OK, now you cable guys can all laugh at me...

Since I'm getting my first new speakers ever, I'm going to build those speaker cables I keep linking to. I'm going to put bananas on the receiver end (because my H/K's binding posts suck ass, and I don't want to be trying to wrap 11 guage equivalent around the little screw posts that it has). I'm looking at both the Dayton and the BlueJeans (scroll down). My main rationale for going with the BlueJeans is that they include heatshrink tubing and are put together in the way I like (stick cable through, fan ends, screw on). I don't know how the Daytons work. Has anybody used them? Are they a pain, are they easy, do they grip the cable nice 'n tight?

The other part of the equation is that I'm probably not going to get the BlueJeans interconnects, since they cost twice as much and the Daytons are prettier (methinks). Anybody have anything good/bad to say about the tightness of the connectors?

Have at it, boys...

Nothing wrong with doubled up lengths of copper.

BTW, nice Han Solo quote.

Bren R.

OK, nerf-herder.

check with you local electronic hardware supply store for good banana connectors. i got mine from a local mom&pops electronic store, and they work perfect at 1/4 the price. they are the double tip banana plug(with + & -), they are very strong and durable. i used them for both connecting to the receiver, as well as to the back of the speakers.

bigjohn

Hey Ken, even if I'm not a "cable guy" can I still laugh too?

I'm interested in your process. I think it would provide invaluable service to the forum if you documented, photographed and shared your cable-building experience.

Regards,
Tomfuzzball

I suppose that means I'll need to borrow Peter's digital camera. Bwah ha ha ha...

BTW, I discovered that these are (exactly?) the same as the ones BlueJeans sells. For a few cents less, but I don't get the heatshrink.

On the process, I'm just trying to avoid having to solder anything. Me+solder=bad connections.

You all can really laugh at me for this: I was waffling between the Daytons and the BlueJeans cables, having read all of the lovely marketing data on the BlueJeans. I was trying to convice myself that I was going to go with the BlueJeans because of their appearance. Until I realized that I vastly preferred the appearance of the Daytons. What I was really keying off of was the marketing stuff....

obligatory guffaw: ha ha ha ha ha!!

It's not like anybody else EVER believed ANY of the marketing hype we are constantly bombarded with, especially regarding audio. Riiiiggghhhhht. We all do.

I've got some of those Dayton banana plugs. They are very sturdy and heavy. I plan on buying more of them, actually, because the Denon binding posts suck too. I don't solder, either.

First off, I do own a Bluejeans component cable for my plasma and I'm very impressed w/ the quality and value of the cable. I would buy from them again.

That being said, I agree w/ most here. Don't go for the esoteric stuff w/ speaker cables and their connectors, unless you REALLY want to. Some will say just put bare wire to the posts w/ home depot wire. I wanted plugs so I built my own cables w/ knuconceptz 10 ga wire and banana plugs from radioshack. There are nice because you rotate the barrel and it locks it in place. However, these need to be soldered.

Ratshack

Save the money for CDs/DVDs and get plugs from Radio Shack, Fry's, Dayton, or Parts Express. They'll all do the same job. If you don't like the soldering type, get the screw in type.

Is there a reason you do not want to build your own?

I use bluejeans for my interconnects, and I just saw their pricing for the speaker cables. Yikes!! You can build your own...same materials....for a lot less!

They charge $25 to terminate a pair of cables. That is no more 15 minutes of work.

I built three 10 foot cables....L/C/R, using the Canare 4S11, bi-wired for the heck of it...so that means 8 bananas per cable, shrink wrapped the ends(just need a good hair dryer), and covered the length of the cable in techflex to make them pretty, all for less than $75.

I really have nothing to contribute to this (I'm using some 12guage copper wire and banana plugs I got off ebay) but I wanted to type this:

"Who's scruffy lookin' ?"

jr

Oh yeah?

How much did you get the Canare for? My best price on the 4 conductor is $.80/ft Ultralink from AV Outlet. I looked at the Parts Express 4 conductor, but I just can't bring myself to buy it with so little information. The constantly referred to article praises the Ultralink quite highly for its physical properties, so I'd like to stick with that or some other relatively high quality speaker cable... oh damn, I just did it again, didn't I?

In reply to:

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...for its physical properties, so I'd like to stick with that or some other relatively high quality speaker cable... oh damn, I just did it again, didn't I?

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HERESY: A controversial or unorthodox opinion or doctrine, as in politics, philosophy, or science. See also kcarlile.

Bren R.

I prefer hypocrite.

Speaking of scams...

Because we all know that corroded crimpers leave your crimps lacking that extra "oomph"

Try http://www.markertek.com

You can get the 4s11 for .69 a foot there, or go cheaper with the 4s8, which is the equivalent of 13 gauge. Do you really need more than 13 gauge? The wire will be a lot more flexible, too.

cheers.

Yup...I got it markertek for that same price.

But it's almost half off the list price!

Gold plated crimping pliers... Some things still amaze me.

For everything else, there's MasterCard.

Yeah, but they still sound kinda sweet, from the description of how those WBT plugs go together...

Aw, crap, not again!