Speakon is best. Except for the hifi looks as its not shiny 🙂 For prototypes, just skip the connector altogether, drill through, apply some hot glue to the hole.
I couldn't agree with you more. Tube connectors are what did it for me. His insistence that they can make an improvement in the sound, particularly the large improvement he claims, completely destroys any credibility that he might otherwise have. I trust nothing he says.
Yeah, agreed. He chose some very wrong XO points for those Magnepans he "designed" a new crossover for. It was a recipie on how to blow the tweeter. 1kHz on that narrow and flimsy ribbon does not work well. They need to be crossoved over at ~4k. He also ranted about the connectors... which in reality are quite good.
Speakeron thee most underated best clever connector there is. High tech low mass secure quick connect and disconnect.my question is how furutech or wbt missed the boat in not comming up with such a cool connector.there are power connectors as well.
They didn't / haven't. Both are hi-fi brands who are simply producing variations on conventional binding posts because that's where 99.9% of their market is, since it provides near-universal compatability. Speakon is / was Neutrik's trademarked pro-audio connector; it's theoretically superior but being completely different doesn't have the same level of compatability. Presumably WBT, Furutech etc. will have their own implementations of it on the drawing board, but the sales projections don't justify it. And assuming they come up with their own connector design -the same applies. Does the world really need yet another connector, especially if it's not compatible with anything else? Cardas have their clamp-type binding post design for spades for e.g., but AFAIK it ticks over rather than having taken off massively -likely because not everybody uses spade connectors on their speaker wire, which instantly limits the audience.
When I rebuilt my Monitor Audio speakers I used these:-
MC/Staubli 4mm Shrouded test plug, Gold plated brass body 32A, 1000V
MC/Staubli 4mm Shrouded test socket, Gold plated brass body, 6.3mm tag
MC/Staubli 4mm Shrouded test plug, Gold plated brass body 32A, 1000V
MC/Staubli 4mm Shrouded test socket, Gold plated brass body, 6.3mm tag
I use alligator clip for prototyping, speakon for final product.
A single running wire for (up to) four way amplification makes my life easier for dust cleaning, and is pretty fool proof too.
A single running wire for (up to) four way amplification makes my life easier for dust cleaning, and is pretty fool proof too.
This isn't the first thread started about connectors and it probably won't be the last.
The bottom line is that there are lots of very good connectors on the market and they all do basically the same thing with some minor differences in their design and construction.
To the best of my knowledge, however, no one has ever shown that those differences are audible.
If it can be shown that there is a difference then I'm sure people here would be very interested to see the details.
The bottom line is that there are lots of very good connectors on the market and they all do basically the same thing with some minor differences in their design and construction.
To the best of my knowledge, however, no one has ever shown that those differences are audible.
If it can be shown that there is a difference then I'm sure people here would be very interested to see the details.
Last edited:
FYI, etc., only 'cold weld' (mechanical clamping) and ring tongue connectors passed UL/CSA industrial controls testing and even then the rings only passed when using star washers. Spades did so poorly that I wouldn't use them on anything requiring a decent, long term, connection.
For prototyping:
Quick, easy, handles more power then most connectors of same size/useability.
Does not vibrate loose. No screw to mar multi core wires. Secure clamping from 0,25mm up to 4mm2 or 6mm2 fx, regardless of the size of each wire.
Can even put in a gel box for waterproofing. Din rail mounts available etc.
Very simple to use, remove insulation to ca. correct length, insert wire,close clamp, even see through to check everythings okay. No need for ferrules on multi core, adviceable for 0,25mm2 as it will increase the wires mechanical strength.
Cheap, and comes with 2, 3 , 5 holes.
Quick, easy, handles more power then most connectors of same size/useability.
Does not vibrate loose. No screw to mar multi core wires. Secure clamping from 0,25mm up to 4mm2 or 6mm2 fx, regardless of the size of each wire.
Can even put in a gel box for waterproofing. Din rail mounts available etc.
Very simple to use, remove insulation to ca. correct length, insert wire,close clamp, even see through to check everythings okay. No need for ferrules on multi core, adviceable for 0,25mm2 as it will increase the wires mechanical strength.
Cheap, and comes with 2, 3 , 5 holes.
Attachments
I used to use these until I had a life changing encounter with wago connectors.🙂
edit: while I was searching for an image Arez beat me to it.
When building my own equipment it is really nice being able to choose a connector that you like. Since I tend to use bare wire, and also have a touch for the tightness that it should have (not crushing it so tight as to cause breaks in stranded wire), then a study brass post does the job for me. Yup, usually change them out if I am to sell the equipment to someone who wouldn't appreciate them.
In a few cases, I have found strong well built spring loaded connectors that can be good as well, but you have to really investigate the connector so you don't end up with a low quality type.
In a few cases, I have found strong well built spring loaded connectors that can be good as well, but you have to really investigate the connector so you don't end up with a low quality type.
+1 (with a few multipliers 😉 ). I've been allergic to spade connections for years -they've never been popular in the UK, so at least we do something right, even if the preferred banana alternative is a bit like saying some parts of the Titanic are less underwater than others.
Ring / lug connections done properly OTOH... count me in! 'didn't know about the star-washer, but makes sense, so I'm not surprised.
Inexpensive barrier strips like those are ok, but bear in mind that the electrical contacts on many strips
like these are made of steel or aluminum.
All quality made connectors do exactly the same thing and there are no audible differences despite what some of the manufacturers would like you to believe.
So what is it that you are looking for in the design that really matters and is so difficult to find?