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CABLE FORUMS >> ZSTYX >> Terminating cables
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Message started by Mulenut on 02/11/14 at 13:16:10

Title: Terminating cables
Post by Mulenut on 02/11/14 at 13:16:10

Hello all,
Any one have any good ideas for DIY terminations on bare wire zstyx?? I would prefer banana clips for ease of movement. Any and all advice is much appreciated..
Thanks,
Mulenut

Title: Re: Terminating cables
Post by jameskk on 02/15/14 at 15:17:38

parts express sells some locking bananas that will take size 8 wire , not the 50 dollar /pc MBT's but will do

Title: Re: Terminating cables
Post by beowulf on 02/17/14 at 07:33:59

Mine are naked... I prefer the sound for sure with no terminations. This paper gives a good argument for bare wires opposed to bananas or even spades.

Title: Re: Terminating cables
Post by Lon on 02/17/14 at 13:02:24

The Styx are VERY HARD to use with no terminations though, they're THICK! Most amp or speaker connections won't be able to accomodate them.

Title: Re: Terminating cables
Post by Mulenut on 02/17/14 at 13:59:20

I am finding that the binding posts both on the SE84 and the DM945's don't want to stay tightened on the bare ends....

Title: Re: Terminating cables
Post by Lon on 02/17/14 at 15:02:58

I couldn't get them to stay tight either. I ended up getting what Radio Shack calls "Ring Terminals"--they have one that the crimpable portion is wide enough for the Styx width. Not gold plated or fancy copper, but they work, and I could not really swear I heard a distinct difference between these and using bare Styx ends.

Title: Re: Terminating cables
Post by DBC on 02/17/14 at 15:09:37

Quote:

I am finding that the binding posts both on the SE84 and the DM945's don't want to stay tightened on the bare ends....

I go around about once a month and make sure all my binding posts are hand tight. Just seems to be the nature of the beast when using bare ends.

I agree with beowulf however. I went all bare ends on my speaker cables a few years back. I actually removed the expensive banana ends from my long used cables and felt there was an immediate improvement in Clarity.

Title: Re: Terminating cables
Post by Lon on 02/17/14 at 15:27:48

I am using bare ends now with the Mapleshade Double Helix that I replaced the Styx with in my main system. But I could not make the bare ends really reliably work in my system with the Styx. It's the most challenging speaker wire I've ever encountered in that regard.

Title: Re: Terminating cables
Post by beowulf on 02/19/14 at 07:25:09

I think my cables are fairly thick, but not quite as thick as the Styx. Like DBC I go about tightening them every so often, however after the first few times I find they need less and less attention. This paper/study gives a good argument to go with bare terminations.

Title: Re: Terminating cables
Post by 4krow on 02/24/14 at 17:18:02

I too, advise the bare connection, but only if it is feasible with the binding posts. If not, and you decide to crimp a connector onto the end, I advise that you use contact enhancer on the bare wire first before crimping. I use a silver paste made by Mapleshade.

Title: Re: Terminating cables
Post by Mulenut on 02/26/14 at 13:47:47

After reading the paper that was posted and hearing all of the good advice...I'm guessing that bare ends may be the answer. Thanks for all of the info and advice.

Peace.

G$

Title: Re: Terminating cables
Post by Acetone on 04/06/15 at 18:04:05

Those who have used the Zstyx...Are you still using them, and why? Or, have you gone another direction and why?

Title: Re: Terminating cables
Post by Lon on 04/06/15 at 18:36:11

I'm using them but not in my main system. I moved them out because I just kept chasing brigthiness in my system. I moved interconnects out that were aiding or abetting brigthness (including the Decware Silver Reference) and the more PS Audio AC-12 power cords I put in, that helped. It got down to the Zen Styx being the only wiring yet to change, and an audiophile recommended I try Mapleshade, and said though it may seem they were thin and bright they aren't. So I tried Mapleshade Double Helix Plus. They were never bright, but they were thin for a few weeks but since breakin they were the first set of speaker cables that just seemed as if they weren't there. I like the Styx a lot, but I'm sold on the Mapleshade Double Helix Plus in the main system, no connectors.

Title: Re: Terminating cables
Post by Geno on 05/14/18 at 03:37:41

Lon. I know this thread is old but I have a question about the mapleshade double helix plus. Looking at their website, the picture that they show of it isn't real clear, but it looks like it is terminated with a long pin looking connector. How did yours look on the ends when you bought it.

Thanks, Geno

Title: Re: Terminating cables
Post by Lon on 05/14/18 at 03:45:24

Hey Geno,

No, not a long pin-like connector, just bare wire that is "tinned" (or at least that is how it appears to me, it may be the "silver-coating" that they talk about). So it's really a bare-wire connection. . . . Works really well. I'm using this in my second system now between Torii Mk III and Trapeziums.

Title: Re: Terminating cables
Post by Donnie on 05/14/18 at 17:15:55

Yep, Mine are just bare wire.
I really do like how they sound even though I've been told that they look "Ghetto" by someone who will go unnamed (who's initials are LR).

Title: Re: Terminating cables
Post by Acetone on 05/16/18 at 17:20:41

I use my Mapleshade dbl helix - bare baby!