2. cables
  3. 988299802

Modification of speaker cables

I have a set of MIT's 750 biwire speaker cables. They are terminated with spades. I have just purchased a new amp that has binding posts that are larger than the spades will fit. Will there be any negatives to removing the spades and going with the bare wire? (other than resale value)
emily
gregm
3,411 posts
 
When soldering, make sure U remove previous solder (or cut off) and your connection is shining (= not "cold" soldering). As Jeffloistarca, created the connection without the solder and secure it by soldering. Bare wire WILL oxydize but, as Onhwy61 notes, you'd eliminate an extra material from that conductor chain (not to mention the soldering, i.e. TWO materials?) so, better.
Good luck!
pops
2,278 posts
 
Emily, mit reconfigured some speaker wire for me, went from biwire to single for thiels, cost was $100, I'm guessing retermination is cheaper. I've used bare wire and IMO you can't really tighten down the connections enough without almost breaking the wire and it is also cleaner and safer to have terminations, then you have to worry about oxidation every few months.
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,715 posts
 
I have always been a bare wire advocate, but am getting tired of re-dressing the ends of my cables when they become damaged from being taken on and off when auditioning other wire and during other general experimentation (which includes cleaning the connections every 6-8 weeks or so). I am actually considering quality (though low mass) bananas if I go with Mapleshade speaker cable and hope that I don't regret it. Bananas so that I can easily switch from a simple tube amp (with a volume pot) to a SS amp when we just want background music and when I am burning in other gear and want to leave the system on 7/24.
More to discover