Banana plug

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slipperybidness

slipperybidness

Audioholic Warlord
Patrick Kennedy said:
Is there a quality regarding banana plug, and are they universal adpted for mostly all AVR?

I was thinking to buy these. But no idea if they are good.

https://www.amazon.ca/Banana-FosPower-Plated-Speaker-Connectors/dp/B06Y8YL2DM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=banana+plug&qid=1563904728&s=gateway&sprefix=bana&sr=8-3
Click to expand...
The banana plug design and the terminal shape is more or less universal, as is the receiving terminal. However, there is such a wide variability in tolerances, that there is no way to guarantee a perfect fit, except trial and error.

Those that you linked are a copy of the Sewell Silverbacks and they are good. Around here, these seem to be the most preferred design due to the double set screws. Personally, I like them but I'm not a big fan of the bulky (IMO) outer jacket. When I use this style, I discard that outer jacket and use heat shrink instead for a nice clean sleek and slim terminal.

I personally prefer these (but I will say those you linked are my 2nd pick).
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006U3O566/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

just FYI, here is the Sewell model of those you linked
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005E1CGZC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
Verdinut

Verdinut

Audioholic Spartan
Patrick Kennedy said:
Is there a quality regarding banana plug, and are they universal adpted for mostly all AVR?

I was thinking to buy these. But no idea if they are good.

https://www.amazon.ca/Banana-FosPower-Plated-Speaker-Connectors/dp/B06Y8YL2DM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=banana+plug&qid=1563904728&s=gateway&sprefix=bana&sr=8-3
Click to expand...
Welcome Patrick,

I would rather recommend the Sewell brand for a few dollars more:

https://www.amazon.ca/Sewell-Maestro-Banana-Plugs-Connectors/dp/B004CM4A58/ref=sr_1_4?crid=20LHOF1VUHHAA&keywords=sewell+banana+plugs&qid=1563907192&s=gateway&sprefix=sewell+banana+plug,aps,185&sr=8-4

Those are not as bulky as some suggested.
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
They can make plugging into the back of an avr easier with the crowded real estate on many units. I use the Sewell Silverbacks generally, good value and not sure about the bulky part either; they appear to be the same as the Fospower ones essentially (and are available with Nakamichi branding too). Only so many products for brands to be slapped on....
 
slipperybidness

slipperybidness

Audioholic Warlord
lovinthehd said:
They can make plugging into the back of an avr easier with the crowded real estate on many units. I use the Sewell Silverbacks generally, good value and not sure about the bulky part either; they appear to be the same as the Fospower ones essentially (and are available with Nakamichi branding too). Only so many products for brands to be slapped on....
Click to expand...
How about "wider diameter and a bit longer than I like". I'm specifically referring to the outer-jacket that screws on, after you tighten the set screws.

Now, take that off and finish it up with some heat shrink, and you have a really nice looking termination that can get into pretty much any place a wire can go. To me, it's a no-brainer! And, like I say, even with my nitpicking, they are still my 2nd favorite.

I like the others better because the outer jacket is a bit smaller, but I really like the tool-free design most of all.

EDIT: I have a set of speaker cable extenders that I made. One end is a 5-way binding post, and the other end is the silverbacks with the heat shrink like I described. A really handy item to have indeed!
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
slipperybidness said:
How about "wider diameter and a bit longer than I like". I'm specifically referring to the outer-jacket that screws on, after you tighten the set screws.

Now, take that off and finish it up with some heat shrink, and you have a really nice looking termination that can get into pretty much any place a wire can go. To me, it's a no-brainer! And, like I say, even with my nitpicking, they are still my 2nd favorite.

I like the others better because the outer jacket is a bit smaller, but I really like the tool-free design most of all.

EDIT: I have a set of speaker cable extenders that I made. One end is a 5-way binding post, and the other end is the silverbacks with the heat shrink like I described. A really handy item to have indeed!
Click to expand...
LOL sure, that works. I know you meant the outer jacket, just has never been a particular issue and I probably have nearly 100 in use with various gear. Doesn't mean I might not try your method but I keep forgetting to dig out the heat gun/shrink tubing and I just screw the outer jacket on and be done with it. Most important is having a good little screwdriver for the set screws in the first place.

Not sure how handy an extender would be, can't think of when I've needed that solution....
 
ryanosaur

ryanosaur

Audioholic Overlord
I always have to plug for Monoprice Affinity series banana plugs, both straight and 90º are available. The DIY kind, not the premade cables. Mine have worked quite well. :)
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
ryanosaur said:
I always have to plug for Monoprice Affinity series banana plugs, both straight and 90º are available. The DIY kind, not the premade cables. Mine have worked quite well. :)
Click to expand...
Outside of the outer barrel those look like the same, too.
 
ryanosaur

ryanosaur

Audioholic Overlord
I don't have any problems with them on the back of my Marantz. I recall one guy was concerned with his plugs/cables bending the binding posts and touching, whichever brand he was using. I played around with mine at the time and felt it required enough force to even get them close enough to touch that it wasn't really an issue: I keep my cables slack enough behind the AVR to prevent them pulling (of course no matter how much slack you leave, when it comes to pulling the AVR out, you ALWAYS wish you had left yourself another 6" :p).
*shrugs
Always, here, its a matter of preference.
The Monoprice option is very affordable.
The straight ones look nicer than the 90º ones with their tight rubber jacket, but behind my speakers, those 90º plugs are fantastic! I wanted to try the 90º plugs behind the AVR, but the straight ones there are better IMO, at least if there is a shelf involved, which there is in my case... maybe for a rack mount the 90º plugs would be fine.
 
ryanosaur

ryanosaur

Audioholic Overlord
Here's the question:
Does it conduct electricity? :D

As an aside, there is a review out there where they tested a bunch of BPs and the Monoprice Affinity series tested as the best in conductivity! ;)

But yes, just about anything should work.
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
Well, the brand isn't so important as the feature set. Many use just a manual crimp for securing the speaker wire, rather than set screws. Personally I much prefer set screws (and two vs just one). There are also different types of insertion posts, some even lock if that's a concern.
Patrick Kennedy said:
So basicaly any banana brand would do nicely
Click to expand...
In terms of real estate on back of avr being easier with bananas is more, for me, about not using bare wire and tightening the terminals with my old fingers in a cramped space (I used to use a ratchet type wrench at one point before just switching to bananas to make it easier when I was moving/making changes). Agree with plenty of slack on wires, learned that a long time ago for moving/cleaning. I love the 90 degree Neutrik Speakons on my diy stuff, never bought any bananas that did that.


ryanosaur said:
I don't have any problems with them on the back of my Marantz. I recall one guy was concerned with his plugs/cables bending the binding posts and touching, whichever brand he was using. I played around with mine at the time and felt it required enough force to even get them close enough to touch that it wasn't really an issue: I keep my cables slack enough behind the AVR to prevent them pulling (of course no matter how much slack you leave, when it comes to pulling the AVR out, you ALWAYS wish you had left yourself another 6" :p).
*shrugs
Always, here, its a matter of preference.
The Monoprice option is very affordable.
The straight ones look nicer than the 90º ones with their tight rubber jacket, but behind my speakers, those 90º plugs are fantastic! I wanted to try the 90º plugs behind the AVR, but the straight ones there are better IMO, at least if there is a shelf involved, which there is in my case... maybe for a rack mount the 90º plugs would be fine.
Click to expand...
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
ryanosaur said:
Here's the question:
Does it conduct electricity? :D

As an aside, there is a review out there where they tested a bunch of BPs and the Monoprice Affinity series tested as the best in conductivity! ;)

But yes, just about anything should work.
Click to expand...
Was there much difference? Got a link?
 
R

rnatalli

Audioholic Ninja
I’ve generally gone with Monoprice myself.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Swerd

Swerd

Audioholic Warlord
From my point of view there are two different things to choose with about banana plugs, the shaft itself, and the method of wire connection which results in different shaped handles.

First, is the shaft, the where the electrical contact is made with the jack. There are 4 styles of shafts, the first 3 are shown below (ignore the dimensions as they are lengths). On the left is a locking shaft where it expands as a small set screw is turned. To the right is the standard banana shaft. And the two on the right are a modified banana shaft. The standard banana plugs were just a bit too large to fit well in the banana jacks on my electronic gear. They gradually worked loose. The modified bananas stay put. Which ones work for you depend on the size of the banana jacks on your AVR, amp or speakers.
1563922476817.png


There is a 4th type of shaft, called BFA
1563923373893.png


Banana plugs come in three common outer diameters. Manufactures have different tolerances, but the table below shows typical dimensions for the three sizes.
1563922334545.png


Next comes the manner in which the wire gets attached to the banana plug and the size & shape of the handle. There is a wide variety of these, and it comes down to individual preference. I personally like the Sewel Dead Bolt type.
1563923876898.png
 
Last edited:
ryanosaur

ryanosaur

Audioholic Overlord
what's your AVR? unless you are buying an outlier... extreme to either end of the spectrum, you likely have little to worry about.
 
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