Best speaker terminations with AVA

Minn Mark · « **on:** 24 Jun 2010, 06:41 pm »

I have an AVA Insight 440H, and want to update the speaker cables. I am planning on using 12 AWG wire. Does the amp accept most easy-to-obtain dual banana plugs? I am also considering bi-wire, as I have never experimented with this (Spkrs are Magneplanars ). Would spades better? Any advice for best bi-wiring?

Thanks,

Mark

martyo · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 06:54 pm »

Quote from: Minn Mark on 24 Jun 2010, 06:41 pm

I have an AVA Insight 440H, and want to update the speaker cables. I am planning on using 12 AWG wire. Does the amp accept most easy-to-obtain dual banana plugs? I am also considering bi-wire, as I have never experimented with this (Spkrs are Magneplanars ). Would spades better? Any advice for best bi-wiring?

Thanks,

Mark

Hey Mark. I have a 550 that I bi-wire and I use bananas and "piggy back" them on the amp. I'm sure that is too easy and simple for some. Spades with a heavy duty torque wrench......

Wayner · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 08:16 pm »

I always recommend dual banana plugs. They are more secure then singles and as Mark said, they can be piggy backed. Monoprice has them as well as Pamona and Partsexpress, I think they are all the same model.

Wayner

robinje · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 08:17 pm »

With my Ultra 350, I find that bananas are the only viable termination choice. The speaker output terminals are just below the massive cooling fins and are hard to get to for those who would like to use spades or bare wire. It's much easier to just reach back there and plug in the bananas. No complaints here... bananas work just fine for me.

floresjc · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 08:30 pm »

I've got a 440 and I've used both bare wire and banana connections (the Blue Jeans premium locking). I prefer banana's because its easier to handle. The jacks are right below the heat sink, so they are impossible to reach unless you have clear access to the back of your amp. My install is in a closet I can get to the back easily, so it was no big deal for me, but thats not likely to be the case for most. I just did it cause I wanted to use the amp until my banana's came!

AVnerdguy · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 08:57 pm »

I have a 440 and Maggies also. I use ICM banana plugs with 12 and 14 AWG wire. Nice and secure and as others have noted those spades are hard to get in under the heat sinks. I also find that spades seem to loosen up unless you torque them down goooooood. Two issues there - if they loosen up then they go intermittent and or fall off (possibly shorting the output terminals) or if you torque them too much you can crack that insulator. I've fixed enough of those types of problems to realize that some folks just don't have a feel for snug. Besides, if you want to stack them then banana is definately the way to go.

newzooreview · « **Reply #6 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 09:06 pm »

Can someone post a photo or link showing these stacked banana plugs in action? I've looked at monoprice and ICM and I only see side-by-side banana plugs, only one for each binding post--nothing that stacks two wire connections on each binding post.

My current cables are solid 12 AWG (anti-cables) so to bi-wire my Salk HT1-TLs I'm planning to connect one spade (bent at a right angle due to the heat sink on the 550) and one banana into each binding post. I do agree that the spades have a propensity to loosen, but I'm not getting this stacking thing. (I mean I get it in principle, but I don't see how it's implemented with the connectors that people are referencing here).

Thanks.

Wayner · « **Reply #7 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 09:16 pm »

The "side by side" banana are the dual ones that we are talking about. They have another set of "holes" in the thumbscrew that will accept another set of bananas.'

Wayner

AVnerdguy · « **Reply #8 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 09:35 pm »

The are single ones also from Parts express - WBT 0645R Stackable Angled Banana Connector Red - and other sources. There is an angled port that accepts another plug (stacked). I'd post a photo but I'm workin' with my phone right now.

TjMV3 · « **Reply #9 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 10:07 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 24 Jun 2010, 09:16 pm

The "side by side" banana are the dual ones that we are talking about. They have another set of "holes" in the thumbscrew that will accept another set of bananas.'

Wayner

Okay, how does the speaker wire get secured in there, so it won't fall out?

Does it have some kind of locking mechanism in the barrel or on the end, there?

Wayner · « **Reply #10 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 10:45 pm »

Do you see the holes towards the "bananas"? That is were you insert the wire. Then you screw down the knurled end and it tightens up on the wire, forming a crimp.

Wayner

newzooreview · « **Reply #11 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 10:50 pm »

Ok, risking ridicule, is this what you're saying? And if so, I'm having trouble seeing how this helps with the heat sink fins on the 550 overhanging the speaker binding posts.

mark funk · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 01:06 am »

I use 10 AWG with bananas on my 550. You see those holes where the cable goes, they are up and down, put the cable up through the hole from the bottom and the cables are away from the heat sinks. Works well for me

.

mark funk · « **Reply #13 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 01:12 am »

I miss read that. No, they plug in the ends, see where the knurling is, right in those holes.

newzooreview · « **Reply #14 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 01:51 am »

Quote from: mark funk on 25 Jun 2010, 01:06 am

I use 10 AWG with bananas on my 550. You see those holes where the cable goes, they are up and down, put the cable up through the hole from the bottom and the cables are away from the heat sinks. Works well for me .

Ok, I'm talking about bi-wiring so yes, one set of wires comes out where the knurled end is (that much is clear). But these are supposed to be "stacked" banana connectors, so we need to get that second set of wires in somewhere. Inserting the second set of bananas from the bottom, up through the holes indicated in my illustration is an option but doesn't help me: coming in from the bottom they avoid the heat sink but they are inhibited by the stand that the amplifier sits on.

I don't have the amp yet, but when it comes it will need to sit fully on the stand: its rear won't be able to hang over the edge so that the second set of downward poking bananas have the needed room.

I'm really over complicating this for myself, I think. I use anti-cables, and I just wrote to them and they can make me up a bi-wire set with a single banana plug on the amp end. Problem solved.

timind · « **Reply #15 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 01:53 am »

Those plugs are meant to have wires inserted in the holes, ,as you understand and then another pair of banana plugs inserted in the holes on the ends.

newzooreview · « **Reply #16 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 02:09 am »

Quote from: timind on 25 Jun 2010, 01:53 am

Those plugs are meant to have wires inserted in the holes, ,as you understand and then another pair of banana plugs inserted in the holes on the ends.

CAUTION: dead horse beating zone

To summarize then, we're not talking about actually stacking two sets of banana connectors, but rather inserting some stranded wire into two sets of holes as diagrammed here:

JerryM · « **Reply #17 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 02:22 am »

Quote from: newzooreview on 25 Jun 2010, 02:09 am

CAUTION: dead horse beating zone

To summarize then, we're not talking about actually stacking two sets of banana connectors, but rather inserting some stranded wire into two sets of holes as diagrammed here:

No, they actually stack. While this isn't the exact same connector, you can see what's going on.

Make sense now?

Have fun,
Jerry

timind · « **Reply #18 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 02:27 am »

Jerry, who does your nails? Very nice.

newzooreview · « **Reply #19 on:** 25 Jun 2010, 02:35 am »

Quote from: timind on 25 Jun 2010, 02:27 am

Jerry, who does your nails? Very nice.

Definitely more than I wanted to know!