[rockadanny]

For speaker cables, which terminations are better for sound, spades or locking bananas?
And why?
I will not be connecting/disconnecting on a regular basis so don't care about convenience factor.

And do locking mechanisms eventually fail thru use?

Please,  I am not interested in discussing any other termination methods.

[Speedskater]

Sound wise, no difference.
But there may be mechanical reasons for choosing one or the other.

[AllanS]

Someone more knowledgeable about connector designs would need to weigh but my assumption is the connector that maximizes contact surface area and contact stress would be better.  I’m guessing spades would be preferred for those reasons.

Mechanically I prefer spades over bananas and how the cables lay but found the amp end to favor amps with horizontal binding posts that are elevated enough above the shelf, or deep enough, to provide cable clearance.  The speaker end was also a problem for me as the binding posts on my Spatial M4s are close to the floor.  Lesson learned too late for me is straight/locking bananas for general adaptability and spades for appropriate applications.

[toocool4]

For the largest contact area, British Federation of Audio (BFA) banana plug have a larger contact area over spade. Whether  it’s better sound quality or not I don’t know, a listening test would have to be done.

[newzooreview]

Low mass and high surface area are best, so I've always used pure copper BFA connectors. Locking bananas would be a second choice since they are at least securely connected. Spades are the opposite of optimal: high mass and low surface area. Spades also tends to come loose over time.

The GR Research tube connectors are essentially refined BFA connectors. I have not compared them to a standard BFA, but I wouldn't be surprised if they sound a little better on a revealing, well set up system in a good room.

[DaveC113]

For bananas, the only really good ones are pure copper and because of that they need to be locking, and they are expensive. For cheaper spades, DH Labs are pretty good and the same spade is sold by at least a dozen different audio companies. 

I dislike non-locking spades, they use friction which wears out plating and they are usually made of spring brass which is not good vs pure copper.

For spades, basic spades are often pure copper, no moving parts, larger surface area, less expensive.

Spades come in at a ~30 degree angle, bananas are either angled or straight... this can make a difference esp if you have an amp on a shelf with binding posts down low, spades won't fit unless you attach them from the top and on some speakers one angle might work out better than another.

[newzooreview]

For bananas, the only really good ones are pure copper and because of that they need to be locking,

Anticables, for example, sells gold-plated beryllium copper BFA connectors for $30 for a set of four. https://anticables.com/store/Banana-Plugs-Set-of-4-p103033872

These BFA connectors seat very securely without being locking and are not expensive.

GR Research sells a set of four pure copper tube connectors for $59. These also seat securely without a locking mechanism (other than the friction of the connector). They do require the matching tube connector female to be installed into the speaker, however, so they are most commonly used when building your own speaker although they could technically be retrofitted to any loudspeaker as a DIY project. https://gr-research.com/product/electra-cable-tube-connectors/

[DaveC113]

Anticables, for example, sells gold-plated beryllium copper BFA connectors for $30 for a set of four. https://anticables.com/store/Banana-Plugs-Set-of-4-p103033872

These BFA connectors seat very securely without being locking and are not expensive.

GR Research sells a set of four pure copper tube connectors for $59. These also seat securely without a locking mechanism (other than the friction of the connector). They do require the matching tube connector female to be installed into the speaker, however, so they are most commonly used when building your own speaker although they could technically be retrofitted to any loudspeaker as a DIY project. https://gr-research.com/product/electra-cable-tube-connectors/

Not a fan of BFA style, friction fit wears through plating. I want anything I make to last a lifetime so ymmv on that.