Mini-Rant: Human Fingers

@rodman99999 said:

"Spade connectors do that, under what's being tightened(regardless of the application/not just Five Ways), unless one prevents it, by holding them(or the connected wire), with a fingertip, pointy pliers, etc. "

Exactly. And there is very little room in there to get your fingers or needle nose pliers to get enough purchase to prevent twisting. The cable often ends up kinked no matter what I do.

Currently my main speakers are all hooked up and not going anywhere. But, I have some decent banana plugs and I looked up the specs and they will receive all the way up to 10 AWG. So I think next time I unhook them I am going to cut the spade connectors off and put the bananas on. These use set screws but I can put some solder in there too if it seems necessary. I can't see why this would compromise SQ. I can see how it might lower the value of the cables but I have no plans to sell them anyway.

If you're switching to bananas, I'd echo reubent's recommendation of BFA-style bananas. They're much easier to connect than spades, provide a greater contact area than conventional banana plugs and the tension can be easily adjusted with a pair of needlenose pliers.

Same problem with my Snell E's! I use banana plugs!

since the days of Fred & Barney, Wilma and Betty, bare wires were the way speakers used to be connected.

some are returnign to that philosophy. get in where ya fit in.

obviously where ever speaker terminals are located is where the maker figured it to be the best place for ‘them’. not us.

I find it highly doubtful adding another half inch or inch between the plus and minus poles will have any effect on anything, but making it easier for end users to deal with when adding and replacing wires.

but it is what it is, I’d not hold my breath on things changing anytime soon.

bananas are as good a way to go as any other. regardless it being on the input or output. in fact with many receivers geography on the rear panels is at a premium and bananas seem to be the right pick.

if adapters are required by choice or need, their influence on the sound is marginal, but depending, often quite distinct.

I believe bananas are my preference for reasons such as these.

I’ve a pair of towers whose terminals are not only very close to each other, but as there are two sets for bi wiring or bi amping, they are set on angled inserts which make it a real hair pulling event to put spades on all the connections. whoa.

If I indeed loved a set of spkr wires, maybe I’d opt into cutting off the spades and going with bare wires. but even using bare wire there are concerns. loosening. oxidation. shorting. breakage.

as for operating on wiring, they make tools specifically designed to strip insulation off most sizes of wires. at least those one would encounter in this hobby. they run from $10 to $25 and are at most any hardware or Adult toy Store, eg., lowes, Home depot, etc. they have dedicated ‘holes’ for inserting the wires and once closed, do a fine job of cutting thru the insulation without cutting into the conductors.

obviously, special strippers will cost more.

usually from $20 to $50 a dance.

RWV .

the Cardas design is unique and elegantly effective, but converting your gear to them most likely difficult, certainly expensive.

gas tight spades far superior to bananas IMO
a low mass spade that can deform is also good, consider the AQ or the excellent Anticable copper