Speaker cable termination options


I recently moved my system to a single wall, drastically shortening my speaker cable run from 60 feet (which ran up through the attic) down to about 8 feet. Right now, I’m using Amazon Basics 14 AWG bare wire connected via flex-pin banana plugs to get by, but I want to replace them with a proper set of dedicated cables.

My gear consists of a Luxman L-507Z integrated amp and Wharfedale Super Linton speakers.

I have gone down the cable rabbit hole and frankly find it exhausting, so I’m not looking to rehash standard cable debates. I am strictly looking for perspective on unterminated vs. spades vs. banana plugs for my specific use case.

Here are my parameters:

  • Set and Forget: I do not plan on swapping gear, moving equipment, or dealing with tight/narrow spaces behind the rack.

  • Safety/Maintenance: I know unterminated wire carries a slight short-circuit risk if a strand strays, and I’m aware of copper oxidation over time.

  • Materials: I plan to stick with Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC) cable.

Given a strictly stationary, long-term setup, what termination type do you prefer and why? Furthermore, if I go with a terminated cable, are there specific plating materials (Gold, Silver, Rhodium, etc.) you recommend for the connectors to ensure the best long-term interface?

Thanks in advance for the insights and I hope you find some awesome new music this weekend,

ctlesq

Since this is not an audiophile set up, I would not consider any of the expensive options. There are plenty of pretty good affordable options. That said, please do avoid Amazon specials, there are countless stories about low cost cabling being poorly manufactured.

 

I strongly suggest quality brass bananas and low oxygen copper wire.

years ago, in my old system, I made my own cables from Belden 5000UE cable purchased from Bluejeans Cables and their compression style banana plugs. This is, imo, the absolute best budget wire for a stereo or home theatre. I still use the same cables for my surrounds.
 

Details below. 

 

First, I suggest you do not use bare wire. It is not a matter of it "might" oxidize, it will oxidize. Bare wire is by far the worst method of connection this this and many other reasons, you can safely ignore the "I never had a problem with it crowd."

 

I suggest also you not use spades, and especially do not use locking bananas. Copper and brass are too soft for spades, when over tightened they will dent, and then they will never connect properly again. Very few people (aside from the "I never had a problem with it crowd.") can tighten spades correctly. Same goes for locking bananas, except there you have the option of damaging your equipment from over tightening. Steel is strong enough for spades, but you want no magnetic materials in the signal path on any audio equipment regardless of the quality or cost.

 

Silver bananas suck. Silver is far too soft and loses any springlike quality is has quickly. They sound awesome for a short time, then they get loose on their own and the signal degrades. My cables are heavy enough they would fall out of the speaker after a few weeks. Same goes for pure copper to a lesser degree.

Some amps can be badly damaged if your speaker wires come loose.

 

Copper wire will degrade all on its own unless you use low oxygen copper. You will not hear any difference in your system today, but you will in a couple of years.

 

Gold over brass has been the industry standard for decades for a reason, do not get sucked into "we live in the future and have better materials." We have the same materials today as we did in the 30's and 80's.
 

I prefer bananas to spades as the connection is secure and a tight fit. With spades it can loosen after a while. I have two pairs of speaker cables and they are all factory-terminated bananas.