Old McIntosh speaker posts


Does anyone have any solutions for adapting the tiny sspeaker posts barrier strips on older (up to the early 90's) Mac amps? The posts are in barrier strips, and the largest thing you can fit in there is 11/16". This is too small for most good quality spade terminators on speaker wires, even if you clip off one ear. Any ideas short of putting in new posts or using bare wire?
croby
The same thing with my Parasound HCA 1200II. The holes in the binding posts are so big there's no material left for strength. I would have used bare wire but I was so paranoid of twisting the post off I used banana plugs instead. What's the use of a binding post if you can't tighten the damn thing without breaking it off?
DON'T YA JUST HATE 'EM! BEEN WAITING AS YOU TO GLEEN INCOMING SUGGESTIONS. I'M THINKING ABOUT REPLACING WITH SOME BEEFY POSTS ON MY 2550 AMP, AS I'M PROBABILY GOING TO KEEP IT AROUND FOR AWHILE. WHAT I'M DOING AT PRESENT(not to actually suggest)IS USING 6" AUDIOQUEST FORREST RETERMINATION BI-WIRE TRIM-OFFS. BARE WIRE ENDS TO Mc POSTS AMD FACTORY SPADES TO DBL. SIDED TERMINAL STRIP. SPEAKER WIRE SPADES LINE UP OPPOSING TERMINAL STRIP SIDE. THIS IS FOR EASE IN SHUFFLE AND SWITCHING-OUT PIECES ONLY. SKINNY BARE SOUNDS LIKE ITS ABOUT THE ONLY APPLICATION. WHILE I'M ON THE SOAPBOX HOW ABOUT THOSE DELICATE SNAPP-OFFISH CARVER AMP POSTS!! WHATS UP OUT THERE Mc PEOPLE?
No new ideas. I use bare wire connections because they sound better on my Kimber Kables. It's the easiest solution in your case depending on your speaker cables. I asked a knowledgeable gentleman at my local shop (where I purchased the Kimber) why people use connecters short of pure silver or gold, which may sound better. His answer was "because they look better and they are more convenient". Only the dust bunnies have a regualar view of the back of my amp and I do not detach my speaker cables very often. He advised that I go with bare wire connections and so did Kimber the manufacturer. The only drawback is that the ends need to be kept clean to prevent oxidation. The web sight that I picked up here at Audiogon in a tread is www.caig.com for a good contact cleaner.