Dear @johnk : You are just rigth. The best connector is NO-connector at all.
In my system I only have the essential whole connectors.
The speakers are hard wired from each driver directly to the external crossover hand from here hard wired to the amps output Fisher connectors.
The amps are hard wired at its inputs directly to the phonolinepreamp output connectors and all the power line cables are hard wired from inside the electronics to the fully regulated power line. Inclusive I take out all the input power fuses.
Yes, there are high differences for the better in quaklity levels.
Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.