Banana Advice

[RVJII]

Going to try my hand at some DIY speaker cables. Picked up some Canare Quad 4S11 that I am going to use for Shotgun bi-wire cables. I've been trying to figure out what kind of connectors to use as the price spread is pretty wide.

Been looking at these:

Compression Style (http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=091-330)

WBT Midline (http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=093-536)

Monster (http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=185-184)

Locking (http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/speaker-con.html#603)

Any advice? Does it really make a huge difference?

[Willow]

I use the compression ones just bought them last Thursday, seem to work fine the fit and finnish is nice and they have a good weight to them don't feel cheap

[gmorris]

I also use the compression style form Parts Express. They work just fine.

I also use the Black & Red 3:1 heat shrink tubing. Just makes it look even cooler, more professional.

Here are the links to the correct sizes of heat shrink.

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=080-640

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=080-641

[RVJII]

Great info...thanks.

What size tech flex would you use to cover the cables? Since I am doing them shotgun style there will be 8x14AWG per cable. (ie. 4 pairs of 11AWG.)

[Willow]

Gmorris said -
[B]I also use the compression style form Parts Express. They work just fine.

I also use the Black & Red 3:1 heat shrink tubing. Just makes it look even cooler, more professional.

Here are the links to the correct sizes of heat shrink.


Do you have pics of your banana plugs ??
I'd like to see'em if you do

[gmorris]

willow,

I had posted pics in the other thread we were talking about plugs in. But, since then I've added the heat shrink tubing. I'll try to get some pics tonight, and post them.

As far as the tech flex, I'm not sure, as I'm not familiar with that product. Is it available from Parts Express? If so, just measure the diameter of your finished cable, then figure out which size you will need.

[stereo55]

I purchased 50+ banana plugs from speakerrepair.com on ebay HERE (http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=speakerrepair.com&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=50) , and am VERY happy with the quality product(s) I purchased and the xint service Ive recieved .
Here are few types of connectors Ive purchased that work xint and look nice too ...

LINKY (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=32838&item=3090589665)
LINKY #2 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=29947&item=3716923074)
LINKY #3 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=32838&item=3090733050)

(*NOTE* the pictures really do not do them justice , they're much nicer looking/quality in person)



My .02 ;) :D

[RVJII]

Thanks for the info!

Look like great plugs and they can handle really "beefy" wire. Just ordered 20 locking and 20 regular.

[gmorris]

willow,

I posted my pics in another thread. see here: http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=172900#post172900

[Willow]

thanks those are nice !!

[PolkWannabie]

Originally posted by stereo55
I purchased 50+ banana plugs from speakerrepair.com on ebay Regarding his locking bananas, his ad says that they accomodate up to 2 AWG. Is that for real ? What size wire are you running into them ? Below what size AWG does the wire need to be folded ? Do you know if he has comparable spades ? He doesn't list any.

[RVJII]

I am going to be running 2x11AWG into each at the amp end and 1x11AWG at the speaker end. (Shotgun bi-wire setup) I talked to the guy and he said that they should be just fine. I wasn't sure and thought that they might be too big for the speaker end so I spent the extra $24 to get 20 of the plugs that are good down to 10AWG.

I should have them in a few days and I'll let you know for sure then.

If nothing else, this will be a fun and relatively inexpensive project.

[RVJII]

The diameter on the locking plugs is just under 5/8".