Banana Plug Problem

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BrentMcGhee
BrentMcGhee Posts: 548
edited July 2005 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I just bought some banana plugs to put on the speaker wires for my 2 channel setup becasue i am constantly testing out different speakers i got tired of having to restrip the wire after a few times of plugging and replugging them into other speakers. The ends got in pretty bad shape pretty quick. So i figured banana plugs would make my life a lot easier considering i have not seen speakers in a long time that don't have the binding posts on them.

Well anyway my problem is that the banana plugs i got do not seem to have a firm connection. They are not as tight as i would want them to be. They still work but there is a lot of jiggle room on them when they are fully inserted. Short of having to buy all new banana plugs is there a way i can make them have a more firm connection?
Post edited by BrentMcGhee on
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited July 2005
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    What guage wire are you using??
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited July 2005
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    Can you use a screwdriver (or butter knife) and bend the bowed part of the banana plug post a little bit? Some designs will allow for this, others will not.

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • BrentMcGhee
    BrentMcGhee Posts: 548
    edited July 2005
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    Originally posted by Mike682
    What guage wire are you using??

    14g
    Originally posted by McLoki
    Can you use a screwdriver (or butter knife) and bend the bowed part of the banana plug post a little bit? Some designs will allow for this, others will not.

    Michael

    I dont think i would be able to do that without damaging it but i will try that when i get home....
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited July 2005
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    I think I mis-read the post...

    Are you gettting wiggle room with the plug itself while inserted into the speaker connection??

    If so, McLoki made a good point to make the plug a little wider so it fits into the bore of the speak connection more firmly.

    I originally thought the speaker wire may have been too thin and you were getting a wiggle from the wire itself, but 14 guage is plenty thick enough for bananas
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
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  • BrentMcGhee
    BrentMcGhee Posts: 548
    edited July 2005
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    yeah mike.... the wiggle is coming from the banana plug not having a secure connection when inserted in the post.

    haha... now i understand your question about the gauge of the wire a little better now :)
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited July 2005
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    Got it...


    Ok check this out:

    http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Monster-Cable-QuickLock-Gold-Banana-Connectors-QLGMTH-/sem/rpsm/oid/40428/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

    Does you connector look like this?

    If yes then you can easily make the plug a little wider to fit better.
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
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  • BrentMcGhee
    BrentMcGhee Posts: 548
    edited July 2005
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    No, here is what they look like......
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  • BrentMcGhee
    BrentMcGhee Posts: 548
    edited July 2005
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    .
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited July 2005
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    Hate to say it but the Monster Quik Lok bananas make for a very tight fit, and they are reuseable.
    Never Forget
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited July 2005
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    Yeah, I've used the monster ones, too and they work pretty well. My favorites are still the cobalt exapanding ones.

    Anyhow, are the plugs loose on both amp & speaker ends? If so, dump 'em- they suck & they're too small. If the posts on the speaker ends are the ones that are too big, maybe it's time to think about upgrading your posts...

    also, on some bananas, you can tap the center pin futher into the barrel to push the contacts out for a tighter fit- is that possible w/ yours?
    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
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  • BrentMcGhee
    BrentMcGhee Posts: 548
    edited July 2005
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    Yeah, they are loose on both ends (receiver and speaker), and no i can not tap the center pin in anymore....

    I think i am just going to dump em'. I got them in first place becasue i got a pretty killer employee discount on em..... o well, at least i am not out a lot of money..

    I think i will buy a few of the cobalt ones and see if i like them any better.
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited July 2005
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    Here's the munsters in action:

    http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17892&highlight=thugjumpers
    Never Forget
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited July 2005
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    Nice jumpers...
    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
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  • BrentMcGhee
    BrentMcGhee Posts: 548
    edited July 2005
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    Wow.... those look really nice!!! I am just now in the progress in playing with alot of different thing to dress up my plain looking speaker wire... Did you get all of the supplies for those cables (minus the monster ends) from radio shack?
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited July 2005
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    Yep, errr I mean, they're from my esoteric high-end audiophile grade supplier. :D
    Never Forget
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  • BrentMcGhee
    BrentMcGhee Posts: 548
    edited July 2005
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    well i guess as soon as i get off work then i will be taking a trip over to the local rat shack (i mean audiophiles-r-us :))
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  • landry_p2000
    landry_p2000 Posts: 1,313
    edited July 2005
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    I have these and they work very well on my Polks.
    Also they are cheaper.
    Main Set-up: 55" 120 hz Samsung LN55B650, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-5, Emotiva XPA-2, PS3 Slim, Sony BDP-S560, Apple TV (160g), Panamax M5300-PM, Polk Audio CSi5, RTi10's, FXi3's, RTi4's, and SVS PB12 Plus

    Bedroom: Panasonic 50" S2 Plasma and Panasonic BD65 blu-ray player, Onkyo TX-SR707, Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-2, KEF IQ7's, IQc, IQ8Ds, and SVS PB10-ISD
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