Can't get BANANA PLUGS attached to my new RTi A3 speakers ... HELP!

JennyM

I just got my new RTi A3 speakers, trying to attach some banana plugs and can't do it! They are the: Sewell Direct SW-29751-6 Silverback Banana Plugs, gold-plated and work great to get the wire in. From Amazon, at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005E1CGZC/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. (picture below of one put together, the other in the two pieces ready to insert the wire)

Polk Audio tech support says they should "fit" into the binding post, then hold firm by **** the plastic cap back on. Doesn't work, they don't fit INTO anything, just about 1/8" of the tip sits in the binding post, but falls right off, through the plastic cap.

NOTE: The manual says to "gently PRY OUT the binding post" to expose the place for the banana plug. I had tried that, trying to pry under the round gold plate (base of the binding post) but couldn't get it popped out ... was afraid I'd damage something, so called tech support.

monepolk

The part that you pry out is the middle of the plastic cap that you screws onto the binding post.

F1nut

The pop out comment refers to the small red and black plastic plugs in the center of each binding post. Have you removed those?

Do NOT pry under the round gold plate (base of the binding post).

jon s

I know what you mean... My brand new AudioQuest Rocket 44 speaker cables with banana plugs will not fit in my Polk LSi15s... They fit in everything else, my receiver, my Sony SS-M9 speakers and Magnepan 1.6QR speaker. The diameter of the plug is a tad too large to fit inside my LSi15s...

PolkieMan

Maybe this will help

http://www.monoprice.com/Product?seq=1&format=2&p_id=9436&CAWELAID=1549177965&catargetid=320013720000010659&cadevice=c&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CNGTi6ORhrsCFQbl7AodHBMA6w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdyJHm0mDSw

JennyM

Yes, actually they simply fall out when you unscrew the red and black caps. But, my plugs don't "plug" into the exposed post ... maybe 1/8" will sit in it, that's all. Nothing to hold it secure. If I screw the red and black caps back in place, the banana plug just lifts right out through the cap because nothing is holding it.

F1nut wrote: »

The pop out comment refers to the small red and black plastic plugs in the center of each binding post. Have you removed those?

Do NOT pry under the round gold plate (base of the binding post).

JennyM

Thanks, I looked at those. I have no trouble putting the banana plugs on ... these were really easy. But. they're obviously bigger, would never fit into the binding posts on these speakers.

So, what type of banana plugs fit the RTi A3 speakers??? A pin type? The ones I have have a tip like a large Phillips screwdriver!

PolkieMan wrote: »

Maybe this will help

http://www.monoprice.com/Product?seq=1&format=2&p_id=9436&CAWELAID=1549177965&catargetid=320013720000010659&cadevice=c&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CNGTi6ORhrsCFQbl7AodHBMA6w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdyJHm0mDSw

F1nut

Ok, I see what the problem is. The expandable section of the plug is too close to the tip, which is a piss poor design, IMO. The better designed plugs expand in the middle section. For what they cost you I'd just throw them away.

These will work, see how they expand in the middle?

http://www.parts-express.com/gold-plated-screw-type-banana-plugs-18-12-awg-16-pcs--091-352

tonyb

Jenny,

Just to be clear, your trying to put the banana into the center of the post, not the hole in the stem when you unscrew the cap, correct ?

JennyM

OK, and these from Parts Express should fit INTO the binding posts on my RTi A3s? Do you have to push hard?

The Sewell plugs I bought looked like good ones and I liked how you connected the wires to them. Weren't real cheap ones, maybe $10 for 6 sets, can't remember.

I do like the sound from these speakers, tried them with Pink Floyd and Yanni so far ... but haven't tweaked them. They look so small ... less than 1/4 the size of my old 200 watt Yamahas but do put out. I'm still trying to decide what to do about replacing my receiver. To get something truly producing 100 watts per channel or more I'm going to have to buy used or maybe refurbished. Even after more research, it's still confusing. Looking at distortion indexes, people not even agreeing on class D3 amp vs. A/B, etc. And none of the manufactures post the same specs so can't usually compare apples to apples. Will post more later in another thread about the ones I'm considering, see what others think about them working with the rest of my system.

Thanks for your help. BTW, I like your definition of political correctness! I think we're on the same page politically!

F1nut wrote: »

Ok, I see what the problem is. The expandable section of the plug is too close to the tip, which is a piss poor design, IMO. The better designed plugs expand in the middle section. For what they cost you I'd just throw them away.

These will work, see how they expand in the middle?

http://www.parts-express.com/gold-plated-screw-type-banana-plugs-18-12-awg-16-pcs--091-352

JennyM

I might be a total idiot but when you unscrew the red and black caps, take out the little plastic plug, the only opening to insert anything is the hole in the metal binding post stem. The banana plug isn't supposed to plug into the plastic cap piece, is it?

tonyb wrote: »

Jenny,

Just to be clear, your trying to put the banana into the center of the post, not the hole in the stem when you unscrew the cap, correct ?

F1nut

OK, and these from Parts Express should fit INTO the binding posts on my RTi A3s? Do you have to push hard?

Not should, they will. No, you don't have to push really hard, just firmly.

Thanks for your help. BTW, I like your definition of political correctness! I think we're on the same page politically!

You're welcome and I'm sure we are.

F1nut

The banana plug isn't supposed to plug into the plastic cap piece, is it?

Ummmm....yeah.

Hermitism

Like this...

F1nut

Reading that again.....let me clarify. Screw the plastic binding post nuts down tight. At that point all you will see is a hole at the top. That's where the banana plug goes.

Edit: a picture is worth a thousand words, way to go Hermit.

Upstatemax

I not convinced that this is not just PFB with a new screen name...

Hermitism

There might be plastic caps covering the hole.

JennyM

THAT is exactly what I needed someone to tell me!!! And, Hermit, that picture helped too! I have never seen banana plugs before, actually didn't even know they were expanded. Just looked like there was no way they'd fit into the post on the RTi speakers. And, the manual saying to "pry the binding post out" was pretty misleading! There was nothing to "pry out" ... the little cap in the nut simply fell out.

I should have looked at my CSi3 first ... it was obvious that the only thing to pry out was the little cap top. Then, knowing (as I do now) to screw the nut down first, it was a breeze to push the banana plug in. I now have the center hooked up with banana plugs, on the receiver too. And, can go forward with the other speakers ... thanks to the help of all of you here!

(BTW, I've done a lot of technical writing in my past career ... think I maybe could get rich writing INSTRUCTIONS for stuff like this! If someone had done better, I wouldn't have had to bother you people.)

Wishing all a nice Thanksgiving!
Jenny

F1nut wrote: »

Reading that again.....let me clarify. Screw the plastic binding post nuts down tight. At that point all you will see is a hole at the top. That's where the banana plug goes.

Edit: a picture is worth a thousand words, way to go Hermit.

JennyM

I don't know who "PFB" is, but it's not me. I may have been slow to pick up on this banana plug issue because I've never even seen them before, and there was no worthwhile guidance anywhere but here as to how to connect them. But, I would put my IQ up against yours in a minute (and mine is validated by an employment psychologist). And I'm known to be able to tackle almost anything (except auto mechanics). I'm an artist, painter, web and graphic designer, photo editor; have done payroll, bookkeeping, business plans and financial projections, HR management, have built furniture, fences, etc. Tiled my 400 sq. foot family room (after pulling out the carpet, laying cement board), installed hanging light fixtures, designed house additions and remodels, boarding kennels. I'm a master at assembling furniture, something that makes most men crazy. I'm going to build the entertainment center that I've designed, using my table saw, table router, etc. I do these things myself, have more tools than the average man ... and use them. And, I've raised, shown and trained quality Labrador Retrievers for many years, and am a gourmet cook. And, writing 2 books at present.

So, am I a bit offended? Yep. I bet there's a lot of things that I can do that you can't. Now, I can add mastering banana plugs to my list.

Upstatemax wrote: »

I not convinced that this is not just PFB with a new screen name...

Hermitism

Don't feel bad, I spent last night trying to figure out why my Pioneer remote wouldn't work last night. Took me 30 minutes to realized that I had unknowingly bumped the zone switch that I never use.

The bananas are much more difficult to push in on my RTi towers than on my receiver. They push in with a small amount of force on my receiver, but it takes all my strength to push them in on my Polk's binding posts. I actually thought you just weren't pushing hard enough!

Don't sweat the PFB comment. He gets himself into Forest Gump type situations

JennyM

Thanks ... I just had to vent on him, then I'm fine. Life's too short to sweat the chiggers in the field, yes?

Hermitism wrote: »

Don't feel bad, I spent last night trying to figure out why my Pioneer remote wouldn't work last night. Took me 30 minutes to realized that I had unknowingly bumped the zone switch that I never use.

The bananas are much more difficult to push in on my RTi towers than on my receiver. They push in with a small amount of force on my receiver, but it takes all my strength to push them in on my Polk's binding posts. I actually thought you just weren't pushing hard enough!

Don't sweat the PFB comment. He gets himself into Forest Gump type situations

Hermitism

JennyM wrote: »

Life's too short to sweat the chiggers in the field,

Nice! I'm going to have to use that one.

JennyM

LOL. I was going to say "bumps in the road" but then I thought up this one since there's nothing more irritating than a chigger ... seemed to fit!

Hermitism wrote: »

Nice! I'm going to have to use that one.

Tornado Red

JennyM wrote: »

I don't know who "PFB" is, but it's not me. I may have been slow to pick up on this banana plug issue because I've never even seen them before, and there was no worthwhile guidance anywhere but here as to how to connect them. But, I would put my IQ up against yours in a minute (and mine is validated by an employment psychologist). And I'm known to be able to tackle almost anything (except auto mechanics). I'm an artist, painter, web and graphic designer, photo editor; have done payroll, bookkeeping, business plans and financial projections, HR management, have built furniture, fences, etc. Tiled my 400 sq. foot family room (after pulling out the carpet, laying cement board), installed hanging light fixtures, designed house additions and remodels, boarding kennels. I'm a master at assembling furniture, something that makes most men crazy. I'm going to build the entertainment center that I've designed, using my table saw, table router, etc. I do these things myself, have more tools than the average man ... and use them. And, I've raised, shown and trained quality Labrador Retrievers for many years, and am a gourmet cook. And, writing 2 books at present.

So, am I a bit offended? Yep. I bet there's a lot of things that I can do that you can't. Now, I can add mastering banana plugs to my list.

Hey, you're a pretty cool lady, welcome and glad you got helped out. You had me at "tried them with Pink Floyd and Yanni so far"...

Upstatemax

JennyM wrote: »

I don't know who "PFB" is, but it's not me. I may have been slow to pick up on this banana plug issue because I've never even seen them before, and there was no worthwhile guidance anywhere but here as to how to connect them. But, I would put my IQ up against yours in a minute (and mine is validated by an employment psychologist). And I'm known to be able to tackle almost anything (except auto mechanics). I'm an artist, painter, web and graphic designer, photo editor; have done payroll, bookkeeping, business plans and financial projections, HR management, have built furniture, fences, etc. Tiled my 400 sq. foot family room (after pulling out the carpet, laying cement board), installed hanging light fixtures, designed house additions and remodels, boarding kennels. I'm a master at assembling furniture, something that makes most men crazy. I'm going to build the entertainment center that I've designed, using my table saw, table router, etc. I do these things myself, have more tools than the average man ... and use them. And, I've raised, shown and trained quality Labrador Retrievers for many years, and am a gourmet cook. And, writing 2 books at present.

So, am I a bit offended? Yep. I bet there's a lot of things that I can do that you can't. Now, I can add mastering banana plugs to my list.

You take yourself way too seriously. If you must know, the comment was not really aimed at you, more of a running joke with PFB.

My comment relates to this thread:

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?122293-My-emotiva-amp-wont-fit-my-mit-bananas&highlight=broken+binding+post

The whole issue is a bit of a running joke on the forum. If you can't take a little joke, this might not be the forum for you...

BTW, I can handle auto mechanics. Does that make me better than you?

Hermitism

I liked my PFB/Forest Gump analogy. Forest would always get out of a bad situation smelling like a rose and had an unbelievable story to go with it.

PolkieMan

They put TPS tire pressure monitors on cars because people don't know that they need to put air in their tires.
They quit putting spare tires in cars because people don't know how to change a tire.
In Texas you get a ticket for not wearing a seat belt riding in the back seat but you can ride a motorcycle with out a helmet.
They banned Trans Fat but you can smoke yourselves to death.

Banana Plug Installation Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK5H5UDsxwo

JennyM

Wish I had seen that video clip before my struggle with the banana plugs!

PolkieMan wrote: »

They put TPS tire pressure monitors on cars because people don't know that they need to put air in their tires.
They quit putting spare tires in cars because people don't know how to change a tire.
In Texas you get a ticket for not wearing a seat belt riding in the back seat but you can ride a motorcycle with out a helmet.
They banned Trans Fat but you can smoke yourselves to death.

Banana Plug Installation Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK5H5UDsxwo

JennyM

Yep, at least when it comes to auto mechanics!!!

Upstatemax wrote: »

BTW, I can handle auto mechanics. Does that make me better than you?