Speaker wire Banana plug

[DinoF]

Hi,
What size are the banana plugs needed for speaker wires, 2 mm or 4 mm?
TIA

 

[PatriX]

My Wiim Amp bananas have 4mm

 

[DinoF]

Hey, Thanks. I thought so as it's pretty standard, but I'm not near mine to confirm. Tks for the confirmation

 

[LucAce]

My Nakamichi banana plugs don't quite fit into the Amp Pro's sleeves and stick out quite far to the back. It doesn't look nice and is a bit impractical.
Can anyone recommend shorter banana plugs that fit the amp better?

 

[Wiimer]

My Nakamichi banana plugs don't quite fit into the Amp Pro's sleeves and stick out quite far to the back. It doesn't look nice and is a bit impractical.
Can anyone recommend shorter banana plugs that fit the amp better?

View attachment 14091

I cover them with these tube-shaped sponge covers.



Are you Nakamichi too? I am also Nakamichi.

 

[Woody]

These have been working well for me. You can adjust the tightness with the thumbscrew.

Amazon.com

 

[harkpabst]

My Nakamichi banana plugs don't quite fit into the Amp Pro's sleeves and stick out quite far to the back. It doesn't look nice and is a bit impractical.
Can anyone recommend shorter banana plugs that fit the amp better?

View attachment 14091

It's a bit funny (and a bit sad) how all these affordable amps are using very short binding posts nowadays. Personally I would prefer pure banana sockets flush mounted to the rear (like with most all classical British amplifiers) but I know that this is not going to happen.

However, it's not much of a technical problem really, but mainly an aesthetic one. The solution provided by @Wiimer looks quite pleasing to me. If you don't have any suitable material at hand another option would be to fully undo the nuts on the binding posts. They won't come off but rest in the outmost position like so:



Not perfect, but maybe you like the looks a little better and it's all for free.

 

[BK308]

Hey guys thanks for posting. I just looked at my banana plugs on my WiiM amp and ran into the same thing.

 

[LucAce]

The solution provided by @Wiimer looks quite pleasing to me.

But that doesn't solve the problem that the bananas and cables stick out so far to the back.
Anyway, I connected the cables without bananas.

 

[slartibartfast]

But that doesn't solve the problem that the bananas and cables stick out so far to the back.
Anyway, I connected the cables without bananas.

I am pretty sure the 4mm sockets on my 20 year old speakers have exactly the same issue so this is not a new problem or unique to the WiiM Amp. I actually have two sets of cables attached to my WiiM Amp, one set with bare wires and the other with banana plugs which makes the plugs stick out even further.

 

[harkpabst]

But that doesn't solve the problem that the bananas and cables stick out so far to the back.
Anyway, I connected the cables without bananas.

They don't stick out farther than the other interconnects, do they?

I wouldn't give up the better mechanical and electrical quality provided by banana plugs just for the looks.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

There are plenty of 90 degrees right angle banana plugs available online.

 

[LucAce]

I wouldn't give up the better mechanical and electrical quality provided by banana plugs just for the looks.

Please explain to me briefly how an additional component, an additional transition from one part to another, is supposed to provide better quality than connecting the cable directly.
For me, bananas have always been an improvement in the convenience of connecting, but not an improvement in the signal path.

 

[harkpabst]

Please explain to me briefly how an additional component, an additional transition from one part to another, is supposed to provide better quality than connecting the cable directly.
For me, bananas have always been an improvement in the convenience of connecting, but not an improvement in the signal path.

First, I'm talking about soldered or (truly) crimped bananas. And I prefer an additional component that implements a well defined mechanical interface in place if a chaotic, arbitrary and potentially destructive one.

Spades will do as well, but are less convenient, indeed.

 

[LucAce]

Sounds like a rather evasive answer.
Also, you seemed to be referring to my situation in your answer above.

They don't stick out farther than the other interconnects, do they?

They stick out further. This is also visible in the various photos. If not for you, I can post another corresponding photo.

 

[harkpabst]

Sounds like a rather evasive answer.

What would you want me to be more literal or more concrete about? I'll try my best.

Also, you seemed to be referring to my situation in your answer above.

That's what I thought I'd be doing.

They stick out further. This is also visible in the various photos. If not for you, I can post another corresponding photo.

I couldn't see it, but you don't need to proof the situation to me. Just do whatever you like better. You are entitled to your own opinion and your own solutions, of course.

 

[LucAce]

I can only offer a comparison with the power cable. I have marked the beginning of the flexible part of the cable. The speaker cables with the bananas determine the minimum distance to the back.
This means that you can see the cables even when you are standing in front of the amp.

In the photos of PatriX, Wiimer and BK308 you can also see that the solid part of the speaker cables with bananas stick out further than the other connection cables.

 

[slartibartfast]

View attachment 14857

I can only offer a comparison with the power cable. I have marked the beginning of the flexible part of the cable. The speaker cables with the bananas determine the minimum distance to the back.
This means that you can see the cables even when you are standing in front of the amp.

In the photos of PatriX, Wiimer and BK308 you can also see that the solid part of the speaker cables with bananas stick out further than the other connection cables.

In your picture it looks like the speaker plugs would still protrude more than the power cable even if the banana plugs could be fully inserted with no visible gap.