[bob stern]

Can Bryston's expandable banana plug produce as tight and solid an electrical connection as a spade connector, or are spades preferable?

I assume that the expandable banana does not rotate as it expands, hence does not abrade the contact surface.  This would seem to be an advantage over spades, since tightening spades inevitably abrades the gold plating, although perhaps the abrasion is negligible, especially if surfaces are coated with Caig Pro Gold.

[James Tanner]

^
Hi Bob,

With any connection what your trying to do is to eliminate air from the connection.  At a molecular level air allows the connection to either rectify and produce a diode effect.  So the best way to eliminate air is to utilize a very tight connection preferably using similar metals.

Gold is very mallable and will not corrode in your lifetime so an airtight well plated gold to gold connection is the ideal.

I use the expandable bananas at the speaker end because I find they are convenient because I am always swapping speakers in and out of my systems.  I use the Spades at the amp end and I prefer them if its going to be a permanent connection. As you say unless it is a very deep gold plating wear and tear can take its toll.

james

[Lavazza]

Hi James,

Does Bryston solder or crimp the Bananas when terminating speaker wire? Also, will Bryston terminate wire supplied by Bryston owners? I use 8TC and want to use Bryston Bananas especially for my switch box to get solid connections.

Thanks.

Greg

[James Tanner]

Hi James,

Does Bryston solder or crimp the Bananas when terminating speaker wire? Also, will Bryston terminate wire supplied by Bryston owners? I use 8TC and want to use Bryston Bananas especially for my switch box to get solid connections.

Thanks.

Greg

Hi Greg,

We just use the 2 securing screws on the bananas and we solder the spades.
Sure we can install the connectors for you on your cables if that helps.

james