Gonna go with Signal Cable. Spades or Banana plugs?

sabotg
sabotg Posts: 126
edited March 2008 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I've wanted to upgrade my speaker wire for some time now and have decided on signal cable. I'm going to start with my front sound stage (L/R Fronts and Center) and do my surrounds later. I was looking at purchasing the Bi-wire setup and was wondering if I should go with banana plugs or spades? I'll be connecting them to a Cinenova Grande amp and running them to RTI-10's and a CSI-5. I'm wondering if there are any issues with using spades as opposed to banana clips on either the amp or speakers. Also does anyone know what the signal cable discount is for club polk members?
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2008
    I think banana's are more convenient, both are fine.
    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
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  • MikeC78
    MikeC78 Posts: 2,315
    edited January 2008
    5% Polk discount. I personally like bananas for the ease of removal.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited January 2008
    Bananas.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Bill Ayotte
    Bill Ayotte Posts: 1,860
    edited January 2008
    I think it is 5%, but don't quote me on it. It really depends on your equipment, I had a set of ultras with nanners and they worked great with my Tannoys, but they kept falling out of my B&Ws.....After talking to Frank about it, he told me that Spades are what he uses for speaker connections, because generally speaking, they are more of a set it and forget it connection. Shoot him an e-mail and ask for his opinion, I'm fairly sure he has some experience with Polks..;)
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  • Grimster74
    Grimster74 Posts: 2,576
    edited January 2008
    All of my Signal Cable speakers cables have Bananas (BFA style) at the amp end, spades at the speaker end.
    Money Talks, Mine says Goodbye Rob!!!!
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited January 2008
    I am using spades for speaker cables for some time now; I feel spades provide a better connection, but it's just me being anal. Bananas are ok and obviously more convenient.
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  • Kapacitor
    Kapacitor Posts: 19
    edited January 2008
    I TRY and hard wire when I can.
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited January 2008
    Bananas...:cool:
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  • AdamRagland
    AdamRagland Posts: 521
    edited January 2008
    +1 for the nanners. especially with the quality of them when signal cable terminates. nice tight connection IMO
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  • Mike Kozak
    Mike Kozak Posts: 931
    edited January 2008
    I bought some Dual MonsterTips today and I am very happy with them
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  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited January 2008
    I managed to score some nice solder banana plugs when I worked at an electronics shop. On my own speakers and the ones I built for my sister, I used them and was very happy with the cables. Just make sure the compression part of the nanner is not flimsy.

    They were the Switchcraft brand. Used heatshrink for color coding.
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,055
    edited January 2008
    I bought and used Nanners, the Monster ones as they work well and look nice..yeah yeah they are behind the speaker or receiver. But I know they are there.
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  • Bill Ayotte
    Bill Ayotte Posts: 1,860
    edited January 2008
    Frank uses Audioquest BFAs, and while they are a quality termination, they are not for everything. Like I said above, e-mail him and ask for an honest opinion. There is no cost difference here, but Frank is an honest guy and will not try to up-sell you in any way...He is all about you being happy with the product at the end of the day, so give him a holler and ask.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited January 2008
    Signal Cable doesn't use Audioquest terminations.

    BFA is a trademark form of termination and Analysis Plus is the general manufacturer. If you see that style of termination, they make it.....not Audioquest.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • sabotg
    sabotg Posts: 126
    edited January 2008
    Bill Ayotte wrote: »
    Frank uses Audioquest BFAs, and while they are a quality termination, they are not for everything. Like I said above, e-mail him and ask for an honest opinion. There is no cost difference here, but Frank is an honest guy and will not try to up-sell you in any way...He is all about you being happy with the product at the end of the day, so give him a holler and ask.


    Thanks Bill. I'll send him an e-mail and see what he recommends.
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  • Bill Ayotte
    Bill Ayotte Posts: 1,860
    edited January 2008
    dorokusai wrote: »
    Signal Cable doesn't use Audioquest terminations.

    BFA is a trademark form of termination and Analysis Plus is the general manufacturer. If you see that style of termination, they make it.....not Audioquest.

    Oops, just saw that on the site...I was on the Audioquest site when I posted....
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited January 2008
    Just clarifying :)
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • sabotg
    sabotg Posts: 126
    edited February 2008
    I called Frank and got the cables ordered. Nice Guy, he figured out my total and applied the Polk Audio Discount. The cables shipped on the 15th so they should be here next week. Thanks for all your input. I would definetely do business with Frank again.
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  • sabotg
    sabotg Posts: 126
    edited March 2008
    So I got the cables a few weeks ago. I ordered Bi-wire and went with spade connectors. I'm still breaking the new wiring in but I'm totally impressed at the build quality. Sweet,Sweet,Sweet! I can't tell if Bi-wiring made a difference yet because when I rehooked up the L/F fronts I moved them closer to the TV. It sounds great, more seamless with the center channel but I can't tell if that's the wiring or the re-position. Oh and I went from 16 gauge to 10 gauge so I'm sure that would make a difference too. All in all I would recommend Signal Cable. Solid product. Super pretty to look at :o Excellent buying experience and cables arrived when promised :D Kudos to Frank! Thanks Frank!
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited March 2008
    Sweet!
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited March 2008
    Frank's a great guy and his products are an outstanding value. I've got 1 MagicPower cord, 2 MagicPower Digital cords, 1 MagicStrip Power Extension, and two sets of Analog Two interconnects. I already had speaker cables, but I'm hoping to audition a pair of the Signal Ultra speaker cables soon. If they make a difference, I'll definitely be buying a pair!!!
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • dragon1952
    dragon1952 Posts: 4,907
    edited March 2008
    sabotg wrote: »
    So I got the cables a few weeks ago. I ordered Bi-wire and went with spade connectors.

    So much for asking for advice...I think it was around 9-2 for nanners. :rolleyes:
    Just teasin' ya a bit. :D Congrats on the new wires ;)
    2 channel - Willsenton R8 tube integrated, Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC, audio optimized NUC7i5, Windows 10 Pro/JRiver MC29/Fidelizer Plus 8.7 w/LPS and external SSD drive, PS Audio PerfectWave P3 regenerator, KEF R3 speakers, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Audioquest Diamond USB cable, Gabriel Gold IC's, Morrow Audio SP5 speaker cables. Computer - Windows 10/JRiver, Schiit Magni 3+/Modi 3+, Fostex PMO.4n monitors, Sennheiser HD600 headphones
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  • sabotg
    sabotg Posts: 126
    edited March 2008
    dragon1952 wrote: »
    So much for asking for advice...I think it was around 9-2 for nanners. :rolleyes:
    Just teasin' ya a bit. :D Congrats on the new wires ;)

    I know, I know :D I really do take all my fellow polkies advice into account when ordering. It's just this time Frank recommended spades for my particular gear and since he's the president he knows best!
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