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Speaker connections: Spade vs. Banana Plus

I use two different amplifiers, one of which only accepts a banana plug speaker connection, the other amplifier accepts only a spade connection. Unfortunately my speaker cables are terminated with a spade connection. Am I losing performance when I use adapters on the speaker cables to convert from the spade connection to a banana plug connection to the amp? I use a Rat-Shack adapter to convert from spade to banana.

Would it be advisable i.e. worth the $ to get a second set of speaker cables with banana terminations in order to maximize the sound quality?
glrtrgi
sfar's avatar
sfar
1,758 posts
 
There are some high-quality adapters like these from Audioquest but I don't know whether you'd hear any difference between them and the Radio Shack versions. I own a set of similar ones from Cardas that are solid copper and work well as long as the spades are fairly small.
missioncoonery
1,221 posts
 
IMO In a blind test you wont hear a diff..I dont
cyclonicman
693 posts
 
I second the response of Missioncoonery. I have used adapters to correct a similar situation and have not been able to detect any change in the quality of sound. It was the same as before using the adapters. You can always remove the adapters if you think there is a change in sound. Below is music direct web site showing adapters, I am using.

http://www.musicdirect.com/product/72732
zmanastronomy's avatar
zmanastronomy
738 posts
 
If you use a high quality solid copper adapter, you should not hear a sonic differance.
On the other hand, if you use 24k plated brass ( which in most cases if it's 24k plated it is brass ) they do have a sonic signature.
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