Banana plugs or Spades

Posted by: AussieSteve on 04 November 2015

Is there a benefit using one over the other? I use banana plugs as supplied with my NACA5, and to be honest I don't know which is superior. Anyone know the answer?

Posted on: 04 November 2015 by Richard Dane

There is great benefit in using whatever connector is most appropriate for the item you're connecting to; ergo, if connecting to a Naim amp or Naim speakers, then best to use the supplied Naim speaker connectors.  These provide the best connection and metal match to the sockets.  These can also be used very successfully on other items with Deltron-type 4mm sockets or binding posts.  Similarly, if you wish to connect to an amp or speaker with screw down terminals most suited for spades, then use spades that most closely match the metal that has been used on the terminal.  

 

There's no such thing as "it'll do" here.  It's cheap and simple to get this bit right. If it's wrong then it can hold back the entire system, no matter how expensive.  Now, what was the saying about a ha'penny worth of tar...?

Posted on: 04 November 2015 by Steve J

With NACA5 it's recommended to have the cable terminated with Naim plugs (banana). I think it's generally considered that banana speaker plugs are preferable to spades because of the better contact but sometimes using spades is unavoidable with jumpers.

Posted on: 04 November 2015 by feeling_zen
Banana plugs give a better contact connection and, depending on the cable, can provide better impedence matching (though this is negated by the fat brass binding posts on most speakers).

Generally banana are preferred in Europe and the far east. In the US they are often thought of as "those strange British plugs"

Usually the banana plug sheath provides better support for the cable past the solder/crimp joint but a strong connection should render that benefit irrelevant. I am not convinced there is a noticable sonic difference. I prefer banana plugs because that's what I'm used to and they are convenient.
Posted on: 04 November 2015 by AussieSteve

Thanks all, I use the Naim dual post connector into the amp, this question for me was specific to the speaker ends. They are Naim banana's and awhile ago in a headrush I bought quality gold spades which I assumed would have greater contact surface and benefit. I know about as much as Homer J when it comes to electrical engineering!

Posted on: 04 November 2015 by feeling_zen
Gold generally is used to plate a much cheaper metal against oxidisation since gold that thin on cheap metal is cheaper than just using something like zinc on the whole plug.

Don't get too worried about it. There are fancy looking plugs which are naff and cheap looking ones that are good and everything in between.