Recommendations for top-notch banana speaker cable connectors


I have raised my appreciation of upgraded cabling recently with the addition of Silnote Morpheus II IC's.  I have 10 ga. ohno copper cabling for my 25' speaker runs.  I currently have banana jacks from GLS Audio (formerly Orange County Audio).  Once plugged in, one turns the connector to expand the pin internally, but they still seem to yield a less-than-secure fit and the metal they use is questionable.  

I have handled WBT connectors at audio shows and they are incredibly fine, but at a price that would bust my audio budget.  Furutech seems to have some more affordable connectors with high purity metals.  I am sure that there are banana connectors available that hit a sweet spot between price and performance and would value any insights you lads might willing to provide.  Thanks, Mark

whitestix

Showing 6 responses by whitestix

Todd, et.al,
Thanks for the input from you.  I am thinking I will plunk down a few shekels for the AQ connectors you have recommended.   I am with Todd on the utility of banana connectors over spades.  The GLS connectors, in spite of their purposed ability to be able to be expanded once plugged into the female jacks is ineffectively executed and leaves the connection poorly secured.  Again, thanks for the input from you fellas.  Mark

Gents,
Thanks for the additional recommendations.  I just looked into the Cardas connectors and they have a vast array of them available.  I ran with Todd's recommendation and ordered a set of the AQ jacks for what I recall was $38.  Thanks again for your input.  

This AG forum has been an invaluable source of information on my quest for sonic excellence over the years and it is the good will of lads like you sharing your knowledge that moves me in the right direction.  Cheers, Mark
Todd,
I catch the main part of your drift and am thinking you are suggesting crimping the wire to the BFA connectors in lieu of soldering, which is required (?) with the Dyson BFA connectors reubent suggested above, which are inexpensive and doubtless provide an excellent metal-to-metal contact.  Can you clarify your post or send me private message?  I am of a mind that these BFA connectors are just what I need.   My GLS plugs yield a poor connection, to say the least.  Many thanks.  

Todd and reubent,
I got the AQ Suregrip100 BFA connectors and swapped them for my GLS connectors.  It was a very tight fit with my 12 ga Mogami 3103 wire, but I got these simple twin-screw-secured connectors put together rather easily.  AQ is a genius including a few extra screws as I dropped one in my carpet never to be found again.  

I got what I wanted out of these connectors:  a super tight connector to the female jacks in my amp and my speakers, better than any banana jacks I have ever used in 45 years. I will admit to that i hear no difference in the sound of my system, but that wasn't may goal.   I shouldn't bad-mouth the GLS connectors as they are very well made and reasonably priced, offering a decent fit, but these AQ's, and no doubt the Dyson's, are in a different league.  I am gonna get the Dysons for my bedroom system and one of my pals to solder them up.  

In this price range of connectors, I pity the fool that hasn't adopted the BFA connectors over conventional banana connectors. Cheers, Mark



Thumbs down on the inexpensive Dyson BFA's for my Von Damme cable, which is perhaps 10 ga. stranded wire.  At $12, they are cheap enough.  
Todd,
I see what you see on the AQ website, but it you Google the connectors, virtually all of them show the connectors with a little allen wrench, which indeed mine has.  The literature on the box states the following:  "Cold-Weld System for an ideal connection, better than sounding that solder: Tighten allen-screws ...  to create an ideal connection between the plug and connection, then slide the non-magnetic-interference ABS casing over the banana and screw in place."   This might be hype, but I can't solder worth a damn so these work fine.