Spades vs Bananas

[audio]

I've read recently that banana plugs don't make as good contact as spades. Is this true? If so, could one argue that you will get better sound with spades than banana plugs?

[Sckott]

Depends. You can get wide Bananna plugs with a spring action in the center that will fit as good as Spades...

The thing about spades, you can really make a tight fit. Bananna plugs and sockets, pretty close...

But I put Bananna plugs, etc... on my two Dynaco amps. It's just so much easier to get in and out. If I wanna take the amp down, put it back, Banannas make it QUICK!

[Gary]

Is that because bananas are slippery so they can be switched really... uhhh... nevermind. ;)

Bare Wire! Let nothing come between the speaker cable and the amp! I know there are logistical problems but give it a shot, see if you can get it to work!

Sorry - that was NOT one of the choices.... :o

[SamS]

I'm a spade man myself. Logic would hold that a good spade will provide more contact surface than a banana. Always a good thing, right?

[aashton]

I like to use spades for the low frequencies and bananas for the highs - or is it the other way round ;) :laugh:

All the best - Andrew

[audio]

So are we saying that better contact with spades results in better sound overall? Basically, I'm trying to choose between spades and bananas. Of course I prefer bananas because they are convenient, but.........

[John Moschella]

It terms of making a good contact suitable for high currents spades are the best option compared to bananas or bare wire. The reason is spades will have more contact surface area to spread out the current, this means lower current density for the contact. If you look at the actual area being contacted with a banana plug it isn't very much.

Does this impact the sound? I have no idea because I've never done the test myself. Like everything else in audio its all going to depend on your system. If your speakers require high currents to drive them and your amp can supply that current, then I would say that you are more likely to hear a difference.

[mcow1]

Originally posted by Gary
Bare Wire! Let nothing come between the speaker cable and the amp! I know there are logistical problems but give it a shot, see if you can get it to work!

Sorry - that was NOT one of the choices.... :o
:thumbsup: I prefer bare wires myself. It's not as quick and easy to setup bit IMO it sounds better.

[MMM]

But won't the bare wire oxidize and then you'll have to occasionally snip a piece of it off so you have "good" wire making contact?

[mcow1]

Originally posted by MMM
But won't the bare wire oxidize and then you'll have to occasionally snip a piece of it off so you have "good" wire making contact?
Yes, it's a pain sometimes.

[John B]

Originally posted by aashton
I like to use spades for the low frequencies and bananas for the highs - or is it the other way round ;) :laugh:

All the best - Andrew

Have you told anyone in the outside world about this? :eek:

[aashton]

Originally posted by John B


Have you told anyone in the outside world about this? :eek:

Only Elmur my invisible friend, one or two of the friendlier looking plants and shrubs in the garden and that team of analysts that hand around asking me questions all the time :)

All the best - Pope Napoleon III

[John B]

Originally posted by aashton
I like to use spades for the low frequencies and bananas for the highs - or is it the other way round ;) :laugh:

All the best - Andrew

I do have to ask. What is the reason for the different plugs? :confused:

I'm afraid of the answer. ;)

[aashton]

Originally posted by John B


I do have to ask. What is the reason for the different plugs? :confused:

I'm afraid of the answer. ;)

Don't be afraid John, be VERY afraid :D

Well m'lud the story goes along these lines :-

From time to time I run bi-wired with two sets of cables ( adding a set of SPM Reference I have lying about somewhere - because I like the colo(u)r of the cable - Purple before anyone asks :) ).

When I do that I move both sets of terminals on the cable you see to one set of speaker teminals and run the SPM to the other. When I have had enough of the colo(u)r Purple I revert to the configuration you see. If I had all bananas or all spades at the 'speaker end it would make it all very tight and complicated - actually bananas would make it impossible.

And there I rest the case for the defense m'lud and my learned colleagues :)

All the best - Andrew

[John B]

Originally posted by aashton

And there I rest the case for the defense m'lud and my learned colleagues :)

All the best - Andrew

Guilty of audiophilia!