solder or spade?

[dayking79]

Decided to rewire my speakers with QED silver aniversery speaker cable. I was thinking of soldering (using eichman silver solder) all joints within the speaker cabinet ie from binding posts to crossover, from crossover to each drive unit.
Is this a good idea? As i have heard that soldering to a drive unit instead of spade terminals can break the drive unit.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[Moondog55]

I do not know much about that particular solder but if you use a heat sink after the joint the heat should not travel up the tinsel wires, I have been known to solder on my spade connections.

Regards Ted

[dayking79]

good idea, had never thought of that.

[badman]

Don't know the eichmann solder, but both Cardas and WBT are excellent solders

[infinia]

I like soldering for piece of mind and low ohm's too.
In the past had to open up enclosures to fix an open spade connection. Not a too good endorsement for a spade I'm afraid.

[rabbitz]

I've always used spades and have never experienced a problem with scores of speakers. I've tried solder connections as well and couldn't pick any sound differences so stayed with the easy method. Besides, it's easier for tweaking.

As long as you use decent spades of the right size and crimp them properly, there shouldn't be any issues. Never had a corrosion problem even though I live in an area with salt in the air or a loose connection.

There was a good discussion a couple of years ago on this as usual it was preference either way. Do a search.

Whatever you are comfortable with.

[Pano]

I crimp AND solder.

Just crazy, I guess. (Like Moondog)

[Moondog55]

Thanx PANO !! I like it

[infinia]

Originally posted by panomaniac
I crimp AND solder.

Just crazy, I guess. (Like Moondog)

FYI> Crimp and solder is actually the worst thing you could do. Not doubley good at all. Pick one or the other.

edit>I once held that false belief (crimp+solder). Learned otherwise from a manufacturing engineer early in my engineering career. High power cables are almost always crimped or mechanically connected.

[SpeakerScott]

Originally posted by infinia




FYI> Crimp and solder is actually the worst thing you could do. Not doubley good at all. Pick one or the other.

edit>I once held that false belief (crimp+solder). Learned otherwise from a manufacturing engineer early in my engineering career. High power cables are almost always crimped or mechanically connected.

Me too...right at the beginning of the job as an Electrical Engineer...crimp...or solder...not both...10 years later..I find myself teaching it...hmmmm

You can solder to terminals of speakers just fine, but be quick about it...especially tweeters...since it is possible to de-solder the leads of the voice coil.