I don't use anything but bare wire, I have used plugs in the past, I've come to like the fact that without plugs thats one less connection in the chain to and from my speakers I gotta worry about breaking. About the only thing I do is every now and than is check to make sure they are tight at my AVR and speakers. I do miss the plugs though when I do mess with moving gear around at my age getting up from the floor is a bit of a hassle I'm no where's near as flexible as I use to be.