How to Preserve New Shiny Banana Speaker Ends?

Maybe my description does not convey the message across clearly. I'll try again, and sorry for the lack of terminology.

It doesn't sound as serious like the plugs have gone entirely black. It's still gold but there is a slight hint of discolouration towards blackish gold. There isn't any extra layer on the plugs. It's just that the gold somehow doesn't look as new as they were during the first time I've got them. I've taken for granted I didn't clean them for a single time in 5 years that may have caused them to lose the shine. This not only apply for the speaker ends but also to the speaker terminals of my old pair of speakers.

Well, I guess there is a reason why NEW is good. Or maybe I've not taken enough care to preserve the condition? I don't think I can get back the shine to the plugs as new but guess I'll have to use Progold more often on not only the speaker ends but also to all my electrical connections of my equipment.

Try one of the least abrasive Scotch Brite pads or some 400 grit sand paper. If you don't like the idea of abrasives you might try a Mr. Clean magic erasure. They have cleaned almost every thing I have thrown at them.

FWIW. Its my understanding that the only real benefit from using gold (plated) anything is to allow more efficient conductance of current AND to make this effective both surfaces should be gold. So if your speaker connectors are not gold plated its not a 'deal'.

Your bananas are gold plated and what you are probably seeing is a wearing off of the gold plate from use. It could be a build up of gunk but I doubt it.

Also, consider, by adding any lubricants to your connectors you may be inviting the accumulation of gunk.

Personally I focus on keeping the connections as tight and clean as possible. If you are not already doing so consider using locking banana plugs.

FWIW.

Well, if losing the gold plate bothers you, just get some MIT cables. :)

Arthur

Newbee has it right in my view. Gold does not oxidize; that's one of the reasons why it's used, that plus its' conductivity. If it's darkening, it could be a build up of some of gunk which can be cleaned off with something like Caig Progold. Otherwise, the gold plating has simply worn off. As you probably know, one of gold's other characteristics is that it is very malleable. It can be stretched very thin. Some gold plating is only a few atoms thick!