Banana Plugs?

[I Bleed Blu]

Some people in another thread mentioned getting banana plugs... Can someone tell me the advantages of having these? And how do I know if they will work with my Klipsch Reference speakers? And also, on Monoprice they have 2 types, solder and screw, which is better and why? Thanks and sorry for the newb question I just never understood the point of these things. Also it came up because I'm about to buy 12 gauge wire for my speakers

[moose4130]

they make it much easier to plug in your speakers. Soldering types [I]may[I] have a better connection and have less resistance, but it may be so negligible, it may not matter. I also may be wrong. I have no trouble with crimp type ones or the screw type ones.

[moviefan]

Originally Posted by I Bleed Blu

Some people in another thread mentioned getting banana plugs... Can someone tell me the advantages of having these? And how do I know if they will work with my Klipsch Reference speakers? And also, on Monoprice they have 2 types, solder and screw, which is better and why? Thanks and sorry for the newb question I just never understood the point of these things. Also it came up because I'm about to buy 12 gauge wire for my speakers

Banana plugs insure a quick, tight connection for your speaker wires.
Klipsch speakers generally have 5 way speaker connections on 3/4" centers.
I use the Monster dual banana plugs, which plug in to my Klipsch speakers and Sony receiver, one plug for both wires, color coded. These connect to the wires with a barrel screw for each wire.
A really outstanding speaker wire connection is offered by the Monster Quick Lok banana connectors. These have a seperate plug foe each wire, so can be used when receivers or speakers don't have terminals on 3/4" centers.
The plug id unscrews, the wire (up to 12 ga) is fed thru the collar and fanned out over the inside, then the pin part is screwed on to make a very tight connection. These are also color coded.

[I Bleed Blu]

Thanks, and since were on the subject, my Klipsch speakers have like 2 different slots for red and 2 for black with a metal clip connecting the two. Now I think I read in the manual u can run the wire to both and remove that metal plate, if so, how is the proper way to wire them up like that? And which is the best way? Right now I just have the wire ran to one post for red and one for black, is this ok or should I have it hooked to both? I hope you guys are following me with all the lamen talk, sorry.

[nhaase]

Originally Posted by I Bleed Blu

Thanks, and since were on the subject, my Klipsch speakers have like 2 different slots for red and 2 for black with a metal clip connecting the two. Now I think I read in the manual u can run the wire to both and remove that metal plate, if so, how is the proper way to wire them up like that? And which is the best way? Right now I just have the wire ran to one post for red and one for black, is this ok or should I have it hooked to both? I hope you guys are following me with all the lamen talk, sorry.

That's called bi-amping, and the idea of this is to send two different signals to dynamic speakers: hi- and low-frequency. Think of it as an attempt to be like component video inputs (where the color is split) vs. composite inputs. There are probably people on here who have more in-depth knowledge on this subject than I, but I tried it with one speaker bi-amped and another regularly wired and I could not perceive a difference. I have read up on this, just online, and numerous sources indicate that double-blind testing showed no difference.

To answer your question, though, to properly wire them (going by the equipment I know), you will reassign the output of two surround speakers so that they output the bi-amp signal. NOTE: I have only seen this w/ receivers that have a 7.1 capability. So, when they're reassigned, you will have the regular front outputs wired to the lo-freq. inputs of the speakers, whereas the reassigned surround outputs would be wired into the hi-freq. input of the speaker.

[glenn-bob]

I hate 'em. I have a hell of a time getting those things to stay in place or screw them tight on the back of the amp. Maybe I'm just doing it wrong.

[I Bleed Blu]

Ok that sounds complicated, maybe I need to do some research on that haha

[Z-Corp]

I run these and they look and work great.
http://www.speakerrepair.com/Merchan...e=black_chrome

When you start adding up how many you need for a 7.1 system with in-wall installation and wall plates you end up needing a few of these.

[sticks4legs]

The screw type ones at monoprice are idiot proof and make connections super quick and much much cleaner.
You don't have to try and cram wire into the back of those useless connections on your reciever.
And if your like me, and have your speaker wire in the wall with wall plates it makes it even easier.

[nhaase]

Originally Posted by I Bleed Blu

Ok that sounds complicated, maybe I need to do some research on that haha

After checking your sig, you should be able to do that w/ your Onkyo, just read the receiver manual to be sure. The only problem w/ this is that if you bi-amp the front, you will be able to have a 7.1 setup, you have to choose one or the other, AFAIK. Your receiver may have a different way to explore this option, so check the manual. It's not hard to do, the main thing is setting up everything in the receiver setup menu. After that it's just like setting up two pairs of speakers, just be sure to remove that metal plate.

To give you more info on my test, I tried it w/ Klipsch Synergy F-2s, and again, I did not notice a difference. If you try this, let me know what you conclude.

[I Bleed Blu]

^^Ok, I thought the banana plugs were used to go into the back of the speaker, not the receiver. Am I mistaken?

[I Bleed Blu]

Originally Posted by nhaase

After checking your sig, you should be able to do that w/ your Onkyo, just read the receiver manual to be sure. The only problem w/ this is that if you bi-amp the front, you will be able to have a 7.1 setup, you have to choose one or the other, AFAIK. Your receiver may have a different way to explore this option, so check the manual. It's not hard to do, the main thing is setting up everything in the receiver setup menu. After that it's just like setting up two pairs of speakers, just be sure to remove that metal plate.

To give you more info on my test, I tried it w/ Klipsch Synergy F-2s, and again, I did not notice a difference. If you try this, let me know what you conclude.

Ok thanks, I didnt realize I would have to change settings in my receiver, I just thought it had to do with the way you hook the wire into the back of the speaker.

[mr peepers]

Originally Posted by I Bleed Blu

^^Ok, I thought the banana plugs were used to go into the back of the speaker, not the receiver. Am I mistaken?

you can use banana plugs for both. I have every speaker wire in my 7.1 system terminated with a banana plug. Its so much easier plugging a banana plug into the back of my denon than having to cram 12ga speaker wire back there with all the terminals right next to each other and getting in the way.

also, bi-amping. its a great feature if your amp or receiver is able to utilize it. you'll need to have a pair of unused, assignable speaker outs to do it. but if you do, your amp will run much more efficiently since instead of one channel trying to deliver the full range of frequencies, you have two separate amps delivering a specific range of freq's.

[seto]

You can plug them both into the speakers and into the amp/receiver. Just avoid the banana plugs that require you to solder and you should be fine. The screw-type is really intuitive. Just remember that you will need x4 plugs for every cable you will be running (2 for the speaker and x2 for the amp/receiver).

[gearyt]

Originally Posted by glenn-bob

I hate 'em. I have a hell of a time getting those things to stay in place or screw them tight on the back of the amp. Maybe I'm just doing it wrong.

5 - Way Binding Posts... Bananna in the rear, Pin in the side, Wire wrapped arround, Spade lug, and .... hmmm don't remember the 5th

[Dagger]

If you are into bi-wiring, there are certain banana plugs in which you can stack. You can go to Blue Jeans cable to see how it works. Your Onkyo 805 allows bi-AMPing using the 6/7 channels so unless you are using them, stacking probably isn't a big deal.

The reputation out there is that banana plus, although most convenient, provides the least amount of connection. On the other end bare wire is the least convenient but offer the best connection. Spades are in between in both convenience and connection.

Maybe I was just assuming the flaw, but after I switched from bare to banana to my receiver I noticed the sound wasn't as rich or full.

Has anyone played around with different banana plugs and noticed a difference? I have the cheapies from Blue Jeans cable.

[I Bleed Blu]

Dagger, so are you saying I can only use the 6&7th channels to bi-wire? I'm not at home to look at my receiver but I think its labeled as FL FR etc so how do I know which is the 6&7 channels?

[seto]

Should be your Surr L and Surr R (I believe). Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. ^^;

[I Bleed Blu]

Originally Posted by seto

Should be your Surr L and Surr R (I believe). Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. ^^;

If that's the case then what do I do with my L&R surround speakers? There must be something I'm missing here. Hopefully the manual explains this and I can read itwhen I get off work .

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by I Bleed Blu

Dagger, so are you saying I can only use the 6&7th channels to bi-wire? I'm not at home to look at my receiver but I think its labeled as FL FR etc so how do I know which is the 6&7 channels?

No, you can biwire into the same plugs you use for your mains using stackable bananas. With stackable bananas, you just plug in the second set into the back of the primary sets. If you have 6/7 channels available, instead of stacking you can plug the second set into the 6/7 channel. This would technically be bi-amping.

I have the Onkyo 705, but I'm assuming the 805 is the same in that respect. With the 705 you have to "tell" it that you are bi-amping (user guide will tell you how).

On a side note:
Some people swear by bi-amping/wiring, others say there's no difference. Talking to the sales guy at the hi-fi store I got my speakers from, he basically said it depends on the quality of the speakers if any difference can be heard. Cheaper speakers use cheaper wires internally so bi-amping/wiring helps. However, with pricey speakers, the audible difference is slight if any.

I set up bi-amping after having it single for awhile and I can say that I heard no difference. The only reason I kept it in is that I went through all the trouble already so why undo it?