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Speaker Cable Termination

Because I have owned Mag 3.6 for awhile I have opted to use bare wire at the speaker/amp terminals. Non-scientifically, it seemed to me that there was no need to introduce something into the signal path that was not necessary. I have used bare wire with Kimber 4TC for over 10 years. As I am looking to upgrade my speaker cable, it seems I now have to consider termination. I say all this to pose the question of termination vs non termination on speaker cable. Thoughts?
xagwell
etran
67 posts
 
After experienced with bananas, spades and none are working good for me and very expensive so I tinned the ends with 4% silver solder then tight them up to 5 way binding posts. Happy clam.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
Arni,
applying a silver solder to the ends of the bare wires makes no sencei since it decreases the contact conductivity.
The unit resistance of the solder is more than several times higher than any conventional conductor even with the silver content.
arni
313 posts
 
"11-17-06: Marakanetz
Arni,
applying a silver solder to the ends of the bare wires makes no sencei since it decreases the contact conductivity."

Marakanetz, I did not claim any benefits to this nor recommend it; I was just making an observation about pre- and past practice of a cable manufacturer that has actually discontinued doing this. My wording may have been off, I really meant tinning the ends (that is my recollection).
thorman
1,262 posts
 
To me bare wire is really the best.Even if you order the cables a foot longer than you need and clip off 1/2" every year , you would grow old before the cables were unusable.
etran
67 posts
 
"applying a silver solder to the ends of the bare wires makes no sense since it decreases the contact conductivity"
You got to be joking, how much decreases in % ? Is there fact ? The solder acts like bonding agent to close all the air gaps of the strands to one solid wire for better conductivity. Look at all the circuits in all electronics what do the use to connect all the wires to?
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