I like spades. Easy (for me) to solder nice spades to copper wire with audio grade (Cardas) solder. Secure connection with little chance of stray wire shorting. Plus I agree with all the issues of multi contact points and breaking wires with bare ends. In one system I have nice builder terminated wires. In my other I have a 33 foot run so I use double shotgun runs of 10 gauge copper wire and terminate my self. Look at Parts Express for inexpensive good quality spades (or bananas). Ken.
Spades vs Bananas vs Bare Wire Treated with Caig Deox
There's been a myriad of good discussion on terminations for high end speaker cable. Spades vs Ban vs bare wire etc. After much deliberation, the variability in termination contact material and the cost, my conclusion is to forgo any spade/ban termination and run bare 12 awg 200+ strand OFC copper wire. I plan to simply treat the connection with Caig Deoxit D and Gold series.
According to their literature the connection is protected on average 5 years.
https://caig.com/questions-answers/#toggle-id-2
Its not the neatest setup, but this is a set it and forget it home audio set-up with sub $5K in equipment in a climate controlled basement that stays 68 degrees year round. I'm new here and in no way poo-pooing the decision for terminations. For me, it seems like work I don't need to take on unless someone told be the channel output could be increased by a few db and the distortion decreased by 20+%.
Anyone see an issue with this reasoning?
Other post history: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/spade-vs-bare-wire
According to their literature the connection is protected on average 5 years.
https://caig.com/questions-answers/#toggle-id-2
Its not the neatest setup, but this is a set it and forget it home audio set-up with sub $5K in equipment in a climate controlled basement that stays 68 degrees year round. I'm new here and in no way poo-pooing the decision for terminations. For me, it seems like work I don't need to take on unless someone told be the channel output could be increased by a few db and the distortion decreased by 20+%.
Anyone see an issue with this reasoning?
Other post history: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/spade-vs-bare-wire