Bananas or Spades

Maurice
Maurice Posts: 517
edited February 2010 in Speakers
I'm going to upgrade my speaker cables next week with some Signal Shotgun Bi's. Just wondering which termination is best. I've been using bare wire so any advice will help.
Everytime I think I'm out, THEY PULL ME BACK IN!!!!!!

Polk 70's,40,30's
Velo DLS 3500 Sub
JVC 61" HD-ILA
Sony DA4ES AVR
Oppo 981 DVD
Sony CDP-CX235 CD
Signal Bi-wires
AR ProII IC's
Post edited by Maurice on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
«1

Comments

  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited March 2005
    Spades are probably the most versatile, bananas the most convenient. I personally like bananas on my amp end and spades on my speaker end.

    Why?
    There's very little space behind my rack, so banana's on the amp end are far easier to wrestle with. I like spades on the speakers in case I get a bi-wireable speaker, I can "spade" the bottom connection and then use banana jumpers. (I don't bi-wire).

    It's up to you.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,814
    edited March 2005
    I prefer banana's, although it may be a Freudian thing as there's just something satisfying about pushing them in the hole.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited March 2005
    I would never use anything other than bare wire. Good solid connection with no chance of noise.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited March 2005
    Bananas provide the ultimate in convenience, if you're switching speakers frequently. I like spades at the amp and bananas at the speakers, but some of my speaker cable is so heavy that I use spades all around to avoid stress on the bananas.

    Enjoy your new cables!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited March 2005
    Banana's are way more convenient, but spades have the most contact area... I'm with steveinaz- spades are a pain behind a rack, so I try to get cables with spades on the speaker end & banana's on the amp end.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,803
    edited March 2005
    I'll let anyone on this borrow my speakers...

    Yall be a Banana plug fan in about 2 seconds...

    Bottom mounted terminals suck...

    Nanners and XLR - 100%
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,887
    edited March 2005
    I'm all for bananas on both ends. The terminals on my receiver are too close to get spades in, at least not without a struggle. I tried spades on the speakers also, but they were a pain. The terminal nuts never seem to be tight enough and they seem to wiggle loose sometimes. Bananas have plenty of contact area, and if you get the locking type, there is no worry about them coming loose. You can find the generic locking bananas pretty cheap on Ebay, something like $40 for 20 connectors.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • stam4p5
    stam4p5 Posts: 22
    edited March 2005
    I recently put bananas on both ends of all my speakers. So much more convenient and looks a lot better. I will never go back to spades or bare wires.
    HT: Yamaha HTR-5660, Front-RTi38, Center-CSi40, Rear-RT15i, Rear Center-RT15i, Subs-2x Polk DX12 in custom enclosures, Sub Amp-Harman/Kardon Citation Sixteen
    PC: H/K AVR 65, some DIY bookshelves
    The truck: Pioneer premier head, MTX amps, XM radio, 2 pair 6.5" DX Components, 1 DB 12" sub (the old one)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited March 2005
    Ensure that your amp/receiver can accomodate the spades. My Yamaha AVR would not take spades, so when I order my Signal cables I had Frank terminate one end with spades and the other with bananas. Both work great. Although I think Jesse has a point.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited March 2005
    Banana who??

    knock ... knock...:D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,205
    edited March 2005
    who's there???

    Orange.

    Orange who?

    Orange you glad I didn't say banana....
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited March 2005
    anyone have a high-quality bananas DIY source? (and I meant one that doesn't require hot-shrink sleeve to finish, nor solder. Thanks in advance, guys!
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited March 2005
    radio shack usually has the twist lock monster bananas:

    http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=278-2755

    I used them for awhile & had no complaints... apart from the usual monster sucks disclaimer.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited March 2005
    I use spades for jumpers and bananas for everything else. Its convenient and looks pretty.
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,887
    edited March 2005
    Originally posted by polkatese
    anyone have a high-quality bananas DIY source? (and I meant one that doesn't require hot-shrink sleeve to finish, nor solder. Thanks in advance, guys!

    I think the hot-shrink is purely optional on most. Here is a source for high-quality bananas at wholesale prices:
    Link

    They have great prices on no-frills speaker cable too.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited March 2005
    Thanks, Guys!
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 2+2
    2+2 Posts: 546
    edited March 2005
    Polkatese, check out www.ac4l.com as well. I have bought IXOS products from tehm including 2 screw bannanas and have been pleased with them....
    System 1: Martin Logan Vantage, Rotel RC 1070, B&K Reference 200.2, Music Hall DAC 15.2, Yamaha 2300

    System 2: LSi15 w/db840, Marantz SR8400, Rotel 1080, RM6800 (C&S), Sony X2020ES

    System 3: LSi7, Yamaha SW215, Music Hall Maven, Music Hall MMF CD25 w/627opamps

    System 4: RTi100, Harman Kardon AVR 230, Panasonic DVD
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited March 2005
    roger that, thanks 2+2!
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited March 2005
    Originally posted by 2+2
    Polkatese, check out www.ac4l.com as well. I have bought IXOS products from tehm including 2 screw bannanas and have been pleased with them....

    The IXOS bananas are really really good. The two set screw connection is great. FWIW, these are the same bananas that Acoustic Zen uses for their jumpers (for biwireable speakers). Just not labeled IXOS. I have both and can post a pic if you want.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited March 2005
    http://www.ac4l.com/Amazing/itemdesc.asp?CartId=81-EVEREST-96765KCAIQ197&ic=IXOS%2D206&cc=&tpc=
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited March 2005
    thanks for the linky, Paul! I will check it out.
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited March 2005
    ok, so I settled for this:

    http://www.onecall.com/ModelSearch.htm?L_TK=777_1_0_263_0_0_0_0_0_0

    My first choice was actually IXOS banana, but always wondering about the BFA Banana (with the funky jagged edge) so thought that this is an opportunity. Build quality seems to be very solid, will get em this Friday, and let you know.

    Thanks for your help!

    EDIT: Sorry, the search linky doesn' work. Check next post...
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited March 2005
    here is the pics
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Toxis
    Toxis Posts: 5,116
    edited March 2005
    Originally posted by PolkThug
    I use spades for jumpers and bananas for everything else. Its convenient and looks pretty.
    +1
    Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.

    Home Setup: Sony VPL-VW85 Projo, 92" Stewart Firehawk, Pioneer Elite SC-65, PS3, RTi12 fronts, CSi5, FXi6 rears, RTi6 surround backs, RTi4 height, MFW-15 Subwoofer.

    Car Setup: OEM Radio, RF 360.2v2, Polk SR6500 quad amped off 4 Xtant 1.1 100w mono amps, Xtant 6.1 to run an eD 13av.2, all Stinger wiring and Raammat deadener.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited March 2005
    what if you have an old amp that can't use bananannnaa plugs or spades? and are not that keen on bare wire?
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited March 2005
    Partsexpress.com, a dremel and a soldering iron should fix that old amp up in no time.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,887
    edited March 2005
    Originally posted by danger boy
    what if you have an old amp that can't use bananannnaa plugs or spades? and are not that keen on bare wire?

    What do you have? Spring clips? If so, use pins. They will work fine.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • humble_jo
    humble_jo Posts: 1
    edited February 2010
    I don't know whether you knew this, but bananas are not allowed in Europe.
    Our regulations are quite strict on that matter... loosens to easily and is a potential source of house fires.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited February 2010
    humble_jo wrote: »
    I don't know whether you knew this, but bananas are not allowed in Europe.
    Our regulations are quite strict on that matter... loosens to easily and is a potential source of house fires.


    Good to know, but the OP was from SoCal, not Europe. Welcome to Club Polk.

    -Jeff
    HT Rig
    Receiver- Onkyo TX-SR806
    Mains- Polk Audio Monitor 70
    Center- Polk Audio CS2
    Surrounds- Polk Audio TSi 500's :D
    Sub- Polk Audio PSW125
    Retired- Polk Audio Monitor 40's
    T.V.- 60" Sony SXRD KDS-60A2000 LCoS
    Blu-Ray- 80 GB PS3


    2 CH rig (in progress)
    Polk Audio Monitor 10A's :cool:

    It's not that I'm insensitive, I just don't care.. :D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,205
    edited February 2010
    I like both connections. Spades are very nice and have maxium surface contact but bananas work just as good I think. Spades on a visual factor scores way more points. Especially Kimber Kable postmaster spades.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter