Monsters at half price

[j_garcia]

OK, forget the SQ portion. It sounded like you were saying there was a difference, that's what happens on the internet; things get misunderstood.

As for connector type, I meant I have had them come loose from the binding posts more than once, not from the wire itself. With properly terminated wires, I've never had a connector "fall off" either. Just providing my opinion that I choose not to use spades and don't personally recommend them to others.

I do like the way the WBTs connect to the wire, but could never see paying a lot just for that feature. Yes, they are a quality product.

 

[Irvrobinson]

As for connector type, I meant I have had them come loose from the binding posts more than once, not from the wire itself.

Understood, and that's the way I interpreted your original recommendation. I've just never heard of spades being considered insecure, and bananas were always the "convenience" connector that allowed quick changes.

Actually, my favorite speaker connector is a SpeakOn.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Actually, my favorite speaker connector is a SpeakOn.

First time I saw the Speakon for the Orion, I thought "what the heck do I do with these?"

They are very cool & sturdy.

 

[DS-21]

Monster sells them at a monster price, but the identical connector is available at Home Depot for $5/pair.

While they're not quite identical - the monster ones have ridged spades, which IMO just means less contact area, and a serrated compression fitting, while the GE's spades are smooth, and I think the compression fitting is smooth as well - they're functionally identical. Nice find!

(Disclosure: I have two packs of the monster ones, or 8 connectors. In my defense, they were $5 each from a closing Rat Shack...)

Actually, my favorite speaker connector is a SpeakOn.

Ditto. I'm puzzled as to why consumer audio hasn't moved to this obviously superior connector. No more hassles about polarity, positive locking, quick disconnect, etc. Just so much better than the kludges used in consumer audio.

 

[djreef]

I've used them in car stereo for years, but that's a different situation. For speakers, I had them come loose a few times in less than 40 years and that was enough for me not to use them again. I have a few pairs left laying around right now because my current speakers have odd binding posts, but I still don't use them. Really doesn't matter which type of connector one uses, they all do the same thing.

That's what arc welders are for.

 

[DS-21]

Irv, thanks for pointing these out.

With a new amp that has binding posts a little too short for the bananas I was using*, and the abysmal quality of those bananas* generally, I ended up buying 2 packs of these spades to fill out a 5-channel system.

They do in fact have a sawtooth end on the compression fitting. (As do the half-again-as-expensive GLS ones.)

It's a clever solution that seems to offer a great connection and does not require any tools. The only wire-capture system I like better is the lever-tightened-by-a-screw design used on Neutrik Speakons.

Overall, they seem at least equal to the quality of the Monster ones. If anything maybe a bit better, because they have more surface area (no grooves cut into the spades) to provide electrical contact. Like all such compression fittings, they won't work with solid core speaker wire. Hopefully nobody's using that, because it's generally a bit fat pain. (Though often easier to run through walls. And with solid core wire especially, I see no need for anything but perhaps tinning the end and running it through the crossdrilled hole on the binding post.)



*"Nakamichi" with "BFA" sawtooth ends. Every single one I removed from the back of the Anthem MRX 300 had a kink in it corresponding to the end of the binding post. Needless to say, I will not be buying more of those. Pity, because I like the double set-screw wire holder.