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#1
Posted to rec.audio.tech
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Choosing Bannana Plugs
I'm finishing off a pretty high end home theatre.
I need to terminate my 12 gauge speaker cables with appropriate bannana plugs. I understand that there is a lot of hype around name brand stuff especially with audio components. I want good value without being stupid. What are some good choices for these plugs? Are solder-on or screw-on better? |
#3
Posted to rec.audio.tech
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Choosing Bannana Plugs
"Barry Mann" wrote ...
I am not a fan of banana plugs for fixed applications. By "fixed" I mean that the connection is made once and then sits for months or years. In my opinion bananas are OK if the connection is broken down regularly, otherwise there is oxide build-up and slow degradation. Gold plating of both the jack and the plug can help keep the oxides from forming, but gold is fragile and if the connection is broken down too many times, the gold wears away, leaving a not so great base metal at the point of contact. Soldering is great for fixed connections, but not a good idea for frequently flexed connections because the solder creates a stress point at the transition between the soldered and not soldered area that will work harden very rapidly and cause a complete break in the wire. Banana plugs are familiar and relatively inexpensive (unless you purchase the "audiophile" grade). I prefer bare wire connections or crimped spade lugs or pins. All electrical connectors rely on metal-to-metal contact. I can't help wondering how Mr. Mann deals with other kinds of connectors. Go back and substitute "RCA/phono" for "banana" and see what you think? Lets not forget that banana plugs were used in laboratories for test equipment for decades before they became popular for speaker use. Banana are still the overwhelming first choice in these critical applications. I have a difficult time sharing Mr. Mann's pessimism for banana connectors. |
#4
Posted to rec.audio.tech
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Choosing Bannana Plugs
Richard Crowley wrote:
"Barry Mann" wrote ... I am not a fan of banana plugs for fixed applications. By "fixed" I mean that the connection is made once and then sits for months or years. In my opinion bananas are OK if the connection is broken down regularly, otherwise there is oxide build-up and slow degradation. Gold plating of both the jack and the plug can help keep the oxides from forming, but gold is fragile and if the connection is broken down too many times, the gold wears away, leaving a not so great base metal at the point of contact. Soldering is great for fixed connections, but not a good idea for frequently flexed connections because the solder creates a stress point at the transition between the soldered and not soldered area that will work harden very rapidly and cause a complete break in the wire. Banana plugs are familiar and relatively inexpensive (unless you purchase the "audiophile" grade). I prefer bare wire connections or crimped spade lugs or pins. All electrical connectors rely on metal-to-metal contact. I can't help wondering how Mr. Mann deals with other kinds of connectors. Go back and substitute "RCA/phono" for "banana" and see what you think? Lets not forget that banana plugs were used in laboratories for test equipment for decades before they became popular for speaker use. Banana are still the overwhelming first choice in these critical applications. I have a difficult time sharing Mr. Mann's pessimism for banana connectors. Laboratory test equipment that is setup and changed around fairly often. banana plugs do not provide a gas tight metal to metal contact. Nor do RCA type plugs, but RCA type plugs do provide much more contact surface. These plugs will, eventually, develop thin films of corrosion, said corrosion products being less than good conductors of electricity. Unplugging and replugging them in wipes the metal surfaces clean and restores the unimpeded flow of electrical current. Gold plated connectors will much better resist this problem, but the gold is less mechanically robust, so will, over time wear off from plugging cycles and being plugged into connectors plated with other, harder metals. The banana plug was used because it was readily available, inexpensive, and well understood by the design engineers. Professional audio companies have overwhelmingly converted to the Speakon line of connectors from Neutrik. Good for your application, but a bit overkill, and not cheap. For a long term home speaker, it is hard to beat a pair of terminal screws and crimped on lugs. Not as good as a soldered joint, but removable with a screwdriver. Gold plating is nice, but only in a cosmetic sense with screw terminals. Inexpensive, even if you have to purchase one of those crimp terminal kits at the dollar store. Now if you are one of the audiophooles who brags about buying two hundred bucks a foot for helically wound oxygen free copper gold plated cables from overpriced marketing companies, buy the platimum plated connectors with diamond highlighting. --Dale |
#5
Posted to rec.audio.tech
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Choosing Bannana Plugs
In another incarnation I worked in a standards lab calibrating
instruments. That's where I picked-up my dislike for banana jacks -- it had nothing to do with audio. Now that I'm into audio banana jacks are still a thorn. Some of my audio test equipment uses banana jacks, and I'm constantly fighting to keep them clean. Situations vary, but I come across banana plugs where disturbing them slightly will result in a clearly audible event. Roughing these guys up a bit results in an easily noticeable sonic improvement. In my opinion at least half of the "magic" associated with changing to high-end cables is due to the accidental contact cleaning when the cables are replaced. ----------------------------------------------------------- spam: wordgame:123(abc):14 9 20 5 2 9 18 4 at 22 15 9 3 5 14 5 20 dot 3 15 13 (Barry Mann) [sorry about the puzzle, spammers are ruining my mailbox] ----------------------------------------------------------- |
#6
Posted to rec.audio.tech
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Choosing Bannana Plugs
On Sun, 21 May 2006 02:00:23 GMT, Dale Farmer
wrote: Now if you are one of the audiophooles who brags about buying two hundred bucks a foot for helically wound oxygen free copper gold plated cables from overpriced marketing companies, buy the platimum plated connectors with diamond highlighting. I've never understood why audiophools didn't use soldered connections. They could always buy diamond-encrusted soldering irons. And I'm sure someone would indulge them with a brand of premium solder. |
#7
Posted to rec.audio.tech
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Choosing Bannana Plugs
Nothing is simple.
It looks like my speakers and receiver have been designed for bananna plugs - so thats what I'll probably use. Screw or solder on - no definitive - whatever. Gold plated seems like a good idea - bingo. Now to find the best value.... |
#8
Posted to rec.audio.tech
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Choosing Bannana Plugs
On Tue, 23 May 2006 14:03:27 GMT, lid (Hogwild) wrote:
Nothing is simple. It looks like my speakers and receiver have been designed for bananna plugs - so thats what I'll probably use. Screw or solder on - no definitive - whatever. Gold plated seems like a good idea - bingo. Now to find the best value.... Gold plated is only a good idea if what you are plugging into is also gold plated. Otherwise go with the usual nickel. d -- Pearce Consulting http://www.pearce.uk.com |
#9
Posted to rec.audio.tech
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Choosing Bannana Plugs
Don Pearce wrote:
On Tue, 23 May 2006 14:03:27 GMT, lid (Hogwild) wrote: Nothing is simple. It looks like my speakers and receiver have been designed for bananna plugs - so thats what I'll probably use. Screw or solder on - no definitive - whatever. Gold plated seems like a good idea - bingo. Now to find the best value.... Gold plated is only a good idea if what you are plugging into is also gold plated. Otherwise go with the usual nickel. And only a good idea if it's thick enough not to be cut through as soon as it gets used. Cheap gold plating will scrape off very quickly, leading to more oxidation. |
#10
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Choosing Bannana Plugs
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