Bananna plugs: worth their meager investment?

MichaelDDD · 10-23-2003, 10:47 PM

I've never used them before. They are a cheap investment.

Short of saving you ten seconds per connection of time hooking them up, do they have any benefits at all, or do they "just look nice and neat?"

I'm preparing an order for some 12 gauge wire and stand spikes from PartsExpress and am thinking of adding a bunch of bananna plugs.

Thank you.

Cagri · 10-24-2003, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Short of saving you ten seconds per connection of time hooking them up, do they have any benefits at all, or do they "just look nice and neat?"

There are some other minor benefits. My bare wire connection was coming loose because of vibration and I had to check and tighten the post screw once in every few weeks for instance. It is possible to forget to check and this may cause a nasty short. Also the banana plugs are offering some protection for your bare cable ends as they are covering them although they'll still oxidize as they aren't making an oxygen free grip.

MichaelDDD · 10-24-2003, 03:53 AM

Thanks, Cagri.

I just wonder if any plug can provide as good a connection as bare wire into the terminal can?

Ted Lee · 10-25-2003, 02:46 AM

imo, the only real benefit is convenience. i've never heard a diff between bare and banana - so i go for convenience.

but ... i gotta admit ... they *do* look pretty cool too.

MichaelDDD · 10-25-2003, 03:07 AM

Heh, yeah, I guess the cool factor IS there.

Thanks, "SuperTed."

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alan halvorson · 10-25-2003, 09:35 AM

I love the convenience and the look. There's no advantage other than that. The banana connectors I use are a little different and were a little more expensive. They are made by - I think, it's been so long since I bought them or even looked at them - Monster Cable. $25 a pair at the time; I don't know if they're made anymore. These feature a screw that you turn to make a really tight, almost totally pull-proof connection. They stay tight too. Gold plated. Look nice.

MichaelDDD · 10-25-2003, 11:31 AM

Another "yes" vote. Thanks, Alan. My PartsExpress order is growing by the day...they have so much cool stuff...and I need it all. Yah, I need ALL of it.

SeanA · 10-26-2003, 12:04 AM

I went with the bananas because my bare-wire connection would occasionally come loose from the 5-way binding post. The convenience is great, but it also gives me peace of mind that a stray wire strand won't being touching the wrong terminal !!!

MichaelDDD · 10-26-2003, 12:55 AM

Yeah, for a few bucks, the peace of mind is worth it.

I've never had a bare-wire connection come loose, though I'm sure it could happen. And the "stray wire strand" problem could definitely happen.

SeanA · 10-26-2003, 11:15 PM

Oh... I forgot to mention that the Bananas can be real handy if you plan to bi-wire. Depending on the speaker wire gage, you may be able to get both wires into a single plug which, of course, makes the connection much cleaner.