I have purchased a new Denon 4306 amp with B&W 684 home theatre speakers and i have been told i should use the more expensive airlock banana plugs, does it really make that much difference or should i just buy the cheaper ones
Banana plugs £2 or £5, Does it really make a difference
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seconded. unless you plan on unhooking things alot i'll be fine.
I got banana plugs on my new cables, but before that used bare wire (or cheap screw on plugs) and noticed no difference. Actually i remember Pro-ac recommending bare wires be used.
the thread i asked on came down to basically, get them just for ease on the occasions you unhook, but most of the time you won't care either way.
I got banana plugs on my new cables, but before that used bare wire (or cheap screw on plugs) and noticed no difference. Actually i remember Pro-ac recommending bare wires be used.
the thread i asked on came down to basically, get them just for ease on the occasions you unhook, but most of the time you won't care either way.
Yup I agree, I never noticed any difference in the sound, however, i'm using solder type banana plugs for the install i'm about to do using wall plates as it will look much neater.
I'd also recommend bare wires. You might want to re-cut them every now and again though, as the exposed wire can oxidise. No big problem though, takes me about 10 mins to re-cut all of mine.
If you have to use bananas then I'd avoid really cheap ones, unless you're also using cheap speaker cable. It makes no sense to me to send signals along a pricy cable, then make it pass through a poorly conducting plug. Actually, it makes no sense to me to make it pass through any sort of plug, but that might be to do with having a dealer who will go off on a rant about this subject if someone so much as looks at speaker cables
If you have to use bananas then I'd avoid really cheap ones, unless you're also using cheap speaker cable. It makes no sense to me to send signals along a pricy cable, then make it pass through a poorly conducting plug. Actually, it makes no sense to me to make it pass through any sort of plug, but that might be to do with having a dealer who will go off on a rant about this subject if someone so much as looks at speaker cables
If they are affordable to you plugs not only look neat and remove the danger of stray wires shorting across 1 of the many terminals on a AV set up, are much better (safer!)if bi wiring.
Airlock ones are designed to remove any oxidation build up ever!
They are the best solution but as you say £5 a plug.
Affordable?
Airlock ones are designed to remove any oxidation build up ever!
They are the best solution but as you say £5 a plug.
Affordable?
My dealer recommends bare wires over bananaplugs. His reasoning is the less joints in a connection the better the quality of the signal. My own opinion in this matter is that banana plugs are just convenient, certainly when used with a multichannel amp. If you find them helpful, buy. I wouldn't pay over the odds though.
Superaintit:My dealer recommends bare wires over bananaplugs. His reasoning is the less joints in a connection the better the quality of the signal.
...but can you really hear a difference?
...but can you really hear a difference?
Frank Harvey
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- Jun 27, 2008
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Normal plugs tend to brighten the sound a tad, and I mean a tad, whereas the QED Airloc ones don't affect the sound at all as they become one with the cable when crimped. Call it placebo or whatever you like, but that's just what I've found over many years of hearing different systems.
Frank,
the chap i am dealing with suggested the qed airloc as i am using qed anniversary cable what do you think?
the chap i am dealing with suggested the qed airloc as i am using qed anniversary cable what do you think?
igglebert:Superaintit:My dealer recommends bare wires over bananaplugs. His reasoning is the less joints in a connection the better the quality of the signal.
...but can you really hear a difference?
Apparently he can't. Also, in line with his own theory, he doesn't sell them.
...but can you really hear a difference?
Apparently he can't. Also, in line with his own theory, he doesn't sell them.
As an aside, why are banana plugs straight
?
Edit: sorry, Mark, please ignore me; had a tough day at work. Only just got back home.
Edit: sorry, Mark, please ignore me; had a tough day at work. Only just got back home.
Frank Harvey
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- Jun 27, 2008
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mark8par:
Andrew,
what is you opinion on these banana plugs?
I'd have the best quality banana plugs going, professionally soldered or cold-welded onto the end of the cables.
But then I spend half my life plugging and unplugging stuff, and it's a pain when you pull a plug out and it falls off, or you have to start strippling back wires and twisting them to put on a binding post, only to have them fall out later.
Sonically? I don't think they make a whole lot of difference, though the presence of proper plugs fitted in such a way as to avoid contaminants getting to the cable conductors could prove advantageous in the long term.
Andrew,
what is you opinion on these banana plugs?
I'd have the best quality banana plugs going, professionally soldered or cold-welded onto the end of the cables.
But then I spend half my life plugging and unplugging stuff, and it's a pain when you pull a plug out and it falls off, or you have to start strippling back wires and twisting them to put on a binding post, only to have them fall out later.
Sonically? I don't think they make a whole lot of difference, though the presence of proper plugs fitted in such a way as to avoid contaminants getting to the cable conductors could prove advantageous in the long term.
FrankHarveyHiFi:Funny how retailers are portayed on forums - well, no, it's not funny really.
I of course didn't mean to draw any parallels between any audio retailers and the shouty greengrocer. To do so would be tough
(pause)
really really tough...
I of course didn't mean to draw any parallels between any audio retailers and the shouty greengrocer. To do so would be tough
(pause)
really really tough...
Superaintit:As an aside, why are banana plugs straight
?
As usual, when Google isn't your friend, Wikipedia can be relied upon:
"The pin has one or more lengthwise springs that bulge outwards slightly. These press against the sides of the socket, improving the electrical contact and preventing the pin from falling out. The curved profile of these springs is probably the origin of the name 'banana plug'."
As usual, when Google isn't your friend, Wikipedia can be relied upon:
"The pin has one or more lengthwise springs that bulge outwards slightly. These press against the sides of the socket, improving the electrical contact and preventing the pin from falling out. The curved profile of these springs is probably the origin of the name 'banana plug'."
Looking for a kind gent, ideally into music. He must have a great interest in history and the classics, though with a topical mind too. Something along the lines of Ian Hislop. Yes, I fancy him - only not so short.
Oh by the way - THEY MUST HAVE BANANA PLUGS connecting their amp to their speakers, such a convenience it is.ÿ
Oh by the way - THEY MUST HAVE BANANA PLUGS connecting their amp to their speakers, such a convenience it is.ÿ
Octopo:Yes, I fancy him - only not so short.
Sounds like you've started on the shorts already...
Sounds like you've started on the shorts already...
Andrew Everard:
Octopo:Yes, I fancy him - only not so short.
Sounds like you've started on the shorts already...
Yes, they are looking fab. Thanks for asking.ÿ
Octopo:Yes, I fancy him - only not so short.
Sounds like you've started on the shorts already...
Yes, they are looking fab. Thanks for asking.ÿ
I have just checked the resistance in my speaker cables, with and without banana plugs soldered on the ends......
Wanna know what the difference was?
Absolutely nothing!!!! (and these were extreme cheapies)
Wanna know what the difference was?
Absolutely nothing!!!! (and these were extreme cheapies)
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