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Connecting 6mm spades to Zen SE84C+ binding possts (Read 5762 times)
laurence
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Connecting 6mm spades to Zen SE84C+ binding possts
12/31/17 at 14:13:47
 
Hi there

I have just acquired a pair of Horning Agathons which have been internally wired and tailed with Audiotruth Silver Dragon wire. They have been terminated with 6mm spades, which are too small for the Zen binding posts.

When I auditioned the speakers I slotted the spades through the hole where you normally put bare wire into. I got a reasonable connection and they sounded great.

I would welcome members thoughts and suggestions on whether a better way of getting round the problem exists.

thankyou

Laurence
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hdrider
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Re: Connecting 6mm spades to Zen SE84C+ binding possts
Reply #1 - 12/31/17 at 16:45:41
 
While I am not familiar with your speaker cables, I would tackle re-termination with some spades if that is your choice. I personally removed all spades on my speaker cable when I got our Rachael & Omega speakers. I use bare wire, keeping it clean and tight. One a year I will cut off the last inch and give it a fresh connection, no signs of oxidation that I can see (under magnification) and I use Caig de-ox it. Let us know what you end up doing, and happy listening. Chris
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will
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Re: Connecting 6mm spades to Zen SE84C+ binding possts
Reply #2 - 12/31/17 at 17:53:51
 
Hey Laurence,

Several thing occur to me.

If you like to use spades, solder is probably already part of your sound. So if you have soldering skills (or know someone who is skilled with soldering) you could pick up a nice replacements and change them. My favorite solder these days is Johnson's 4.7% silver and 1.7 copper from partsconnexion. It is a little harder to use (especially for a big connection like this, I use a little Cardas flux with it and a solder gun), but it sounds great.

Or, depending on how much they need to be bigger, if the spades are lighter weight and pure copper with silver plate, or silver, and softish, it may be possible to carefully spread them out and then flattened them, just wide enough to work with your binding posts ??? Have to be careful to use tools that do not mar/scratch the surface, and finally get the surface flat for best contact. They might look a little funny if this worked, but work better if you can get them around the post.

Or, as Chris suggests, you could use a straight wire connection. Cut off the spades as close as possible to the spade edge, and strip and twist.

I solder my cable ends because I like the convenience of connectors, but probably more, because I use several different wire types and sizes to make my speaker cables, some pretty fragile. For a wire end, to me, soldered raw wire does not sound as good as raw wire, though it does stabilize and protect the wire. Like Chris, getting back to raw wire is chosen by many as the best. If you chose to cut the spades off, with many wires, you may get into some sort of tedious wire stripping, leaving enough clean wire to allow twisting into one bundle, and long enough to insert into the binding posts. But all you would need is a knife for carefully getting off shrink wrap, wire cutting pliers and insulation stripper pliers.

I agree on using a conditioner too. Especially with raw wire connections, but all over, I like contact conditioner. A favorite is Cardas, pretty easy to get and not much money for the little bottle, and a good cleaner and conditioner...works and sounds good. I changed to it after using Deoxit Gold for years. The Gold is good, but I found it dulled the sound if not sort of buffed/polished with a cotton cloth pretty immediately after putting it on.

Recently I tried Madscientist graphene contact enhancer, and it is really good sounding...better signal all around.
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Lonely Raven
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Re: Connecting 6mm spades to Zen SE84C+ binding possts
Reply #3 - 01/04/18 at 18:31:00
 

I like straight wire myself - while it's a pain to swap speakers, I really feel I'm missing less micro-detail.

I have one pair of Zen Styx 8AWG with bare wire that I do the same thing as Will does, and one pair of Zen Styx 10AWG that I put silver plated expanding banana plugs for a really strong connection, but easy to swap between amps and speakers.

In your case Laurence, I'd be looking to modify the terminals or replacing them. Or even just try bare wire, and if that's a pain, then modify or replace the terminals.
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will
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Re: Connecting 6mm spades to Zen SE84C+ binding possts
Reply #4 - 01/04/18 at 20:31:14
 
I meant to get to the option of mechanical connectors, but spaced it out. Good companies make them, Furutech, WBT, Neotech, etc, all being serious about sound. I have not tried any, but if a good fit and tight, the wire and connector treated with conditioner, maybe closer to cold welded....direct metal on metal???
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Lonely Raven
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Re: Connecting 6mm spades to Zen SE84C+ binding possts
Reply #5 - 01/04/18 at 20:43:18
 

Speaking of welded - I've been thinking about going and spot welding spades or bananas onto my Zen Styx type wire. I wonder if that would be the best of both worlds...
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will
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Re: Connecting 6mm spades to Zen SE84C+ binding possts
Reply #6 - 01/05/18 at 23:32:28
 
Hey Raven,

Seems like a worthy experiment if the connectors could stand up to the welding. Please let us know if yo try it!
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Rivieraranch
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Re: Connecting 6mm spades to Zen SE84C+ binding possts
Reply #7 - 01/06/18 at 12:00:05
 
That's why I hate spade connectors.
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