Bananas rule, spades drool. End of discussion.
I just checked my speaker connections. All using bananas, all nice and tight.
The number of times I’ve had spades get loose instead though.....
Point is, and it really is kind of a tongue in cheek thing, bananas beat spades for long term reliability in almost all setups. If you have to use a Cardas or Mundorf speaker terminal to ensure your spades stay tight it kind of proves my point.
I use one-piece BFA style banana plugs (not really banana plug but fit into the same female connection). They fit tight, stay tight, and are one piece. Tranditional banana plugs are a challenge because they have to be either gold coated steel (try a magnet on the cheaper ones) or they are solft and can loosen up. They are also multiple pieces and I've had them pull apart on my. Spades, in addition to what has been said, can sometimes be pulled sideways into a short. BFA rules. Jerry |
@horstmann I didn't mention low mass since most here don't consider that. Since you do I'll share that I make my own low mass binding posts by pressing an OFC copper tube through the center of a bored out 3/8" threaded nylon rod. Perfect match for the low mass BFAs. PM if interested in the details. I also agree the simple BFAs seem indestructable. Jerry |
