Spade vs bare wire

This is not the vendor I've used in the past, but these low-mass BFA style banana plugs look like the ones I've used in the past:

https://www.moon-audio.com/bfa-gold-banana-plug.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw27jnBRBuEiwAdjQXDBxSG5U7-ovA8GR2-oQd-blBAuCC1zw1aYl8MB8JBK74ZJb094cC3xoC3HMQAvD_BwE

I typically clip off the crimp wing and solder them to the cable. They work perfectly. They have a large contact area, fit tightly and don't loosen over time.

I gave up with connectors, they corrode, get loose etc. So I solder the wires straight through. You can remove the plastic cover on the back of speakers thus minimizing damage.

“Connectors have their own sonic blablabla” lol what a crock! 

@bac2vinyl
I was once head of analog engineering at a professional recording console manufacturer. When I arrived, my engineers had pretty much the same attitude that wire was wire and connectors pretty much of a muchness.

We made up several identical lengths of a few different cable types with XLR from Neutric, SwitchCraft & Amphenol in both gold and silver.

After I demonstrated that I could reliably detect cable types with the same connector and connector types on the same cable, they all woodshedded to learn how to identify the characteristics. In the end, they were all convinced there is no free lunch.

Note that we were not trying to determine gradation, just difference. Gradation is skewed by system and CBLF.

We went on to recreate a classic EQ, paying attention to 'inaudibles.' The unit has sold in the thousands because it is almost indistinguishable from the originals.

I also don't buy into the alleged sonic differences between bare wire, bananas, and spades. That difference seems to potentially be so absolutely tiny as to render opinions kinda silly (or allowing listeners who do claim to hear differences to feel "special," which might help those with inadequacy issues), but that's to be expected around here...Use high quality versions of any connectors and you're gonna be fine. Note that bananas do have the advantage of providing potassium, and spades can be used for gardening.