possible dumb question

sterling bug
sterling bug Posts: 228
edited April 2005 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
This may be a dumb question but does speaker wire get old or lose performance over time. I've had the same speaker wire in my home theater for quite some time now and this question just popped in my head. Thinkin about tryin out banana plugs to see if it makes a difference other than the ease of the connection. If I understand correctly from what I've read the plugs just go on the end of the speaker wire. Are there connections out there that already have the banana plugs on them?
Post edited by sterling bug on
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  • lomic
    lomic Posts: 407
    edited March 2005
    The internal wire shouldn't change over the years, but if you're using bare wires (no termination) the copper will oxidize as time goes by and likely effect sound quality. If you just want to add bananas, clip off the current ends of your wires, strip some new wire and use that for connecting to the bananas.
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,041
    edited March 2005
    it's only dumb if you don't ask
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited March 2005
    Originally posted by lomic
    The internal wire shouldn't change over the years, but if you're using bare wires (no termination) the copper will oxidize as time goes by ...
    True for any non-soldered termination, be it bare wire direct to the binder posts or to banana/ spade connector.

    Also, while you don't have to be concerned about gold plated connectors (gold oxidizes very slowly), old Polks did not use gold binding posts, so they need cleaning as well.
    More later,
    Tour...
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited April 2005
    l'll second that for not asking!
    Michael ;)
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited April 2005
    I just got some rat-shack lead free silver-bearing solder
    96% tin-4% silver..

    It`s all they had...

    Is this acceptable for terminating speaker cable ends ?
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  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Posts: 168
    edited April 2005
    measure it with an Ohm meter if you have one to see if there is any resistance, clean or trim the ends to make a fresh connection or if you really care spend 100 on some monster thx
    SuperDave
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