Binding Post Connection

[benzxc]

I am trying to connect my Dayton Plate Amp to Integrated Amp which does not have RCA outputs so I need to connect them through the binding posts.

My speaker cables are spade terminated and I have some copper wire at home. Question, can I connect the spade and bare copper wire to the same binding post? Will it cause any damage to my equipment if the spade and bare wire touch (e.g., short circuit)?

I know it works with banana plugs and spade, but never done it with spade and wire directly.

Thanks a lot....

 

[voodooless]

I'm not exactly sure what you're trying to accomplish here. Can you explain a bit more, please also list the exact model numbers of the products.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Normally, if you have a bare wire going to one speaker and a spade going to another speaker connecting to the SAME amplifier binding post (let's say the right red post), the two cables touching will not be a problem because they are already joined via the binding post (which is a conductor). There may be issues, however, of you creating a load with a low impedance by this action.

The problem happens when an amplifier's red post is shorted to a black post. There are also problems when you short one red post to another red post. There are sometimes problems when you short a black post to a black post.

But as @voodooless states, we need more information to give full guidance.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Are trying to feed the integrated speaker output to the input of the plate amp? Yes, we need more information.

Safest would be to give us model numbers of each amp. And then describe how you intend to connect speakers. Sounds like you are wanting to use the integrated speaker outs as input to the plate amp because the integrated does not have RCA outs. Is this correct? This could be made to work, but you'll likely need attenuation between them.

 

[benzxc]

Yes I am trying to feed the integrated speaker (Bottlehead Stereomour II) outputs as input to the plate amp (Dayton SA100) because the integrated does not have RCA outs. My speaker cables are terminated spades and I would like to use copper wires between the integrated speaker outputs to the plate amp inputs.

My concern is if it would cause issues if the spades and the wires touch on the same binding post. My understanding from @MaxwellsEq is that as long as they are touching on the same binding post, that would not be an issue. I just need to make sure not to let anything from a binding post touch any other wire connected to another binding post. I hope I got it correct.

Really appreciate all your time.

 

[benzxc]

@Blumlein 88 what do you mean by attenuation? Is that something I can do on my own?

 

[NTK]

Here are your options at Amazon [edit] if your plate amp has no speaker level inputs.

https://www.amazon.com/speaker-level-line-converter/s?k=speaker+level+to+line+level+converter

 

[Blumlein 88]

@Blumlein 88 what do you mean by attenuation? Is that something I can do on my own?

So now I know which models, the plate amp has speaker level inputs. So you don't need attenuation. As MaxwellsEQ said, just keep positive (red) to positive(red) from the Bottlehead to the Dayton and negative (black) to negative (black) and it will be fine. Red touching spade on red will be okay as will black wire touching spade on black binding post.

 

[benzxc]

Much appreciated!

 

[voodooless]

Or you just read the manual:

3. High-Level InputsSpeaker level inputs using binding post type jacks to permit connection with banana plugs or bare wire. Allows the user to connect the speaker level output of a full range amplifier to the input of the subwoofer amp using standard speaker wire. A monosignal is derived from the stereo input, which then feeds the subwoofer amplifier crossover input.

4. High-Level OutputsSpeaker level passthrough outputs using spring clip type jacks to permit connection with bare wire. Used to connect from thesubwoofer amp to pass signal from the full range amp on to the main L/R speakers. Signal is only present on this output if thehigh level input is also used. The signal to the L/R speakers is shaped by an internal 6 dB/octave 125 Hz high pass filter. Theimpedance “seen” by the full-range source amplifier will be that of the connected speakers only.

I would probably not recommend using the high-level outputs since the 125 Hz filter is probably just a large cap, and the frequency is, therefore, highly dependent on the impedance of your speaker, but it may just work for you to high-pass your speakers in a good way.

 

[benzxc]

Or you just read the manual:

I would probably not recommend using the high-level outputs since the 125 Hz filter is probably just a large cap, and the frequency is, therefore, highly dependent on the impedance of your speaker, but it may just work for you to high-pass your speakers in a good way.

Thanks, I did read the manual.

But my question was not whether it can be connected from the amp to the input of the sub amp - I knew that it could - but rather if I could connect a wire AND a spade on the same connector / binding post (the manual reads "banana plugs OR bare wire", not AND). A very rudimentary question, yes, but not the same.

In any event, what do you mean that it might work for me in a good way?

 

[voodooless]

But my question was not whether it can be connected from the amp to the input of the sub amp - I knew that it could - but rather if I could connect a wire AND a spade on the same connector / binding post (the manual reads "banana plugs OR bare wire", not AND). A very rudimentary question, yes, but not the same.

Yeah, that would work just fine. But if you only use the high-level inputs, you don't need to route your wires to the sub amp. You can also split them at the power amp already.

In any event, what do you mean that it might work for me in a good way?

Well, ideally, you want your speakers high-passed so that they get relieved from bass and can work more efficiently. The amp offers a passive 6 dB filter for that if you hook up your speakers via the outputs on the right. The only issue is the fact that it's passive, and therefore, its actual crossover frequency will be highly dependent on the impedance of your speakers. So, depending on that, it may actually work for you, or it may not. Or if you have speakers that already have a large bass capacity, it may not be needed at all.

 

[Sokel]

A note,not all amps can be connected this way (speaker level) with plate amps.
Bridged ones that can not be tied to ground won't be happy,at all.

 

[voodooless]

A note,not all amps can be connected this way (speaker level) with plate amps.
Bridged ones that can not be tied to ground won't be happy,at all.

I would think that the input board is made in such a way that the speaker inputs are referenced to their - connector, not ground. Otherwise, they must state this in the manual.

 

[Sokel]

I would think that the input board is made in such a way that the speaker inputs are referenced to their - connector, not ground. Otherwise, they must state this in the manual.

It's the internal circuit of the plate amp (including x-over,etc) that must not be tied to ground (either signal ground or earth)
I suppose one can ask about it.

 

[Blumlein 88]

It's the internal circuit of the plate amp (including x-over,etc) that must not be tied to ground (either signal ground or earth)
I suppose one can ask about it.

Pretty sure his tube amp will be ground on the black post.