Very expensive binding posts vs Direct soldering

[roibm]

So I was just wondering about this...
Why get some very expensive Cardas(there might be some other much more expensive ones, but Cardas is already out of what I am willing to roll out for some binding posts) when you could solder the wires directly to a wire that is comming out of the amp.
Is there something magic that the Cardas are doing to the sound?
I know the draw back of soldering: it's not easy to disconnect/reconnect... Are there some other disadvantages? I for one don't mind about soldering them as I am not moving my amps around.

Any opinions? Please answer!

Thank you

PS: The amps are gainclones

[Ken L]

Originally posted by roibm
So I was just wondering about this...
Why get some very expensive ..........when you could solder the wires directly to a wire that is comming out of the amp?

Well, speakers get moved, amps get moved, preamps get moved, etc. even if you don't plan to do it.

Besides, you _are_ going to clean and dust around your setup aren't you? _grin_

What I do is hardwire (Solder) one end of the connections permanently and leave the other where it can be freed to move the equipment.

My preamp has four connectors soldered to the pre and the cables hang with connectors on the ends.

I suggest instead of Cardas or other expensive and usually heavy or solid and expensive looking piece, just buy the simplest and smallest pair of binding posts you can. The smaller whatever you put in the signal path the better.

Then don't use terminals on the speaker cables just put them in the binding posts.

IMHO, YMMV, Standard disclaimers.

Regards

Ken L

[Ropie]

No there is no magic to expensive speaker posts - they are simply more impressive looking The same applies to phono connections and power connections.

If you can live with the lack of flexibility of directly soldering all your leads/wires then certainly do it, otherwise just stick with cheap but well-made components, in my humble opinion

[ultrachrome]

I would believe binding posts would be the best solution. You may want to experiment with different wire or as mentioned, you may need to move things around and need a longer cable.

For inexpensive posts, I like these: Dual Binding Post

If you want to get tweeky, you can replace the nuts and washers with brass equivalents.

[SimontY]

Just don't use Neutrik Speakons whatever you do, IMHO

[Magura]

Originally posted by SimontY
Just don't use Neutrik Speakons whatever you do, IMHO

True, if you want to avoid a simple, good, cheap and reliable solution thats been used in pro gear for ages

Magura

[SimontY]

Ok, perhaps it's just my speakers that it didn't work well with. Gotta love the plugging and unplugging action on it, but come on, those crappy little connections really dont seem to make the best connection....

I think in Pro Gear sound quality often comes 2nd place to practicalities.

[Magura]

The current carrying capabilities of speakon are good and the resistance of the connection is low. If you ask me thats the same as a good plug.

If you compare it to your average RCA, youd be surprised.


Magura

[SimontY]

Ok, I won't argue about it, as I've only used it on one set of speakers. But when I hard-wired that end, and lost the Speakons, there was a huge gain in sound quality - particularly in the bass, which lost it's detached/delayed quality, and joined the rest of the music. I changed speaker cable too, but as the cable was copper already, and with a good dialectric, how could *that* have made any audible difference? :-p

[SimontY]

Better just say, sorry if it seems I'm taking the Mickey, I don't mean to, really!

I am deadly serious when I say connections are important though, however it is made. The fewer the better, that no-one in their right mind would argue with!!!