[Wayner]

Frank, he was asking if the power cord was wired backwards.

W

[murf]

Thanks Frank,
  I, for one, will never do this again.  How about the rest of you readers!!   

Murf 

[Wayner]

Oops, if it were wired backwards, it wouldn't even go to the switch (brain dead).

Wayner 

[dlparker]

  Yo, old fashioned, my Gramps used to save old string....

Murf

A friend of mine who buys and resells all kinds of second hand items, while sorting through "stuff" from an estate, came across an envelope with little bits of string inside.  Hand written in pencil on the outside of the envelope was "pieces of string too short to save".

[murf]

Oops, if it were wired backwards, it wouldn't even go to the switch (brain dead).

Wayner 

Well Gosh, Wayner!
   I hope you weren't brain dead & got the wiring correct on MY amp!     (seems mighty good, though).

Murf

[Brett Buck]

Oops, if it were wired backwards, it wouldn't even go to the switch (brain dead).

   Even worse, all the cryogenically-treated electrons would be flushed out into the power grid, and not into the components! Or something.

     Brett

[Wayner]

I do not do any wiring. I am the mechanical guy (sheet metal).

Wayner 

[CSI]

Re: Binding post specs...long experience in the industry has me agreeing with Frank and others here about banana plugs being the best connector. I spent a few years as sales manager for a "high end" cable mfg. who always recommended bananas for practical reasons. Most audiophiles will change gear from time to time and bananas are a sure and easy way to facilitate hookups. As Frank notes, they are less likely to work loose and cause problems. They also offer substantially more contact area at the amp to cable interface.

[murf]

"...who always recommended bananas for practical reasons...They also offer substantially more contact area at the amp to cable interface."

How much contact area does the connection need?  Let's see, a speaker wire of maybe 16ga has a cross section area of...not too big.  So I need gonzo big-contact-area banana plugs?  If I am able to keep my binding posts tight on my spades or bare wire (some people can; some people do brake jobs on their cars), does the tight, totally vibration free connection make any sense in relation to sound quality?    
(yes, I do think we are splitting hairs!  But can I hear a hair being split?)

Murf

[CSI]

If you can hear hairs being split then you can probably hear the difference. If not, then just relax and enjoy the music.

[murf]

Ouch!  Just got a haircut, and my ears are ringing!!!! 

Murf   

[charmerci]

I think contact area is important. Ideally, I'd like to have my speaker cables soldered into my amp and speaker contacts. Why?

Years ago, I had 20 feet of speaker cable running from my amp - however, they were two 10 feet runs hand twisted together. Try that yourself and you will notice a definitive drop in the bass.

[festuss]

  The wire dolts are truly entertaining.  Too many fancy full page ads in magazines, have people convinced of so much crap.  Dual banana plugs are the way to go. Of course you can hear the difference in 10 feet of wire.