vcautokid on Jun 22, 2017 9:57:10 GMT -5
If you leave the peels on, the Bananas last longer, but really, yeah Bananas can lose there springy-ness if they are inserted and pulled out allot, but I mean really allot. Most that I have used including Paladins and singles seem to fare very well. Some are made better than others no doubt. A nice snug fit is always the desired state when going Bananas.
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hemster
Global Moderator 
Particle Manufacturer
...still listening... still watching
Posts: 51,952
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Post by hemster on Jun 22, 2017 19:20:08 GMT -5
If you leave the peels on, the Bananas last longer, but really, yeah Bananas can lose there springy-ness if they are inserted and pulled out allot, but I mean really allot. Most that I have used including Paladins and singles seem to fare very well. Some are made better than others no doubt. A nice snug fit is always the desired state when going Bananas. Er... we are talking audio here, right?   |
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Post by Bonzo on Jun 22, 2017 19:29:33 GMT -5
If you leave the peels on, the Bananas last longer, but really, yeah Bananas can lose there springy-ness if they are inserted and pulled out allot, but I mean really allot. Most that I have used including Paladins and singles seem to fare very well. Some are made better than others no doubt. A nice snug fit is always the desired state when going Bananas. Er... we are talking audio here, right? Yes, because the thing you are referring to does not lose springyness going in and out a lot, it gets stiffer.😂 |
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hemster
Global Moderator
Particle Manufacturer
...still listening... still watching
Posts: 51,952
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Post by hemster on Jun 22, 2017 19:41:13 GMT -5
Er... we are talking audio here, right? Yes, because the thing you are referring to does not lose springyness going in and out a lot, it gets stiffer.😂 It's a function of time (so I'm told). But the following may help those that are afflicted like George in Seinfeld. Bananas might not shrink as they get old but they can lose their youthful vigor and not show the stamina they once did. They make little blue pills that are supposed to help. I gave my little blue pills away. I am good without them ! |
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Post by RichGuy on Jun 23, 2017 20:52:19 GMT -5
For anyone who makes their own cables or anyone who wants to start here's a great deal on a very good heat gun at Harbor Freight on sale this weekend with coupon it's only $5.00 that is an excellent price! I have this heat gun and use it all the time it works very well for shrink tube. Here is the Harbor Freight coupon you can print out and use good through this Sunday June 25th.  Here's a pic of my speaker cables I made before the bananas were added.   Here is a custom 3.5mm IR cable I made.   A few more  |
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Post by Loop 7 on Jun 24, 2017 1:22:16 GMT -5
For anyone who makes their own cables or anyone who wants to start here's a great deal on a very good heat gun at Harbor Freight on sale this weekend with coupon it's only $5.00 that is an excellent price! I have this heat gun and use it all the time it works very well for shrink tube. Not sure I can pass that up. Luckily, there's a Harbor a few miles from here. |
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