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Brass versus copper binding posts

Greetings all. My current speakers are the Usher Dancer Mini-X DMD. I recently removed the press on tabs that connect the internal speaker wires to the drivers and solder them directly with cardas silver. I perceive an increase in sound quality, and as we know perception is reality. I planned on doing the same thing at The binding posts. I assumed they were gold-plated copper. But when I put a small drill point into the end of the threaded post the color stayed the same where I expected to see an obvious copper color. I think this means my binding posts are brass. If I’m correct that seems like a cost saving decision by Usher. Would those of you who know more about this stuff than I do agree it would be worth the time and money needed to switch to some quality gold or rhodium plated copper binding posts? Thanks in advance

milkdudd
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,593 posts
 

I used Pomona Electronics Gold plated Tellurium copper binding posts ages ago and they were very good (compared to running the speaker cable directly to my single driver speakers).

They weren't beefy (but still sturdy) and I prefer less metal mass in connectors.

 

DeKay

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,886 posts
 

I prefer solid copper binding post with heavy silver plating to prevent corrosion. See below:

 

Mike

Eichmann KRYO Binding Post
ETI Research KRYO Binding Post		 ETI KRYO Binding Post - $149.00 (single pair)
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The ETI Research Kryo Binding Post is like no other on the market today. The conductor is made from Silver-Plated Tellurium Copper for not only superior conductivity but long-lasting durability. ETI believes this is the most transparent sounding binding post on the market today. CONDUCTOR: Silver Plated Tellurium Copper. HOUSING: Brass (Black Finish). Sold as ONE PAIR (1 red and 1 white post). If purchasing for a stereo amplifier or stereo pair of speakers, you will need FOUR posts (two pairs). Each pair contains one white, and one red color coded post.
milkdudd OP
64 posts
 

Thanks again for all the help everybody. I contacted Usher in Taiwan and they emailed me that yes the binding posts are brass. The ETI items shown above were actually my first choice. I use their XLR connectors from the same family on my interconnects. Being that I would need four sets ends up to $600 to make the change that’s a lot of money. I have found a company named AECO in Taiwan that makes a similar binding posts for $60 a pair rather than $150. Model number ABI-0611 followed by a suffix of G, S or R that designates gold, silver or rhodium plating directly onto tellurium copper. All of my speaker cables are Clear Day silver with silver plated spades and bananas. So I think I will be ordering the silver plated versions.

ball-wheel
70 posts
 

Those connectors are very good. The KELI connectors are very good also.

ljgerens
157 posts
 

@ditusa,

Silver does not prevent corrosion. In fact the silver surface is fairly reactive and can corrode fairly rapidly depending on the number of silver atoms on the surface that are not fully coordinated. Unlike copper which oxidizes to the +1 oxide (Cu2O) and +2 oxide (CuO), silver does not readily form oxides. Instead silver readily forms a sulfide (Ag2S). Both silver sulfide and the oxides of copper are semiconductors with similar band gaps.

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