Why do you need clips for your speaker wire?

pbc74 · October 2003

Why can't you just connect bare speaker wire to your binding posts? Does it alter the sound that much? Or does it protect your wire or what?

howie777 · October 2003

Connecters just make it easier to set up the speakers. Technically, the connectors could degrade the signal a little but it would be very difficult to hear the difference.

VR3 · October 2003

It's easier...much easier, especially if you use banana plugs

pbc74 · October 2003

thanks for the replies. Monster banana clips cost about $100 for enough to handle a 5.1 system on both ends of the wire. It doesn't seem worth it. How does it save time? I figure that by the time you get the clip fixed on, you could already have put the wire in the post the same way.

dorokusai · October 2003

Just buy some bulk banana plugs from www.partsexpress.com , it won't cost as much as the Monster Cable.

Who was it in the forum that was getting good prices on clips? Anyone remember?

I find it more convenient to change things around by using banana clips. If I saved <1 minute using them over bare wire and turning knobs, then it is worth it to me.

Ron-P · October 2003

My copper is nekkid. Bare wire at both ends.

Peace Out~:D

mwhip · October 2003

These are what I used. Kept everything clean, and was really cheap.

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&User_ID=15756992&St=5656&St2=53273594&St3=45725304&DS_ID=3&Product_ID=2333&DID=7

danielyu · October 2003

if you don't plan on switching speakers or unplugging your speakers for whatever reason, there's no need for banana plugs.... think about it, if you only need to connect them once, why spend $100 on banana plugs? use them to buy bananas

Ron-P · October 2003

Peace Out~:D

eclypse · October 2003

Well what good banana clips will do that bare wire wont is keep great pressure on the connection to the speaker terminal giving you maximum connection.. i'm sure it helps against corrosion keeping the wire sealed..Plus ya dont have to worry about the connection coming loose! Its easy to connect the speaker over and over without having to recut the wire and twisting it up and doing all that unsrewing and stuff... plus it just looks plain damn smart as well.

I have monster quick lock banana clips on all speaker wire ends. And i love them! Made my life easier plenty of times over with me switching things around moving speakers, changing connection to the sub and bi-amping.

so if your gona use banana clips if your speakers and receiver has binding posts to support them, look for the better kind that has springs in the neck of the banana to keep the connection strong as long as you use them.

gidrah · October 2003

I have some screw type banana plugs sitting in a drawer right now. My wires are also nekkid at both ends.

har_navalta · October 2003

My wires are also nekkid at both ends.

You don't need to buy expensive wires (14 Ga. is Ok)place your amp besides your speakers as much as possible. Mine almost 2 feet away. The closer the better

Har

Ron-P · October 2003

place your amp besides your speakers as much as possible. Mine almost 2 feet away. The closer the better

Yeah, but the farther away the amps are from the pre results in much longer more expensive interconnects. Wire is cheaper for the longer runs. Plus I like having all my gear on one rack rather than spread all over the room. Let alone also having to run extension cords for the amps so I can have them all plugged into my Monster.

It's a good idea for a 2-channel rig, but not for HT.

Peace Out~:D

pbc74 · October 2003

thanks for all the replies.

So are you guys saying that clips can keep the copper from oxidizing?

Tour2ma · October 2003

Some believe that, but to do so they'd have to prevent oxygen from enterring, and everyday clips won't do that.

BTW, I use dual bananas on the amp and bare wire on the speaker end. Also my wire runs are all in the 35' neighborhood. It's a cost of having the elecronics in a separate room from the HT and 2 ch speakers...

John K. · October 2003

PBC, the connection using the bare wire through the opening in the binding post is as good as any unless you want the convenience of banana plugs because you're going to be frequently connecting and disconnecting the speakers for some reason. As far as oxidation, although copper oxide has a much higher electrical resistance than copper itself, oxidation on the outer surface of the end of the wire isn't harmful. The relatively small part of the wire in actual contact with the speaker terminal is what transmits the audio signal and power and the firmness of the connection between the two at that point prevents, or at least slows down any oxidation. If and when it does occur, the oxidation should merely be cleaned off or cut off and a fresh end stripped.

pbc74 · October 2003

thanks Tour2ma

thanks John

That pretty much answers my question.

Tour2ma · October 2003

You're welcome... BTW, I use the bananas on the amp end for wire management to insure no wires touch.

John, I have stated what you did in your above post several times in the past in repsonse to oxidation concerns. It's a sound, practical approach.

glemay · October 2003

I've got bare wire at both ends, but the banana plugs do sound convinient.

VR3 · October 2003

Nanner plugs are great, but I can never get them to stay on.....and I love to get away from the 16 awg terminals on the Adcoms. Holy crap what a PAIN!!!!!!

Pauly · October 2003

also check out this thread. do some searches and get some fore input. read as much as you can until you get your grand dec.

http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11835

Spaz

steveinaz · October 2003

Originally posted by pbc74
Why can't you just connect bare speaker wire to your binding posts? Does it alter the sound that much? Or does it protect your wire or what?

Actually, bare wire to binding post IS the ideal connection provided you have a tight connection. Terminations just make it a heck of alot more convenient, and if done properly result in negligible loss.

Duffman · October 2003

It also depends on your receiver/amp's back panel layout. My Onkyo has all of the speaker posts jammed so tight that by the time you've connected a couple it's like doing surgery to get the rest in using bare wire. I dropped the $ on banana plugs for the amp side and it's *well* worth it. YMMV

Why do you need clips for your speaker wire?

Comments