Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - Binding post versus banana jack?
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GaetanoL
03-03-08, 07:16 PM
As part of a basement remodel, I wired speaker wire in-wall for surround sound and whole house audio. My walls are now up and painted, so I'm getting ready to finish off the LV electrical.
I'd like to have a clean look, so I'm planning on using plates at the LV boxes where the speaker wires come out of the walls. I wasn't sure if I should use binding posts or banana jacks.
I assume that the binding posts can accept a simply exposed speaker wire, but for the banana jacks you need wires with banana clips at the ends. Is that correct?
What is the preferred method?
Do most people use plates with some type of post, or do they use pass-through plates like this (http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=639362)?
I'd like to have a clean look, so I'm planning on using plates at the LV boxes where the speaker wires come out of the walls. I wasn't sure if I should use binding posts or banana jacks.
I assume that the binding posts can accept a simply exposed speaker wire, but for the banana jacks you need wires with banana clips at the ends. Is that correct?
What is the preferred method?
Do most people use plates with some type of post, or do they use pass-through plates like this (http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=639362)?
Strategery
03-03-08, 08:35 PM
I believe that banana jacks can also be used as binding posts, but I don't know if that's true for all of them.
They sell banana plugs that can be attached to the wires if you need them.
They sell banana plugs that can be attached to the wires if you need them.
Rick Johnston
03-04-08, 04:25 AM
If you choose to go with binding posts, hard-wire the speaker wires to the hole in the posts. Banana plugs are compression connections and will loosen up over time. If it happens to fall out and land against metal it could short your speaker outputs. Another drawback is you'll need one pair for each speaker line.
Another option is a Speakon connector (sample here) (http://www.mountsandmore.com/asp/show_detail.asp?sku=CH1657&refid=FR2-CH1657). Each NL8 will handle four pairs of speaker wires. The male connectors twist & lock into the wall plate.
Another option is a Speakon connector (sample here) (http://www.mountsandmore.com/asp/show_detail.asp?sku=CH1657&refid=FR2-CH1657). Each NL8 will handle four pairs of speaker wires. The male connectors twist & lock into the wall plate.
GaetanoL
03-08-08, 12:14 PM
Rick,
Thanks.
I not familiar with the Speakon connection, but I did some reading on Wikopedia. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speakon_connector)
I have some follow-up questions, in case I go with the binding posts:
Do you think I can solder to my speaker wires to the back of this (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10425&cs_id=1042503&p_id=3324&seq=1&format=1#largeimage)type of post?
What about this (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040115&p_id=2801&seq=1&format=2) or this (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040115&p_id=2943&seq=1&format=2) type of banana plugs? Are they likely to loosen over time? If I don't go with the Speakon connection, am I better off using bare wire than banana?
Lastly, are there Speakon jacks that can fit in into a multigang box (Decora type plate)? The speaker wire to my receiver share a box with some component video, RG6 and Cat5 wire.
Thanks.
I not familiar with the Speakon connection, but I did some reading on Wikopedia. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speakon_connector)
I have some follow-up questions, in case I go with the binding posts:
Do you think I can solder to my speaker wires to the back of this (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10425&cs_id=1042503&p_id=3324&seq=1&format=1#largeimage)type of post?
What about this (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040115&p_id=2801&seq=1&format=2) or this (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040115&p_id=2943&seq=1&format=2) type of banana plugs? Are they likely to loosen over time? If I don't go with the Speakon connection, am I better off using bare wire than banana?
Lastly, are there Speakon jacks that can fit in into a multigang box (Decora type plate)? The speaker wire to my receiver share a box with some component video, RG6 and Cat5 wire.
Rick Johnston
03-09-08, 06:20 AM
Do you think I can solder to my speaker wires to the back of this (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10425&cs_id=1042503&p_id=3324&seq=1&format=1#largeimage)type of post?
Probably not. Thin gold plating and solder don't play well together. The web page does say "Same type of connector front and back" which should mean they can accept bare wires. The wire goes through the threaded post and the outer ring screws down to secure it.
What about this (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040115&p_id=2801&seq=1&format=2) or this (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040115&p_id=2943&seq=1&format=2) type of banana plugs? Are they likely to loosen over time?
Look closely at the enlarged picture (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040115&p_id=2943&seq=1&format=1#largeimage). The 4 little bends in the end of the plug are the only things holding the plug in place. The plugs are not spring steel, and those little bends will eventually straighten with just the weight of the cable pulling down on it. I can't count the times over the years that I've had to stick a small screwdriver in there and bend them back out. Once you start doing that they get even weaker and it becomes a regular task.
If I don't go with the Speakon connection, am I better off using bare wire than banana?
Yes. This is much more secure. You could probably pull the plate off the wall before those connections would give way. (BTW, don't tin the ends of the wires with solder. Compression connections don't like tinned wires.)
Lastly, are there Speakon jacks that can fit in into a multigang box (Decora type plate)? The speaker wire to my receiver share a box with some component video, RG6 and Cat5 wire.
A quick search shows that Ram Electonics (http://www.ramelectronics.net/audio-video/wallplates-a-v/c10000-c19000-p1.html) offers them, but it may be a special-order or custom item.
Probably not. Thin gold plating and solder don't play well together. The web page does say "Same type of connector front and back" which should mean they can accept bare wires. The wire goes through the threaded post and the outer ring screws down to secure it.
What about this (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040115&p_id=2801&seq=1&format=2) or this (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040115&p_id=2943&seq=1&format=2) type of banana plugs? Are they likely to loosen over time?
Look closely at the enlarged picture (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040115&p_id=2943&seq=1&format=1#largeimage). The 4 little bends in the end of the plug are the only things holding the plug in place. The plugs are not spring steel, and those little bends will eventually straighten with just the weight of the cable pulling down on it. I can't count the times over the years that I've had to stick a small screwdriver in there and bend them back out. Once you start doing that they get even weaker and it becomes a regular task.
If I don't go with the Speakon connection, am I better off using bare wire than banana?
Yes. This is much more secure. You could probably pull the plate off the wall before those connections would give way. (BTW, don't tin the ends of the wires with solder. Compression connections don't like tinned wires.)
Lastly, are there Speakon jacks that can fit in into a multigang box (Decora type plate)? The speaker wire to my receiver share a box with some component video, RG6 and Cat5 wire.
A quick search shows that Ram Electonics (http://www.ramelectronics.net/audio-video/wallplates-a-v/c10000-c19000-p1.html) offers them, but it may be a special-order or custom item.