Cables, Terminations and Plugs !

[EdT]

So what is the preferred audiophile type of of banana plugs, soldered or solderless, nickel or gold plated., guage of wire 14, 12 or 10 ? is electrical cord just as good, speaker wires cost more than double for softer PVC jacket ?

How do you terminate your plugs, I am leaning for the Safe-Connect as the best ?

heres a sample:
http://www.speakerrepair.com/Merchan...e=black_chrome
http://www.speakerrepair.com/Merchan...e=safe_connect

http://www.speakerrepair.com/Merchan...ory_Code=spade

[badman]

I'm of the opinion (Being a cableguy) that cable construction does indeed matter, and there are many discussions of this subject on the web. Less here, because it's generally frowned upon at diyaudio. My preferred speaker terminations are spades over bananas, but if you must use bananas, use BFA types, lots of contact area. The Audioquest connectors are my favorites, several retailers carry them.

[blazemaster83]

i use WBT topline for all my connections...they break your bank, but they are the best stuff you can get. 5 times plating, and rated up to 400amp continuous for the binding posts. i have not come across a product by WBT that doesnt impress me...

[badman]

My experience with the WBT stuff is that it's not particularly good sounding. Too many platings, too much complexity, and except for a few key items, low conductivity base metals. The eichmann cable pod is a good minimalist binding post, but my faves are the cardas patented type- gets you one HELL of a solid connection to a spade.

[pinkmouse]

Originally posted by badman
...Less here, because it's generally frowned upon at diyaudio...

I wouldn't go that far. We just allow all opinions to be voiced, unlike some other fora that have a party line.

Personally, I just look for good solid construction,with maximal tight contact area for connectors. Usually this means I buy Neutrik. As for terminating speaker cable, I just use bare wire. If you get any corrosion problems, just chop off 10mm and strip back again. Much cheaper, and a better contact.

[zBuff]

Pinkmouse have you tried Neutrik SpeakOn products?

I like the professional sort of connectors myself, as they have usually have more contact area, better locking systems for better contact, self cleaning, better shielding and alot cheaper than exotic connectors. The only problem is when to bring in and test equipment that uses standard connectors

Cables are a high debated topic, whether they make a difference and what to use depends on the rest of your system and ultimately what you can personally hear and want from your sound. Do a search for some of the past threads, there is a WEALTH of information. All I can recommend here is since you are posting on a DIY forum, start with the cheap alternatives first (ie power cables, CAT5) and experiment to get the sound you like, or whether or not it makes a difference at all in your system.

[sdclc126]

I think the same criteria that are applied to assessing loudspeaker drivers and other audio components should be applied to cables and connectors - MEASURE them. Otherwise it's all just guessing isn't it? Does anybody ever measure these things? Couldn't you just insert whatever cables/connectors you want to test into your setup, then measure what comes out of the loudspeakers and see what the graphs say? Anybody tried this?

PinkMouse -

"Not one of us knows anything, not even whether we know or do not know, nor do we know whether not knowing and knowing exist, nor in general whether there is anything or not"
Metrodorus of Chios

OK - so how did HE know this?

[AndrewT]

Hi Sd,
assuming that each termination generates an added 10 to 20mohm of resistance, what would we try to measure at the speaker that would reveal the effect of this 40 to 80mohm of resistance?

[pinkmouse]

Originally posted by zBuff
Pinkmouse have you tried Neutrik SpeakOn products?

Yup!

I like the professional sort of connectors myself, as they have usually have more contact area, better locking systems for better contact, self cleaning, better shielding and a lot cheaper than exotic connectors.

Exactly.

[sdclc126]

Originally posted by AndrewT
Hi Sd,
assuming that each termination generates an added 10 to 20mohm of resistance, what would we try to measure at the speaker that would reveal the effect of this 40 to 80mohm of resistance?

Exactly. If the only thing that cables and terminations put into the signal is resistance, and that resistance does not effect frequency response or distortion - there won't be anything different coming out of the speakers - i.e., no audible difference.

If people say they hear a difference among different cables and terminations, those differences should be measurable.