Pros and Cons of Banana Plugs? - Blu-ray Forum

OkoPeeKee · 10-29-2008, 02:35 PM

Considering banana plugs... Do they make a large difference?

I have a Denon 2808 hooked up to Polk RTI 10 Towers.

Thanks!!

plowmanjoe · 10-29-2008, 02:41 PM

banana plugs don't improve sound, they just make it easier to plug and unplug the speaker wires.

DavePS3 · 10-29-2008, 02:43 PM

Totally agree with Plow'. I use them on my rears and center rear because I move those speakers in and out of the way and Bananas are perfect for quick connect/disconnect.

My_Two_Cents · 10-29-2008, 02:44 PM

About the only 'con' I can think of is that they extend the depth of your receiver, making it somewhat more difficult to fit into certain cabinets. I use them for all of my connections. Makes it easier to connect, and looks a lot cleaner.

mattstat · 10-29-2008, 02:44 PM

They create a better contact surface than bare wire, if you can, go with spade lugs. They are easy to attach/detach and give the best contact surface.

Johnny Vinyl · 10-31-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattstat

They create a better contact surface than bare wire, if you can, go with spade lugs. They are easy to attach/detach and give the best contact surface.

+1...and no issues with depth if space is tight.

FilmMaster · 11-03-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plowmanjoe

banana plugs don't improve sound, they just make it easier to plug and unplug the speaker wires.

Not really true. It is a higher quality connection.

quexos · 11-03-2008, 02:58 PM

What on earth is a banana plug ?
A picture would be welcome I think.

Beta Man · 11-03-2008, 03:00 PM

Convenience.... that's the #1 reason to use them..... other than that, I guess people do it because it looks cool.

A properly terminated bare-wire will have an equal connection of that of a banana plug (think about it..... the banana plug to AVR or Speaker connection is only as good as the bare-wire to banana plug connection

)

Only "Con" I guess, is that they cost money..... the cost is so minimal though, the convenience factor makes it worth it in my opinion.

I personally don't believe they improve sound quality though.

dobyblue · 11-03-2008, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quexos

What on earth is a banana plug ?
A picture would be welcome I think.

It does fan out the wire to allow for more contact points, but convenience is definitely the #1 reason to use them and it is a good reason.

Sonically you'd be hard-pressed to get any definitive results that show improvements in a double-blind test.

quexos · 11-03-2008, 03:20 PM

Oh so that's a banana plug. thanks Dobyblue.
Don't think I've ever seen those before.

TENSE · 11-03-2008, 03:27 PM

ill stick with bare wire!

naturephoto1 · 11-03-2008, 03:36 PM

I only normally use Banana Plugs on the lower frequency connections when I have to connect 2 speaker cables for bi-wiring or when driving 2 sets of speakers from the same output. Otherwise I usually use spades. I have tried using 2 sets of spades on the same terminal and have blown the amps several times (contacted chassis and shorted). That is why I normally use Banana Plugs only for the lower frequencies (woofer) since there is usually less information in the lower frequencies than for the highs and mids.

Rich

SDBlu · 11-03-2008, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

I only normally use Banana Plugs on the lower frequency connections when I have to connect 2 speaker cables for bi-wiring or when driving 2 sets of speakers from the same output. Otherwise I usually use spades. I have tried using 2 sets of spades on the same terminal and have blown the amps several times (contacted chassis and shorted). That is why I normally use Banana Plugs only for the lower frequencies (woofer) since there is usually less information in the lower frequencies than for the highs and mids.

Rich

Can u post a picture of some spades please?

FilmMaster · 11-03-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarcosG

Can u post a picture of some spades please?

...Google much?

http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...h+Images&gbv=2

naturephoto1 · 11-03-2008, 04:23 PM

Hi,

I am not suggesting that you use these expensive spades, but this will give you and idea of what they look like.

Rich

DeadLikeSteve · 11-03-2008, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FilmMaster

...Google much?

Not if I dont know what I am looking at, makes more sense to ask people who know what its supposed to look like for an image.

you may want to check yourself.

BTBuck1 · 11-03-2008, 04:38 PM

surprised nobody has mentioned that bare wire corodes, and unless you are cut & splicing new leads to your wire on both ends of your speaker wire about every 4-5 months, than yes you are "Losing something".

Banana plugs not only look cleaner, and make it easier for connecting/disconnecting. They minimize maintenance of your wiring. By keeping the air out, corosion of the wiring is virtually non existant so you get optimal contact for optimal sound.

Pelican170 · 11-03-2008, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTBuck1

surprised nobody has mentioned that bare wire corodes, and unless you are cut & splicing new leads to your wire on both ends of your speaker wire about every 4-5 months, than yes you are "Losing something".

Banana plugs not only look cleaner, and make it easier for connecting/disconnecting. They minimize maintenance of your wiring. By keeping the air out, corosion of the wiring is virtually non existant so you get optimal contact for optimal sound.

I dont think banana plugs are going to "keep the air out" especially open screw types...

BTBuck1 · 11-03-2008, 04:44 PM

these are actually my favorite type:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....ci_sku=8470095

I like them because you feed the wire into a little hole, a screw hold it in place and the jacket keeps it air tight.

The smash down screw on types just weren't for me. These are cheaper and better IMO.

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10-29-2008, 02:35 PM	#1
OkoPeeKee Active Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Maryland Blu-ray collection:11 Blu-ray reviews: 8	Pros and Cons of Banana Plugs? Considering banana plugs... Do they make a large difference? I have a Denon 2808 hooked up to Polk RTI 10 Towers. Thanks!!

10-29-2008, 02:41 PM	#2
plowmanjoe Senior Member Member since:May 2008 Blu-ray collection:6 Trading Score:2	banana plugs don't improve sound, they just make it easier to plug and unplug the speaker wires.

10-29-2008, 02:43 PM	#3
DavePS3 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Toronto Home Theater Gallery:56 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	Totally agree with Plow'. I use them on my rears and center rear because I move those speakers in and out of the way and Bananas are perfect for quick connect/disconnect.

10-29-2008, 02:44 PM	#4
My_Two_Cents Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Wherever I may roam.... Home Theater Gallery:40 4K collection:35 Blu-ray collection:507 DVD collection:19 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:4	About the only 'con' I can think of is that they extend the depth of your receiver, making it somewhat more difficult to fit into certain cabinets. I use them for all of my connections. Makes it easier to connect, and looks a lot cleaner.

10-29-2008, 02:44 PM	#5
mattstat Active Member Top contributor Member since:Jul 2008 Location:Lethbridge, AB Blu-ray collection:149 Blu-ray reviews: 3	They create a better contact surface than bare wire, if you can, go with spade lugs. They are easy to attach/detach and give the best contact surface.

11-03-2008, 02:58 PM	#8
quexos Banned Member since:May 2007 Location:Brussels, Belgium	What on earth is a banana plug ? A picture would be welcome I think.

11-03-2008, 03:00 PM	#9
Beta Man Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Juuuuuuuust A Bit Outside.... Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:268 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:25	Convenience.... that's the #1 reason to use them..... other than that, I guess people do it because it looks cool. A properly terminated bare-wire will have an equal connection of that of a banana plug (think about it..... the banana plug to AVR or Speaker connection is only as good as the bare-wire to banana plug connection ) Only "Con" I guess, is that they cost money..... the cost is so minimal though, the convenience factor makes it worth it in my opinion. I personally don't believe they improve sound quality though.

11-03-2008, 03:20 PM	#11
quexos Banned Member since:May 2007 Location:Brussels, Belgium	Oh so that's a banana plug. thanks Dobyblue. Don't think I've ever seen those before.

11-03-2008, 03:27 PM	#12
TENSE Senior Member Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Los Ageles, Ca Home Theater Gallery:10	ill stick with bare wire!

11-03-2008, 03:36 PM	#13
naturephoto1 Blu-ray Ninja Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Oct 2008 Location:Breinigsville, PA Home Theater Gallery:260 4K collection:21 Blu-ray collection:263	I only normally use Banana Plugs on the lower frequency connections when I have to connect 2 speaker cables for bi-wiring or when driving 2 sets of speakers from the same output. Otherwise I usually use spades. I have tried using 2 sets of spades on the same terminal and have blown the amps several times (contacted chassis and shorted). That is why I normally use Banana Plugs only for the lower frequencies (woofer) since there is usually less information in the lower frequencies than for the highs and mids. Rich

11-03-2008, 04:38 PM	#18
BTBuck1 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2006 Location:Oceanside, CA. Blu-ray collection:507 DVD collection:1	surprised nobody has mentioned that bare wire corodes, and unless you are cut & splicing new leads to your wire on both ends of your speaker wire about every 4-5 months, than yes you are "Losing something". Banana plugs not only look cleaner, and make it easier for connecting/disconnecting. They minimize maintenance of your wiring. By keeping the air out, corosion of the wiring is virtually non existant so you get optimal contact for optimal sound.

11-03-2008, 04:44 PM	#20
BTBuck1 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2006 Location:Oceanside, CA. Blu-ray collection:507 DVD collection:1	these are actually my favorite type: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....ci_sku=8470095 I like them because you feed the wire into a little hole, a screw hold it in place and the jacket keeps it air tight. The smash down screw on types just weren't for me. These are cheaper and better IMO.

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