Reliable Copper Banana Plugs in Europe?

[bplatypus]

As shared here, here, and here, nowadays I seldom use banana plugs.

In case if I would use banana plugs only tentatively, I always use Audio-Technica's solder-less two-screw banana plug AT6301;
https://www.audio-technica.co.jp/product/AT6301
The pros of AT6301 are;
- reasonable price (JPYen 1,980 [USD 14.85] for four plugs, two pairs)
- rigid and well QC-ed gold-plated plugs
- the two screws are well (precisely) manufactured and can be fixed tightly
- the outer vinyl (ABS resin) sleeve is complete insulator (this is important for SP binding posts of rather short distance between L&R)
- the outer vinyl (ABS resin) sleeve can be screwed-in "after" the cable connection

Those seems nice. Do you know if they also do some angled banana plug with some locking mechanism?
Searched but didn't find.

Anyway I bought the Furutech FP-202 after countless disappointment with cheap plugs. I really think that all the cheap one you can find on amazon or aliexpess are crap... either you'll have failing screws or the material will be very bad. Some of them you scratch the surface and it's not even copper inside (even if sold as 99.9999% pure copper....). Some other I bought I could not even plug them in my amp nor my speakers (the little metal-bar was not flexible at all, not allowing it to bend) ....unusable .

I was really dumb buying 5 times(?) cheap crap LOL

 

[Falco]

Those seems nice. Do you know if they also do some angled banana plug with some locking mechanism?
Searched but didn't find.

Anyway I bought the Furutech FP-202 after countless disappointment with cheap plugs. I really think that all the cheap one you can find on amazon or aliexpess are crap... either you'll have failing screws or the material will be very bad. Some of them you scratch the surface and it's not even copper inside (even if sold as 99.9999% pure copper....). Some other I bought I could not even plug them in my amp nor my speakers (the little metal-bar was not flexible at all, not allowing it to bend) ....unusable .

I was really dumb buying 5 times(?) cheap crap LOL

Not sure how angled the banana plugs need to be, but I now have some experience with Speaker Snaps with locking mechanism and for me these are great. Very secure connection, easily installed and also reused if necessary.

Speaker Snap | Making Better Connections

Looking to save time on your installs? Other audio connectors are a hassle and time-consuming. Speaker Snap is the solution, using patented technology to make a secure fit... quick! Hook up massive audio systems in no time with our professional tools for a strong, flexible connection.

www.speakersnap.com

Earlier in this topic some also responded with something similar from WAGO

https://uk.farnell.com/wago/215-212/connector-4mm-plug-red-20a-cable/dp/4244605

 

[bplatypus]

Not sure how angled the banana plugs need to be, but I now have some experience with Speaker Snaps with locking mechanism and for me these are great. Very secure connection, easily installed and also reused if necessary.

Speaker Snap | Making Better Connections

Looking to save time on your installs? Other audio connectors are a hassle and time-consuming. Speaker Snap is the solution, using patented technology to make a secure fit... quick! Hook up massive audio systems in no time with our professional tools for a strong, flexible connection.

www.speakersnap.com

Earlier in this topic some also responded with something similar from WAGO

https://uk.farnell.com/wago/215-212/connector-4mm-plug-red-20a-cable/dp/4244605

Oh this is pretty nice! First time I see those.

Those are angled. it also allows to insert another banana into them (ie: to bi-wire)

 

[Falco]

Oh this is pretty nice! First time I see those.

Those are angled. it also allows to insert another banana into them (ie: to bi-wire)
View attachment 509260

Ah, thanks for the clarification, now I get it! However, I do not use bi-wiring so for me the speaker snaps are great. And I like the Red/Black speaker snap option over the WAGO plugs (although available in many colors), but that's just esthetics....

 

[dualazmak]

Those seems nice. Do you know if they also do some angled banana plug with some locking mechanism?
Searched but didn't find.

Sorry, but as far as I know Audio-Technica does not produce similar type of angled+locking ones.

 

[Roland68]

Those seems nice. Do you know if they also do some angled banana plug with some locking mechanism?
Searched but didn't find.

Anyway I bought the Furutech FP-202 after countless disappointment with cheap plugs. I really think that all the cheap one you can find on amazon or aliexpess are crap... either you'll have failing screws or the material will be very bad. Some of them you scratch the surface and it's not even copper inside (even if sold as 99.9999% pure copper....). Some other I bought I could not even plug them in my amp nor my speakers (the little metal-bar was not flexible at all, not allowing it to bend) ....unusable .

I was really dumb buying 5 times(?) cheap crap LOL

And you liked the Furutech ones? According to a representative at a trade fair, mine were original and the quality was just so-so. Plus, they were slightly magnetic.

No comparison to the original WBTs, but maybe I'm just spoiled. But the Furutech ones are just another copy.

 

[bplatypus]

And you liked the Furutech ones? According to a representative at a trade fair, mine were original and the quality was just so-so. Plus, they were slightly magnetic.

No comparison to the original WBTs, but maybe I'm just spoiled. But the Furutech ones are just another copy.

didn't receive them yet... but for the price I really hope the quality will be better than all the ones I have

 

[Roland68]

didn't receive them yet... but for the price I really hope the quality will be better than all the ones I have

Then check whether the plug pin has 3 or 4 slots at the front; if it has 4, it's a fake.

 

[somebodyelse]

And you liked the Furutech ones? According to a representative at a trade fair, mine were original and the quality was just so-so. Plus, they were slightly magnetic.

Because of the nickel plate under the gold plate?

 

[Roland68]

Because of the nickel plate under the gold plate?

Yes

 

[somebodyelse]

So do you regard that as a good thing because they didn't skimp on the diffusion barrier between the copper/brass/whatever and the gold? Or a bad thing because you don't want anything ferromagnetic in your plugs, and you think they should have used the more expensive but non-ferromagnetic high phosphorus nickel plate instead?

 

[Roland68]

So do you regard that as a good thing because they didn't skimp on the diffusion barrier between the copper/brass/whatever and the gold? Or a bad thing because you don't want anything ferromagnetic in your plugs, and you think they should have used the more expensive but non-ferromagnetic high phosphorus nickel plate instead?

You won't find non-ferromagnetic high-phosphorus nickel plating on these types of connectors, and it wouldn't make sense anyway because the preparation, processes, and costs are too high.

A gold layer on top of a nickel layer also makes no sense, as it offers no benefit other than to deceive customers.

It's possible to directly gold-plate copper or apply a rhodium layer without diffusion, but this is complex and expensive.

Alternatively, there's the option of directly silver-plating copper and then gold-plating or rhodium-plating it. This is actually hardly more expensive than the usual nickel/gold plating, but apparently no manufacturer sees any advantage in it.

 

[bplatypus]

Then check whether the plug pin has 3 or 4 slots at the front; if it has 4, it's a fake.

those slots?

this is not furutech but one of the cheap-ones I bought

but frankly at this point I just want some plugs which I can screw tightly and with a locking mechanism. The other I have all have issues with the screws....

 

[Roland68]

those slots?
View attachment 509294

this is not furutech but one of the cheap-ones I bought

but frankly at this point I just want some plugs which I can screw tightly and with a locking mechanism. The other I have all have issues with the screws....

Yes, but the discussion only concerns the Furutech connectors; there were some counterfeit versions with four slots.

 

[Chaos01]

Has anyone experience with the Fosi Audio Banana Plugs? They seem to be gold plated copper.

FOSI AUDIO Banana Plugs 24k Gold Plated Copper Ø8.8mm (Set of 4)

Fosi Audio banana plugs feature 24k gold-plated copper contacts that offer excellent conductivity and minimize signal loss.

www.audiophonics.fr

Are they magnetic ?
Other good and cheap banana plugs ?

 

[Roland68]

Has anyone experience with the Fosi Audio Banana Plugs? They seem to be gold plated copper.

FOSI AUDIO Banana Plugs 24k Gold Plated Copper Ø8.8mm (Set of 4)

Fosi Audio banana plugs feature 24k gold-plated copper contacts that offer excellent conductivity and minimize signal loss.

www.audiophonics.fr

Are they magnetic ?
Other good and cheap banana plugs ?

I strongly advise against using these types of connectors, as the contacts are made of thin sheet metal that fatigues very quickly, has little tensile strength, and therefore doesn't make good contact.
Almost all connectors are slightly magnetic, even if the manufacturer claims otherwise. This is due to the necessary nickel plating under the gold plating (or rhodium plating, etc.). The exception is the very expensive WBT connectors.

I recommend genuine hollow banana plugs, expandable and lockable banana plugs, similar to those from WBT and the Audiophonics Banana Plug Gold Plated Copper Ø5mm (Set x4) or the YYTCG-Connector Corrosion resistant banana plugs, audio, video, amplifiers, speakers, cable jacks, 4Pcs from AliExpress. They are also available in rhodium-plated. These types have very good contact quality. The low price is another bonus. Don't forget insulation.

 

[EJ3]

Specifically Locking Banana or BFA.
More budget friendly (my system isn’t super high end … yet).

Most of the stuff I see on Amazon in Europe is Nakamichi. I just saw a video proving with a magnet that they are in fact not 100% copper:

This made me think bare 100% copper wire might be better than ‘maybe copper’ banana plugs.

So, do you know any plugs (or reliable brands sold in Europe) that are 100% copper? It’s often difficult to find some of the brands mentioned on ASR, as they are US specific.

Rhodium is also good conductor of electricity but not as good as copper, gold or silver. On the other hand, considering the percentage of the whole (the thickness of the plating), does that amount of material matter?
Rhodium is also more durable then the above metals and gives a very smooth finish which is one of the keys to its use.

 

[Roland68]

Rhodium is also good conductor of electricity but not as good as copper, gold or silver. On the other hand, considering the percentage of the whole (the thickness of the plating), does that amount of material matter?
Rhodium is also more durable then the above metals and gives a very smooth finish which is one of the keys to its use.

The rhodium plating on connectors, especially cheap Chinese ones, is extremely thin and offers absolutely no advantage.

Underneath is always a nickel layer, and this lasts for at least 10,000 to 100,000 mating cycles on our industrial 4mm connectors. How often do you plug and unplug your speaker cable, or RCA/XLR cables, in your lifetime? 50 times, 100 times, or even 500 times?

All coatings applied over the nickel plating only increase contact resistance and serve solely for aesthetic purposes, deceiving uninformed people who believe that gold-plated connectors are somehow of higher quality.
Whenever I order gold-plated connectors for our end-customer products from our connector manufacturers, I get laughed at.

 

[EJ3]

The rhodium plating on connectors, especially cheap Chinese ones, is extremely thin and offers absolutely no advantage.

Underneath is always a nickel layer, and this lasts for at least 10,000 to 100,000 mating cycles on our industrial 4mm connectors. How often do you plug and unplug your speaker cable, or RCA/XLR cables, in your lifetime? 50 times, 100 times, or even 500 times?

True! And, maybe some people frequently unpug and replug. I am not one. Plug up and check for what the normally 100% air ocean air has done to it a couple times a year.

All coatings applied over the nickel plating only increase contact resistance and serve solely for aesthetic purposes, deceiving uninformed people who believe that gold-plated connectors are somehow of higher quality.
Whenever I order gold-plated connectors for our end-customer products from our connector manufacturers, I get laughed at.

I was just saying that there are many things that people coat connectors with.
In my lifetime, I doubt that any of my connectors will see 200 times of unplugging & re-plugging.
And that includes system reconfigurations. Nickel is just fine.