Spade vs. banana plug

The biggest difficulties I’ve noticed are with the material of the connector, more than the type. Nickel or Rhodium plated is bad. Just too hard to make a good connection.

I’ve had really good luck with gold over copper bananas, and WBT locking bananas. Had really terrible luck with Furutech rhodium locking. Literally too small for several speakers, and too had to make a tight fight, as well as deformed easily.

Another type I’d like to try are the WBT spring loaded spades.

Banana plugs are easier to connect/disconnect if you do it often. Spade lugs are generally considered to be the more secure connection. Some banana plugs incorporate an adjustment screw locking them in place -- sort of defeating the concept while (possibly?) making them the spade lugs' equal. Give me a substantial, gold-electroplated, solid-copper alloy spade lug any day of the week and twice on Sundays, thank you. 

I agree that a good spade lug does offer peace of mind.  But the components ultimately call the shots.  My Primaluna integrated demands spade lugs.  My Nola speakers demand bananas.

Old school OCC copper solid core bare wire for me.

noromance3,988 posts08-04-2020 9:12pmOld school OCC copper solid core bare wire for me.

Y spades are great, But your right bare wire, through an eyelet and tighten... That is a good connection...Tin the end with silver solder, and you get another sonic nugget.

Regards