AQ makes speaker spades for wires up to gauge 9. Spades supposed to be the second best after bare wire. I've never liked banana plugs - my heavy cables bend them while pulling on the cable can disconnect it that can cause the damage to tube amp (open output) or even SS amp, when banana gets disconnected on the speaker side and shorts the amp.
I use spades on both sides. On the amp side manufacturer installed spades (wire gauge 7 - shotgun configuration), while on the speaker side I replaced AQ bananas with spades (wire gauge 10). I crimped them to make oxygen free connection and then soldered. Result of this operation depends greatly on the quality of the crimper. I borrowed AQ crimper from the local Audio store. It appears that new AQ spades and banana plugs don't require soldering and come with small Allen wrench.
http://www.audioquest.com/sig_bananas_spades/1000-series-multi-size-spade-silver
I use spades on both sides. On the amp side manufacturer installed spades (wire gauge 7 - shotgun configuration), while on the speaker side I replaced AQ bananas with spades (wire gauge 10). I crimped them to make oxygen free connection and then soldered. Result of this operation depends greatly on the quality of the crimper. I borrowed AQ crimper from the local Audio store. It appears that new AQ spades and banana plugs don't require soldering and come with small Allen wrench.
http://www.audioquest.com/sig_bananas_spades/1000-series-multi-size-spade-silver