Why terminate speaker wire?

FTR:  Silver oxidizes so most silver looking copper wire is actually tinned.

@danager 

Compared to bare wiring I think a well made terminated connection offers the most consistent and largest surface area.  Consider a crimped on / cold welded spade.  You have 100% of the wire coming into contact with the spade, and then the very large surface area of the spade makes the contact with the speaker terminal. 

According to Benchmark, their testing showed speakon was the best followed by locking banana. I wish all cables were speakon from a use standpoint. My cables are for too heavy for spades.  

Most people, though not all, prefer to make love with their clothes off for the best connection. Others think it makes no difference.

Is that why they're called banana plugs?

"Most surface area to surface area connection"

My preference is the opposite of this.

Reduce metal mass in the signal path and when using standard (large metal mass) connectors achieve small/good contact of the signal wire.

If using single solid core wire for speaker cables with standard large metal mass screw down connectors then a single flat loop of the wire is better than coiling it around numerous times.

I've also modified/cut down already low metal mass RCA male connectors by removing 3 "V" shaped sections from the ring that clamps onto the female RCA connector resulting in even less metal mass and a reduced (3 prong) contact area.

DeKay