AQ vs Signal Cable vs BlueJeans vs MonoPrice

If you're doing your own cable terminations, such as adding banana plugs, the Blue Jeans Cables are tough to work with, and kind of brittle. I prefer AQ solid core copper for this. I actually use both in my HT system, AQ type4 for the front array and BJC for the surrounds, because I have very long runs and couldn't afford AQ at that length. I think it sounds great.

you can just use bare wire at the end of the speaker cable to connect to the amp and speakers, but when dealing with the compact layout on the back of a home theater receiver, its hard to get in there with your fingers and tighten down all the connections onto bare wire, there just isn't any room. This is where banana plugs really come in handy, they're quick, they just plug right into the connection on the amp and speakers. no sore fingers.
Lots of cables are sold with the terminations already installed, but I'm cheap.