Best Of

I researched a bit into Cardas binding posts to see why the connection is not secure. I learned that Cardas binding posts are often mentioned in discussions about reliable connections. That the binding posts are primarily designed to work best with spade lugs and while Cardas binding posts can accommodate banana plugs, they are not optimized for them. Well yeah, no chit, Sherlock! I already knew that. 4mm seems to be the norm, but Cardas accepts larger (I believe I read, up to 7mm)

So, I got to taking a closer look at them and did some experimenting. A week or two ago, I ordered a very thin 99% pure copper band and custom cut them, to fit in the ID as a shim, if you will. This did not go as anticipated, so I immediately scratched that idea altogether. So, I took a look at the binding posts even further.

What I learned is that with the spade nut in place, the banana clips would not provide a secure fitment. But when I took the spade nut (technically called a counter nut) out, I could securely mount both banana's in place without fear of them ever moving. So, I pondered for a bit and did some measurements with calipers. Long story short, I went out to the shop and bench ground off about 3mm of the back of the nut, so it could be screwed further in, onto the binding post itself. After grinding one nut, I cleaned up the inside thread pattern with a fine round file and went back to test to see if this would even work. It did! So, I spent the next hour and a half carefully grinding, finishing and polishing all of the nuts where the SC's would be attached.

I then went back to the stereo room and hooked everything back up. This time, with no need at all for rubber bands and an eraser. When I turned on the rig, I could not believe what I was hearing. All of the aspects I have worked so hard to achieve over the years came into a rather profound clarity and focus. I kind of figured that a slight change, to no change at all would happen. I am happy to say that I was completely incorrect with that assumption. What I knew was fantastic before, is now on a level that……well, it's just on another level. The image clarity/specificity/locational/aural cues and palpability is so clearly spot on now, it's kind of a shock to me. As mentioned before, an auditory revelation.

So, knowing what I know now, I am looking to upgrade all of the binding posts on the Woodmere's. Since they are tri-ampable, I will need twelve total. And, as you can guess, I am not looking at Cardas. I was speaking with an industry insider the other day about this and WBT appears to be the route I'd like to explore. I was eyeing this one -

http://www.wbtusa.com/pages/0705cun.html - WBT - 0705Cu



We'll see what the price comes in at for 12 of them…..along with the possibility of custom making a binding post plate for the Woodmere's. But from what I am hearing now? The investment will be more than worth the expenditure. Here is the "after" modification and configuration. All connections are now rock solid.

SRA Signature SC's into the bass network > Tara Labs, "The Muse" jumpers into the tweeter network > Audience Front Row jumpers go to the mid network.



Tom