What plugs/connectors are you using on Phase Linear amplifiers?
- Thread starter VSAT88
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8991XJ
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Those Chinese dual banana plugs are junk, Pomona rules that space.
I had the cheap stuff peel, the ‘skin’ came loose and fell off.
I tried to put real speaker wire in the plug but the grub screw was not threaded to the tip so anything over 18Ga would prevent the screw from grabbing the threads and not tighten. I used the die grinder to remove the extended tip.
The shiny yellow metal on some of those is probably toxic. What is that element? It is not gold, maybe Chineseium. This brings up all those free 9-LED flashlights Harbor Freight gave away just for visiting the store. I think that was a plan to dispose of off grade batteries as the light would work for a day or two before the batteries were dead. Crafty way to get rid of off grade and probably hazardous waste, I think.
Now with the Pomonas, they don’t need shiny yellow metal as they work as intended, fit properly and pass the signal they should or they would not be the standard for a lot of test equipment from major manufacturers. Liked em since I got my first pair shipped with the Crown DC-300a I bought about the same day the FTC power amp ruling was promulgated, Nov 4, 1974.
One issue with tinned wire ends and screw terminals such as these plugs is the solder flows under the pressure of the grub screw to the point of looseness of the screw. I always give the screw a half turn or more every time I move these banana plugs. Got a jewelers screwdriver in a few convenient locations for this purpose.
I had the cheap stuff peel, the ‘skin’ came loose and fell off.
I tried to put real speaker wire in the plug but the grub screw was not threaded to the tip so anything over 18Ga would prevent the screw from grabbing the threads and not tighten. I used the die grinder to remove the extended tip.
The shiny yellow metal on some of those is probably toxic. What is that element? It is not gold, maybe Chineseium. This brings up all those free 9-LED flashlights Harbor Freight gave away just for visiting the store. I think that was a plan to dispose of off grade batteries as the light would work for a day or two before the batteries were dead. Crafty way to get rid of off grade and probably hazardous waste, I think.
Now with the Pomonas, they don’t need shiny yellow metal as they work as intended, fit properly and pass the signal they should or they would not be the standard for a lot of test equipment from major manufacturers. Liked em since I got my first pair shipped with the Crown DC-300a I bought about the same day the FTC power amp ruling was promulgated, Nov 4, 1974.
One issue with tinned wire ends and screw terminals such as these plugs is the solder flows under the pressure of the grub screw to the point of looseness of the screw. I always give the screw a half turn or more every time I move these banana plugs. Got a jewelers screwdriver in a few convenient locations for this purpose.
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8991XJ
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I was helping out a friend, paying more for high end speaker wire than I would, but he needed the money and a c-note isn’t really money anymore, anyway. I bought a couple sets of used Kimber Kable entry level speaker wire (the 8 strand, 4 per side black and gray 13Ga each 4PR wire) that had the WBT locking bananas on all ends. I use a set of those cables for the main SS amp and like how they grab the Dahlquist binding posts. Can’t believe the WBTs are so expensive (no wonder there are knockoffs) and with at least 5 meters of cable each, I got a deal on the two sets I got. Bill’s apartment isn’t big enough to use a 5 meter speaker wire.
Kimber terminates their speaker wire with WBT crimp on-site which don’t seem to be anything special until you see the price. This makes it more difficult to use some connectors. Overall, I don’t know whether I care if I hear a difference in speaker wire but I use large enough wire to get the power to the speakers. I have three all kinds, big zip cord, pretty cables annd high end cables. Early Monster: 12Ga clear zip cord, Belkin Pure AV with tech flex kind of jacket and big ends and the Kimber Kable. Each hooked up to a different amp for use with the mains.
Kimber terminates their speaker wire with WBT crimp on-site which don’t seem to be anything special until you see the price. This makes it more difficult to use some connectors. Overall, I don’t know whether I care if I hear a difference in speaker wire but I use large enough wire to get the power to the speakers. I have three all kinds, big zip cord, pretty cables annd high end cables. Early Monster: 12Ga clear zip cord, Belkin Pure AV with tech flex kind of jacket and big ends and the Kimber Kable. Each hooked up to a different amp for use with the mains.
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My audioiphile bud in Arizona would send me WBT shit to put in the amps I built for him....he was a WBT nut...
8991XJ
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I refreshed a set of Kenwood L-07M amps and Glenn wanted Cardas copper binding posts. $86 per channel.
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Of course Stephen (now deceased) also ran Valhallah interconnects.......i don't even remember what they cost but it was atrocious....
Cardas does build some nice shit. Rowland supplies some RCA/XLR changeovers with their stuff and they are well built...
Cardas does build some nice shit. Rowland supplies some RCA/XLR changeovers with their stuff and they are well built...
8991XJ
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Still is. Madisound has a few different styles and finishes starting at $50 and topping out at $197 for a single binding post, not a pair or dual, ouch and atrocious
J!m
Veteran and General Yakker
I use Swiss plasma torch power cable cable as my speaker cable. Individual silver plated fine copper strands. Good and almost free as the cable came from the scrap bin. I did have to buy the shrink tube etc. to finish them. They’re about 24” long and would probably pass 80 amps before they got warm. For the plasma gun they can carry 1100 amps but they ride inside the water cooled hose to allow that. The rectifier to junction box is typically six 4/0 cables. This is DC remember…
marcok
Chief Journeyman
I use 2,5 mm2 wire for speakers , because lines are short and they don't affect the
damping factor .
Ciao
Marco
damping factor .
Ciao
Marco
marcok
Chief Journeyman
In other words a 2,5mm2 wire is for 16A elelectrical installation and resistance is 0,00741 Ω/m .
Ciao
Marco
Ciao
Marco