Spades or bananas connectors?

Bare wire is distinctly better, I have tried spades and banana plugs and couldn't believe the difference when I took them out of the system. I am using silver litz solid core cable, and oxidation is not a problem. I think cable stress doesn't degrade the sound whatsoever and people are trying to get you to buy the expensive connectors to make a sale. No connectors are always better, since even if there would be a stress factor, that would not have an effect as great as adding a spade or banana plug.
Jaap

You could never tell the difference in a series of blind tests.

Don't kid yourself into thinking you could.

My experiences tell me that as long as there is that big, fat, hunk of metal called a binding post in the circuit it doesn't matter too much what the termination is. Realizing that removing the binding posts is not feasible for most people, I vote for getting the termination that works best for a given situation. I am assuming that which ever terminal connector is chosen is of good quality.

For those who can do this, try bringing the wire from the speaker out and connect directly to the speaker cable. You can use the binding posts to pinch the wires together. It is very surprising how much is lost going through those posts.

That's why Vandersteen speakers don't have binding posts.

Dynaudio is difficult for spade connectors,bananna is the best way to go with Dyns..