Banana plugs

[mobily]

Hey all,

Where is the best place to get some decent banana plugs?

Is it possible to use them to stick into the amp as well as the speakers?

Thanks!

[alexs2]

Maplins and similar sell cheap and perfectly useable ones,but if you want something expensive,the sky's the limit,all the way up to WBT plugs.

If your amp has binding posts that will accept a banana plug,and most do,then you can obviously fit them at that end as well.

[shahedz]

a lot of amps have the plastic cover on the banana plug posts so rememeber to take them out!

[harv]

Just make sure the amp takes banana's not BFA's plugs

[r21442]

Buy the Atlas jobs they are combo banana / BFA, take large dia cables and secure screw connection - simple.

[mobily]

my amp is the cambridge azur 540a but I'm not sure whether that would take banana plugs?

How much do you think it is worth spending on the plugs? My system cost around £700 in total.

[r21442]

Good plugs will last forever so don't skimp. Consider if you are going to change cables in future, whether you are soldering or not. Consider buying a couple extra in case you break, damage, lose grub screws etc.

Cable will have way more influence than the connector. As your total system cost is low balance what you spend - I don't know what that means for you! I still like the Atlas - think they were £3ea

[mobily]

Where is the best place to buy the plugs?

At the moment I have the speaker cable just screwed into the back of the speaker and amp. However it just seems a little scruffy to me. Do most people use banana plugs?

[r21442]

Get them at http://www.hifi.org.uk/dealers.php

You're opening a whole new debate if plugs or bare wire is a better connection. If you don't solder then there is a bare wire interface screwed in the plug anyway so its largely convenience and tidiness.

BTW they are £3.49 ea - called Z plug.
http://www.hifi.org.uk/products/co_p...hp?view=z_plug

[Knightshade]

Whilst I like Atlas cables and connectors. You can get much cheaper plugs which will do just as good a job.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?...&MaxPrice=9999
Would be a cheaper solution.

[overkill]

If you don't solder then there is a bare wire interface screwed in the plug anyway so its largely convenience and tidiness.

If you can solder, then do it. As you rightly say there is a debate over whether bare wire or banana plug is better.

A mate of mine with 18 years experience in electronics engineering, and a long time hifi repair man, recommends soldering - if you use banana plugs at all. He explained it all with regards resistance/contact etc, but it went over my head!

[CJROSS]

Satcure page 13 B1008 Code :

Banana Plugs for Cat5 Cable

Solid, no nonsense screw down plugs, side & rear entry, stackable. Cheap as chips and better VFM/Build than Ixos 204s at 5 times the cost.

[CFS]

I got all my plugs from the pot at Audio T! Just standard bandridge ones i think, Only a couple of quid each, really easy to fit and have lasted me well!

[AMc]

Bought mine £1 a pop from www.cpc.co.uk - you need an order of £35 ex VAT to get free shipping.
OK there may be better quality out there but the main reason for me was convenience when fiddling round the back of the amp. How bad can a gold plated hunk of metal be at conducting a high current? don't answer that - I'm sure I don't want to get involved in the debate

[r21442]

All valid inputs. The only reason I'd mentioned the Atlas was because at the time of the thread starting it was unclear if Mobily needed banana or BFA. The Atlas serves both - some others do too - so are future proof to a degree.

What is the trend on modern amps - banana or BFA? At home I've got a bunch of different requirements - BFA on my TAG gear, bananas on my Denon, DIN (aaargh) on my Nytech.