To replace binding posts or reterminate cable?

[Sugawi]

Hello everyone,
I'm trying to decide what should I do. I have Vandersteen 1c speakers. I was wondering if I should modify them so I can use them with Goertz MI2 flat wire speaker cable terminated with rhodium spades. Vandys 1C accept only bananas.
Should I change binding posts or reterminate my cables with rhodium bananas. I don't want to spend more then $30 for this project.
I'll appreciate any suggestions.

[Svante]

Do whatever you find most practical and possibly esthetically apealing. As long as there is a good enough contact, the sound will not be affected.

[youyoung21147]

I don't think it is worth spendin 30$ on cable interconnects.

You will never hear or measure the difference as far as you have good contact between the two surfaces.

If you want to have the perfect interconnect, then you should solder the wire directly onto the speaker.

[Sugawi]

Originally I wanted to replace cable ends (picture bellow) on one side with Goertz Rhodium bananas from soniccraft. ($22.50 for the project)
http://www.soniccraft.com/products/c...ana/goertz.htm
When I called them, thet suggested to replace binding posts with Cardas CCGR ($64 for the project) because they said bananas are never as good as spades. They said copper binding posts are the best. http://www.soniccraft.com/products/c...ardas_ccgr.htm

Vandersteen 1C's not expensive speakers ($800) an I saw no reason to spend $60+ for binding posts. Will there be audiable difference if I use bananas?

[youyoung21147]

Absolutely not.

I defy anyone here to tell apart in a blind test if it is a banana plug or a fork that is used as interconnect.

If you want the best possible contact, then solder the speaker wire to the binding post.

I would also add that the best metal concerning interconnects is silver : it has the best conductivity among all the existing metals, and its oxyde conducts electricity equally well.

As far as your contact surface is good, there is no reason to spend huge amounts of money on interconnects. Don't forget you don't which to make 300A pass through your connection !

[Sugawi]

youyoung21147,
I don't think I'll solder it since I need to try first and listen before I'll leave it there permanently attached. Also I want to be able to sell cables if I deside to move to something else.
How about something inexpencive like this?
http://www.xcess.com/BPJ-Model-/BPJ-Model-1286.htm

[youyoung21147]

Banana plugs are quite good connectors if their springs are tight. They can hold up to 36A.

Look for gold plated ones if you want something aesthetic and "resellable". I know that model hobbyists use many for battery interconnects.

https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITED...p?idProduct=67

[Andersonix]

Sugawi: I like the dual banana plug with binding posts you found. I don't prefer bananas over spades, but I like the fact that dual bananas can never be shorted out against themselves.

[youyoung21147]

Spades offer good contact, but I find it quite a pain to connect. The spade moves right and tears the cable if you don't hold it.

Banana plugs are far enough for HiFi currents : their contact resistance is typically 3mOhms and the best gold-plated ones are 0.5mOhms.

I don't know if you figure what 36A is. In an 8-ohms speaker, it would mean more than 10kW of absorbed power !!!!!!

So after that they wanna make us believe that 16mm spades are a need in Hifi

[Sugawi]

Here is what responce I got from one of the www retailers:
"Spades are better than banana's....more surface area.....and those banana receptacles are crap...but, unless you are going to re-do the entire cross-over, I wouldn't mess with it....simply, re-terminate cable."
At least he honest enough to tell the thruth rather then making $$ on a inexpencive speaker.

I still need to figure out what parts to use for zobel network.
I have 10 ft of Goertz Veracity MI2 cable. IS there is any formula to figure out needed values of resistor and caps?
My speakers rated 6.8 ohms +/- 2 ohms.

Here is values for the cable:
Resistance: 0.0022 ohms/ft
Capacitance: 0.95nF/ft
Inductance: 6nH/ft
Impedance: ~ 2.5 ohms