2. tech-talk
  3. 972532258

Bananas vs. Spades

I bought some older Audioquest cables (Crystal) for shotgun biwire from McCormack DNA 0.5 dlx to Vandersteen 2cis. These cables are big and heavy. I am sending them to AQ to be terminated and I have two options for the speaker end (Vandys have factor bananas at about 30" off floor). Could use bananas as intended with supports to prevent weight of wire from damaging speaker termination or (worse) the banana jacks on the speakers. AQ technician recommends using spades and then a spade to banana adaptor that fits up close to the speaker and allows the wire's weight to pull straight down, with weight much closer to the fulcrum (so to speak). What do you all think? I fear a loss of sound quality by using two connections, but there is also an advantage in having spades on both ends for re-use or re-sale. Any advice appreciated. Thanks.
128x128swampwalker
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,564 posts
 
Swampwalker: I get it now. As you said, I would skip the extra connector if possible though I do not have any suggestions for supporting the cable. And, I know what you mean about the clumsiness of the fat cables as I have difficulty keeping my HT power cord at a 90% angle from the back my CD player. I tried blocking it with a square of marble but it seemed to effect the isolation system used on the CD player, so now it hangs again. If the speakers are out of warrenty have you considered switching the posts to something better? This may improve the sound as well as give you more flexability and I would consider it to be an upgrade on an already good design.
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Hi Swampwalker; I have used Kimber 8VS (heavy) speaker cables biwired into Vandersteen 2Ces banana plugs for years with no problem. At one time I tried a banana to spade adaptor and did not like it as it was "loose and floppy", but name brand and good material. I'd suggest using your bananas "straight in" and if necessary use a heavy nylon wire tie (12") around the 2Ces rear base and your audioquest wire-- for support of the weight if you feel that's necessary. These long, stout nylon wire ties are available at auto supply stores. I also use them to support my heavy power cords at the wall outlet, and they have other uses in "wire" management . I installed a hanging lamp hook above the AC outlet to "tie" the power cord to. Works great. Cheers. Craig.
garfish
1,840 posts
 
P.S. If your banana plugs don't fit tight, use a small screw driver to pry out the plug sections so it is a little bigger in diameter-- I had to do this on a couple of plugs. Good Luck. Craig.
lak's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
lak
4,627 posts
 
Swampwalker, at times I have used a duo 24K goidbananna styled speaker connector (where the speaker wire hangs streight down the back of the bananna, speaker wire is held in place by small hand screws). They can be purchased from your local audio dealer or from Audio Advisor for about $15 for a set. I hope this helps.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker OP
5,138 posts
 
Lak- I have some of the gold-plated dual bananas (Esoteric Audio I believe), but my concern is how to securely attach bare wire to the screw down. The AQ cables have numerous seperately insulated wires, each stranded. Difficult to keep those all together and the hand screw is pointed, so it would tend to penetrate a twisted together group of thin strands and many would not make contact.
More to discover