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Speaker Cable Termination Opinions - Bananas or Spades

I'm ordering a set of speaker cables and need to decide on the speaker end terminations. 

There are only two choices so how difficult can it be.  

My concern stems from the fact that I reverse the speaker cable polarity regularly to align with CD recordings.  I've found some CDs are presented/recorded out of phase so I swap the phase at the speakers to align with the CD.  

Depending on the CDs I'm listening to at the time I might change them every other day or every couple of weeks.  But they get changed regularly.  

Bananas are the easiest to work with in this circumstance but the style of the banana that is available is the zig zag split sleeve.  My concern is that with repeated insertions I will wear away the coating on the hole in the binding post which in time might change the sonic influence.  For that reason I'm leaning towards having the terminations prepared with spades which will not introduce the abrasion level that the banana could possibly create.  

My preference is to not deteriorate the condition of the binding posts but it sure would be convenient having banana plugs.  

Are my concerns about the banana plugs unfounded?

My other solutions, and believe me, I think about them, are to swap the phase at the amp end where I plan to configure the cables with spades or to purchase a BAT preamplifier which has a phase button.  


pinball101
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,606 posts
 
OP,

You can use WBT-0610 banana’s, no doubt expensive but they will last a lifetime without any sign of wear. Their unique “locking" termination using an expandable pin allows friction free motion in and out of binding posts.

I’ve been using a quad for over 10 years and they still look brand new. VH Audio got them on sale for 20% off. They would also need crimp sleeves to hold the wire inside the banana shell.
elliottbnewcombjr
5,594 posts
 
I agree, a device in line to switch polarity would be best.

If not:

I used to frequently change among 3 setups: R2R direct to tube mono blocks 30 wpc; tube receiver for radio and phono 35wpc; CD/SACD direct to either tube mono blocks or SS 300 wpc.

Three color coded sets of speaker wires, each with banana plugs

I put a WBT Banana Plug ’JOINT’ in my speaker wires a few feet outside of the speakers: that I can reach, pull forward, change standing up, toss the wires back behind the speakers.

https://www.thecableco.com/wbt-0610-cu-nextgen-signature-safety-line-single.html?Color=Red&gclid...

I added a hook on the wall behind the speakers I can reach to get/keep the wires more easily available, seeing as how I am an old dog with bad knee, bad back, bad attitude.

Would something like that solve things?

Wear em out, good luck with that, but if so, put some new ones on.
rsf507
2,347 posts
 
I used to use spades which I thought was excellent until I got some new demo cables with incredible banana plugs by Audiomica Labs. Very robust and tight fitting. But to be fair I've owned other banana plugs in the past and didn't care for them so guess it depends on manufacturer.
elliottbnewcombjr
5,594 posts
 
I used these, captive pairs: simpler, less money for sure, and they are still very tight after active years

https://www.radioshack.com/collections/banana-connectors/products/gp-dual-banana?variant=20332018373

simpler in/out, simpler to replace.

hear difference between them and WBT? Nah. It’s just nice to enjoy WBT’s engineering idea with zero concern of dislodgement if tugging on other wires.
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