[moedank]


I have a 3.0 system consisting of Polk Monitor series II 50s front speakers, a CS1 center and a Yamaha RX-V375 receiver. The speakers and receiver's front speaker terminals accept banana plugs. However, the receiver's center speaker terminals are spring clips, so they only accept bare wire or pin plugs.

 

Here's my dilemma. I want to use these cables (http://sewelldirect.com/Silverback-Speaker-Wire-by-Sewell-Enhanced-Loud-Oxygen-Free-Pure-Copper-259-Strand-Count-6-ft-Terminated.asp) for my speakers. They are relatively inexpensive, look professional and seem to be well made. Since the receiver's center speaker terminals are spring clips, can I connect one end of the cable's banana plugs to pin plugs like these (http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040115&p_id=5976&seq=1&format=2&ref=cj) so that the center speaker can be connected to the receiver? The description for the pin plug states that it accepts banana plugs. Stupid question, would the banana plug connect through the bottom of the pin plug or would it be secured in through the open screw area? Please forgive my lack of knowledge about this. 

 

Also, will this added plug  negatively influence the sound coming from the center speaker in a noticeable way in comparison to the fronts that won't have this extra component to run through? I know there will be some type of difference, but if I can't tell than I won't care. 

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

[commsysman]

Forget the plugs and just use Monoprice #14 speaker wire.


It helps to twist the wires together after stripping them.


Plain stripped stranded wire is the only thing to use in the spring clips; other things do not seat well in the spring clips.


For binding posts it helps to "tin" the stripped wire ends with solder, and then put them thorough the holes in the base of the binding posts.


Get Monoprice #2748 (50 feet pure copper #14 wire) $13.

 

[highd3f]

Won't solder create resistance for the signal that's passing to the speaker?

 

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

You don't need any connectors, so just get bare wire. And why 12 gauge? Massive overkill for a 6 foot cable. Use this to find the gauge you actually need:
http://www.bcae1.com/images/swfs/speakerwireselectorassistant.swf

 

[moedank]



Quote:
Originally Posted by commsysman  /t/1522776/speaker-wire-question#post_24488928


Forget the plugs and just use Monoprice #14 speaker wire.


It helps to twist the wires together after stripping them.


Plain stripped stranded wire is the only thing to use in the spring clips; other things do not seat well in the spring clips.


For binding posts it helps to "tin" the stripped wire ends with solder, and then put them thorough the holes in the base of the binding posts.


Get Monoprice #2748 (50 feet pure copper #14 wire) $13.

 

I actually already have ~90 feet of C&E 14 awg copper wire and have been running my speakers bare for some time. The wire itself is fine; I just don't care for the look of bare wire or do-it-yourself wiring. The Sewell cable I linked to looks damn sexy in my opinion. I plan on only running a 3.0 or 3.1 system, so I thought three of these cables at the same length would make setting up my system a snap. My only issue is the center speaker's terminals on the receiver are spring clips and won't accept banana plugs. So, I am trying to figure out a way to get by until I eventually upgrade my receiver. 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Fitzmaurice  /t/1522776/speaker-wire-question#post_24488965


You don't need any connectors, so just get bare wire. And why 12 gauge? Massive overkill for a 6 foot cable. Use this to find the gauge you actually need:
http://www.bcae1.com/images/swfs/speakerwireselectorassistant.swf

 

I only chose that gauge because their website doesn't have any other size. I would have preferred 14 awg. 

 

[afrogt]



Quote:
I actually already have ~90 feet of C&E 14 awg copper wire and have been running my speakers bare for some time. The wire itself is fine; I just don't care for the look of bare wire or do-it-yourself wiring. The Sewell cable I linked to looks damn sexy in my opinion. I plan on only running a 3.0 or 3.1 system, so I thought three of these cables at the same length would make setting up my system a snap. My only issue is the center speaker's terminals on the receiver are spring clips and won't accept banana plugs. So, I am trying to figure out a way to get by until I eventually upgrade my receiver.

This isn't much of a dilemma. Banana plugs don't make your system sound any better, its purely aesthetics and convenience.


Buy the 3 cables and remove the banana plugs on one end if your receiver only accepts bare wire for the center. Only takes a few seconds to do.





How often do you look at the back of your receiver?

 

[moedank]



Quote:
Originally Posted by afrogt  /t/1522776/speaker-wire-question#post_24490364


How often do you look at the back of your receiver?

 

Not much. It's one of those things that isn't a big deal but it still bothers me. Besides my electronics, I'm not OCD.

 

[afrogt]

Do whatever you need to do to make yourself happy then.

 

[jdcrox]

I also agree that bare wire is the BEST connection for spring clips. Those pins just do not work very well, they just do not get clamped in well.