Which banana plug type is best?

[STL]

I was going to get these:

But then I noticed these:

I'm thinking the latter one might actually provide more contact area. Has anyone here tried a hollow version like these?

[Paladin]

Nordost uses the latter type on their cables...at least they did at one time. I found them to fit alot tighter into the binding post than the traditional bananna. Although I bought some generic monster bananna terminators (of the former type) recently that were super tight... Those latter type are probably tighter fitting in general...especially when they're new.

I haven't used the latter type on different cables to attest to any benefit gained by more surface area being in contact with the binding post.

[colterphoto1]

NO NO NO to the GLS you have shown there. I bought some from a Forum member, They're nice and heavy duty, with good strain reliev, but the barrel IS NOT shielded. They are rather long, so if you use them in back of receiver, say, and there is any stress on wires, they might touch and short out.

They would be good if you have wider than normal banana jack spacing. If you want some of these, I've got like 20 each black and red that I'll sell ya.

I'd just get the regular plastic dual bananas. Remember that the side with the Tab, used to be labeled GND and as such, was the Negative terminal. They are no longer labeled, but convention would dictate keeping the tab side as negative for consistency.

Michael

[STL]

Thanks for the info guys. I suspect the latter type also doesn't

have an isolated barrel/sleeve. For them, I could just leave off

the outer sleeve and instead use color-coded heat shrink.

[Daddy Dee]

The GLS are clunky. I have some and don't use them.

If you want the "best" connection.... bare wire tightened down in a binding post is best. Banana plugs are mostly adequate in making connections, but are really for convenience.

[Kriton]

Ok, as I like bana plugs myself, I have an alternative for you.

Try some of these:

http://www.cobaltcable.com/loose_locking_banana_plugs.htm

They aren't too clunky and lock in - I have had too many folks walk

through my speaker cable runs, hook the cable, pull them out and then

short my amp, I wanted some that locked down, and found

these...I like them.

Just a thought.

K

[STL]

If you want the "best" connection.... bare wire

tightened down in a binding post is best. Banana plugs are mostly

adequate in making connections, but are really for convenience.

I

am aware of that, but with my current setup I have VERY limited access

to the back of my amp so in this case I do need them.

[STL]

Ok, as I like bana plugs myself, I have an alternative for you.

Try some of these:

http://www.cobaltcable.com/loose_locking_banana_plugs.htm

Yea, I considered something similar in these:

But with my limited access (that I spoke of above) they'd be almost as bad a bare wire -- which would be a better connection.

[consistent]

Go for the Atlona 'z' cut version. I have been using this type of plug for years, they are a good tight fit and usually all copper. Get rid of the outer casing and go with a teflon wrap.

Cheers

[tigerwoodKhorns]

That's a shame about the GLS. I use GLS for RCA ends and am very happy. Really high quality product for a few bucks each. I have bought a lot of these (the RCA's).

Chris

[ranjith]

I second the Atlonas, I found'em for cheap on Ebay and they work fine.

[WMcD]

They sure look pretty.

I still have some engineering based problems with the whole notion.

Our whole power distribution system moves kilowatts, and megawatts, of bass, i.e. 60 cycle a.c. around with ordinary copper wire and ordinary screw down connections.

Yet, now, on speakers, we somehow need pretty connectors and super wire to get a signal across the living room..

In a similar vein, the cable TV people move treble signals up to the gigaHertz range with off the shelf connectors and send it for miles. Pretty much the same story.

Super connectors, and super wire, are, to me nonesense.

Gil

[boom3]

They sure look pretty.

I still have some engineering based problems with the whole notion.

Our whole power distribution system moves kilowatts, and megawatts, of bass, i.e. 60 cycle a.c. around with ordinary copper wire and ordinary screw down connections.

Yet, now, on speakers, we somehow need pretty connectors and super wire to get a signal across the living room..

In a similar vein, the cable TV people move treble signals up to the gigaHertz range with off the shelf connectors and send it for miles. Pretty much the same story.

Super connectors, and super wire, are, to me nonesense.

Gil

I'm with Gil. I use Radio Shack (gasp! oh the horror!) gold locking bannana plugs on my speaker cables which are 14 gage low voltage outdoor lighting wire.

[djk]

I don't like the sound of banana plugs, especially at the speaker end.

Plain wire sounds better.

If you must use banana plugs, locking types must be used on the speaker end.

[Kriton]

Banana plugs now have a sound, and somehow sound different on one end as opposed to the other?

Damn, I just bought mine (which I got massively used and very cheap)

because they were locking and had a clean appearance, as the backs of

my speakers are slightly exposed due to the lousy room I have my

theater in...seems to me this whole thread has taken a turn for the

strange?

And as far as Radio Shack, hey baby, I live in that place - and I would

prefer their gold connects to anything else, mainly because I can get

them NOW, and not have to wait through the internet quagmire and

shipping delays-but don't kid yourself, they aren't exactly cheap...but as Trey says, "electrons don't know no difference..."

Now how 'bout them little stands folks use to suspend their speaker

wires off the ground? Now there is a piece of equipment that I

want to GET...

http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=15470&section=equipment

K

[Duke Spinner]

Now how 'bout them little stands folks use to suspend their speaker

wires off the ground? Now there is a piece of equipment that I

want to GET...

OMG ...

capacitive coupling to .....Carpet .....!!

[capo72]

I'm waiting for my new Parts Express banana plugs to "burn in" so that I can enjoy the wide, mellow sound that you only get from banana plugs. []

Jeremy

[Duke Spinner]

hmmmmnnnnn.....

bannana plugs ...

they sound kinda "yellow" .....[]

[STL]

Super connectors, and super

wire, are, to me nonesense.

Where did I make any claims about

these being "super" or "special" connectors? [:^)] I'm only

looking for a banana plug that makes a good connection.

If you would have read the entire post, you might understand my need

for these. And for the record, these are only about $1.50 each on

eBay which is probably as cheap as what you're buying at RS.

[J.4knee]

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=091-334 <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=091-1260