Best non-solder Bananna Plugs??? (1 Viewer)

[John Cain]

What do folks here feel are the best non-solder bananna plugs?? And where would you recommend I get some??

I want to use them for speaker wire connections to my pre/pro.

Many thanks!!

-- John

 

[Anthony Stephan]

Radio Shack has some good gold ones that are connected so that they plug in together (L&R).

But I also really like the ones that Home Depot sells. I think they have an RCA logo on them. They are separate but a plastic cover hides the screw terminal making it look very professional.

 

[David Cohn]

My vote goes to the Radio Shack #278-306.

$5.99 for a pair; easily installed*; looks good; sounds fantastic!

Don't forget to add a wire stripper ... they have several that will strip any gauge in a flash.

* Actually, I'm embarrassed to say it took me some detective work to get these connected properly to Monster Cable 12 gauge wire. After searching this forum I was able to find an excellent resource for banana plugs.

 

[Brian Schucher]

Partsexpress sells Dayton Audio gold banana plugs that i like very much.. I like em better than the RCA/Monster?RatShack

 

[Brian_C]

I also have the Dayton banana plugs from PartsExpress as well. They look nice and are very affordable as well.
2 Pair for $7:
Dayton Banana Plugs

 

[ThomasW]

Best?

Well probably WBT..........

They too are available from Parts Express.

 

[John Cain]

Thanks Guys..

Do any of these allow you to put the wire into the end of the plug, not into the side of the plug???

-- John

 

[Marc Rochkind]

Some take the wire at the end, such as the RCA that was mentioned above. Also, the Monster QuickLock that looks to be well made. The RCA anchors the wire with TWO set screws!

 

[JohnMW]

I use the ones Brian_C linked too. They are real nice.

 

[John Tillman]

Here is another nice one:
http://www.markertek.com/MTStore/Sto...?Search=bp-461
Once you get there, click on the link.

 

[Chuck C]

I second the Radio Shack #278-306. Da Best.

 

[Chuck Kent]

I liked the RS 278-306 too until I found that they were not holding tight on any size wire I had them on. They would not pull off but if I tried to twist them while holding the wire tight, they were clearly not making as tight of a connection that I thought they were.

So, I went with the RS dual banana 278-308 for my speakers (these are the ones the wires come in from the sides) and crimped the RS 278-307 for use at my receiver and amp connections. (The 278-307 also locks into place and can be soldered if you want.) These 2 connectors have made much tighter connections for me in my systems.

 

[David_Rivshin]

What are oppinions of AR AP307 banana plugs? $9 at BestBuy:
http://www.bestbuy.com/Detail.asp?m=...803&e=11054075
How about the Monster QuickLock twist on bananas? $20 at BestBuy: http://www.bestbuy.com/Detail.asp?m=...803&e=11074639
(would be happy to find where I can get them cheaper )
As for the crimp type bananas, what is the crimping mechanism? Could they be sufficiently crimped with a pair of pliers, or is a special crimper required? Who would have thought it'd be so hard to find a decent set of connectors that won't break the bank
Thanks,
-- Dave

 

[Marc Rochkind]

AR bananas: Wire held by single set screw. Plastic boot. Single set screw doesn't seem secure to me. RCA bananas use two set screws.

QuickLock: Uses what I call a "Screw-in Cone Crimp." Similar to the Radio Shack, in that you put the wire through a removable, hollow collar and then screw it into the banana piece so the end of the wire is crimped. Seems very secure. I haven't actually used the QuickLock, but have examined it closely. Only problem is $5 per plug, vs. $3 for Radio Shack.

 

[David_Rivshin]

Marc,
Just to be sure, which RadioShack bananas are you refering to, the 278-306? The RS site doesn't say, but for those who have used the 278-306, does the set have one red and one black, or do they both have a red band?
I certainly agree that $5/connector is alot of money, especially since I will soon have a need for 20 of them. And I'm sure I could put the $40 difference to good use elsewhere, like in the wire
-- Dave

 

[Marc Rochkind]

Yes, those are the ones. 278-306. Pkg. of 2, red and black. $6 for 2.

 

[Craig]

I found the Radio Shack bananas had a snugger fit in my Sony receiver and Mirage speakers. Both the Acoustic Research and RCA plugs were looser, I much preferred the RS plugs.

 

[MarcVH]

When you say the screw-in AR plugs don't seem secure, do you mean you are concerned that the wire could pull out of the plug, or that the electical contact isn't as strong as it could be?

 

[RyanDinan]

I used the AR's and Radio Shack banana's. The AR's i got at Lowes, and look identicle to the RS ones. Since the AR's were sold as 2 pairs for $7 (4 plugs), I needed to get one more set....So I went to RS - Which were more expensive....but oh well.
These bananas are the 2-piece screw-on crimp type - gold plated, and no rubber boots... The wire goes through a clylindrical collar. At the end of this collar, you bend the end of the bare wire over its threaded lip, then secure it by screwing on the banana plug cap. I like to kinda spread (fray) the bare wire around the lip a bit. Not only does this make it easier to screw on the cap, but it seems to give it more surface area to hold the wire in place....Plus, the instructions recommend it as well
They work great, and seem like they're very high quality. Which is why the price surprised me.
At the other ends of my wire (speaker end) I conected AR binding pins (gold plated, set-screw, with black/red rubber boots), since my speakers only have binding posts...
-Ryan Dinan

 

[Marc Rochkind]

Could you supply the model number of these ARs? They are different from the ARs I bought at Best Buy, which use a set screw and a plastic boot.