Choices in Banana plugs

[crashkelly]

Hey all,

I am soon going to be building a bunch of speaker cables for my almost complete HT space. I have ordered some techflex, cable pants, and heat-shink from Parts Express so I can add some asthetic appeal to the cables.

Now, I have a bucket of these, the first pic, banana plugs (both red and black), but am wondering about something like the second pic.

I have tried the ones I have and using the rear entry option they fit very snuggly with no play and I cannot pull the wire out. I have also tried them in my AVR and wall plates and they fit snuggly there as well. Is it worth the money to upgrade to something like the second pic. I will be building 14 speaker wires (7 from AVR to wall plate and 7 from wall plates to speakers) so I will need 56 bananas (say 60 as it is always nice to have extra just in case) which would cost a good few pennies ($150 + shipping at the price I found).

Is it worth it?

Thanks
Michael

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Hey all,

I am soon going to be building a bunch of speaker cables for my almost complete HT space. I have ordered some techflex, cable pants, and heat-shink from Parts Express so I can add some asthetic appeal to the cables.

Now, I have a bucket of these, the first pic, banana plugs (both red and black), but am wondering about something like the second pic.

I have tried the ones I have and using the rear entry option they fit very snuggly with no play and I cannot pull the wire out. I have also tried them in my AVR and wall plates and they fit snuggly there as well. Is it worth the money to upgrade to something like the second pic. I will be building 14 speaker wires (7 from AVR to wall plate and 7 from wall plates to speakers) so I will need 56 bananas (say 60 as it is always nice to have extra just in case) which would cost a good few pennies ($150 + shipping at the price I found).

Is it worth it?

Thanks
Michael

I have the GLS 2's that are in your second picture. They look awesome and are very heavy duty but they suck. The locking barrel is very hard to turn and when you are dealing with tight areas such as an AVR, this is a bad thing!

They do look cool coming out of the speakers with the 10awg wire though

 

[Adam]

Michael, if the ones that you already have are giving you a tight connection, you're set. Stick with those and save some money.

 

[crashkelly]

Greg, Adam,

Thanks for saving me $150 + shipping. I would like the "cool" factor of the GLS II's but all I need to hear from Greg was that they are a pain to work with behind the AVR and from Adam that mine will be fine.

I saw this pic as I was browsing through some posts and thought I would really like cables like that and I have everything but the GLS II's

Thanks again
Michael

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Greg, Adam,

Thanks for saving me $150 + shipping. I would like the "cool" factor of the GLS II's but all I need to hear from Greg was that they are a pain to work with behind the AVR and from Adam that mine will be fine.

I saw this pic as I was browsing through some posts and thought I would really like cables like that and I have everything but the GLS II's

Thanks again
Michael

Those look awesome. Is that just a braided covering over the wires? Where can I get some and how much?

 

[jaxvon]

Those look awesome. Is that just a braided covering over the wires? Where can I get some and how much?

That's just standard black Techflex. Parts Express, Westlake Electronic, and other retailers sell it by the foot and box.

 

[majorloser]

That's just standard black Techflex. Parts Express, Westlake Electronic, and other retailers sell it by the foot and box.

Another good source:

https://www.wirecare.com/wc_product_company.asp

 

[AverageJoe]

Those look awesome.

Thank you.

 

[MDS]

I've been using bare wire for a long time but am attracted to the Monster Quick-Loc banana plugs. They look simple and easy to me because you just spread out the wire and then screw on the top. I will never ever buy solder or crimp type bananas again in my lifetime.

Being a Monster product they are a bit more expensive than the alternatives but they look good to me. Monster does make good products it's just that some of them are very overpriced. The bananas aren't too much more than other brands.

 

[Adam]

I've been using bare wire for a long time but am attracted to the Monster Quick-Loc banana plugs. They look simple and easy to me because you just spread out the wire and then screw on the top.

MDS, that sounds like exactly how my Radio Shack banana plugs work. You might also look into those and maybe save some money.

 

[davidtwotrees]

Not sure what banannas I have on these, but I sure liked the red techflex with matching yellow heat shrink.

 

[crashkelly]

Not sure what banannas I have on these, but I sure liked the red techflex with matching yellow heat shrink.

Nice Job davidtwotrees!!

I have my carbon techflex, black heatshrink, and black cable pants on their way from PartsExpress. Should be here today

Will post a couple of pics when I get them done.

Cheers
Michael