Gold coated brass speaker spades


Question for the forum.

Whats the low down on brass speaker spades and bananas?

I recently demoed some very nice sounding speaker cables from a reputable manufacturer and found they used gold plated brass connectors.  From what I have read in these forums, copper is the preferred base metal.  Does it really matter?

What to do? 

rivinyl

Yes both the Furutech GTX-D (both gold and rhodium plated) are UL rated, as is my second favorite Oyaide R-1. I own both, and just double checked them

GTX-D specs:

• Rhodium or gold-plated α (Alpha) Pure Copper Conductor (0.8mm)  • Nonmagnetic stainless conductor spring system  • Body material: Nylon/fiberglass with piezo ceramic and carbon damping material • Cover material: Polycarbonate  • Parts set with nonmagnetic 2.0mm-thick stainless brace plate • Specified for wire diameters of 4mm (set screw) • Dimensions: 104.0 mm (L) x 47.2 mm (W) x 28.0 mm (H)  • Total attention to detail and build quality extends right down to a specially designed patent-pending conductor pressure plate (see below) that increases contact area  • Furutech spade terminal FP-205 recommended for 10 AWG wire 

Yes both the Furutech GTX-D (both gold and rhodium plated) are UL rated, as is my second favorite Oyaide R-1. I own both, and just double checked them

Confirmed, it actually states that at the beginning of the second video I posted above, and one can see the UL logo on the front of the plug. 

I don't suppose you have tried the Shunyata one? 

mclinnguy

I did not compare the Shunyata receptacle. I tested several models of Furutechs, Oyaides, Pangea (which I already owned), Cardas, Synergistic, Acme Audio Labs, Levitons, and maybe some others......testing was just over a year long.

The Acme Audio Labs silver Cryo and CFC, were surprisingly good at their modest $60 price......revealing, but not as much as the rhodium Furutechs which take forever to break in