Spades vs. Banana plugs ??

First I prefer bare wire (no connectors means one less element, one less point of failure, and one less expense, so it's a win-win). As always watch for stray strands, and don't tin the wire ends because that greatly reduces the contact area that a properly crushed wire provides.

Next, BFA style bananas (see below).

A couple things I always low-key wondered about: 

- As said above, a proper connection is crimped first. Then solder of the appropriate quality may be flowed into it, maximizing mechanical and electrical properties. Why then do so many bananas and spades, including audiophile-quality ones, hold onto the cable with set screws?

- What happened to old-fashioned ring connectors and nut-and-bolt posts? They provide superior clamping force, and ring connectors aren't slipping off or pulling out ever. Seems they would make sense when cable gauge, stiffness, and weight are on the rise.

The ubiquitous five-way binding posts are hard pressed to cope with the mechanical stress imposed by the massive cables folks use. 12AWG is about as far as five-way will comfortably handle.

Speakon connectors address five-way's shortcomings but are still largely absent from the audiophile world. There are signs this is changing though, for instance Linkwitz uses Speakons in their LX521 flagships. Benchmark does too.

If Furutech, WBT et al start making $500 Speakon connectors, they may yet become the audiophile standard.