Connectors for speaker wire: Speaker Wire with Connectors at Crutchfield

Miscellaneous

Different Types of Speaker Connectors – Explained!

Speaker connectors are the key to bringing up the whole music system ensemble together – yet they are often overlooked.

If right connector is not used, then the audio signal can become distorted. So, it is important to invest in a connector that provides secure connection without any signal loss.

They come in different shapes and sizes, including female and male versions; each having their own perks and uses. However, they are all designed to plug and unplug easily without the need for screws or fasteners.

If you are looking to invest in the best speaker connector and wondering which one to choose, then you have come to the right place.

In this article, we have provided different speaker connectors in detail. Read on to check the information and invest in an option your music ensemble deserves.

Outline

Different Types of Speaker Connectors

1. RCA Connector

This connector is a very common type of analog audio connector and can be used with receivers, preamplifiers and amps. This connector is also known as a “phono connector” because it was originally designed to connect a turntable from a phonograph to a radio receiver.

A stereo audio RCA cable has four connectors, one on each end. To make things easier, they are often color-coded. The red one represents the right channel and the black or the white the left.

There are many types of RCA cables. RCA cables were a popular choice for transmitting audio and videos before HDMI was popularized. In such situations, a third connector often marked with yellow is the right choice. These type of RCS connectors are referred as composite RCA.

2. Banana Plugs

If the speaker has binding-post terminals, then you need to get Banana Plugs. You can attach banana plugs to the ends of speaker wires to connect them to an amp or receiver. They are held in the speaker holes by a spring contact at their metal tips. These are used to hook up surround sound systems.

They are slightly expensive when compared to other connectors but you can get some cheap ones online. They have a metallic collar that can be compressed to fit in the binding post hole. In the case of a 5-way binding post, we would recommend dual banana connectors over a single one.

Dual banana plugs come with positive and negative connectors that are fixed in a molded housing which spaces them 3/4″ apart from each other. They are easy to connect compared to single banana plugs, especially when used along with 5-way posts.

3. Speaker Pins

The speaker pin is a smaller version of the banana connector. They lack spring contact and are more likely to fall out of the connection port. These pins must be securely connected to the binding posts. They haven’t been used often, but they will work in a pinch if you don’t have any other options.

You don’t need speaker pins or banana connectors to connect a speaker to an amplifier or AV receiver. You can actually tie the speaker wire directly to both the positive and the negative connections using the binding posts.

It is important to not touch the wire’s exposed ends together as this can cause a short circuit. Banana plugs are a good choice for most people.

The Monopriced Gold-Plated Speaker Plugs is a great option if you want to test a reliable set. This is not a common connection, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s not suitable for you.

4. RF Connectors

Coaxial RF connections can support high-resolution audio. They are usually equipped with a needle in the middle that threads into the connector port and secures it in place. Standard for TV receivers as well as two-way radio, RF connectors are used.

5. MMCX Connectors

An MMCX connector is a smaller version of the MCX. These connectors are used to connect the cable to each earpiece of in-ear headphones or earbuds. Consumer audio uses are not likely to use MMCX or MCX connections, however they can be found in specialized devices.

6. Connectors MCX

MCX is short for “micro coaxial connector”. This is essentially an RF connector, but 30% smaller. They have a needle at the center to ensure stability, just like RF connectors. These are often used to connect antennas and GPS receivers like those in cars. An MCX is not required to connect your audio receiver to any audio player.

7. XLR Connectors

These pins are available in different formats; among them three pin formats are popular as they provide balanced signals. They come with a special design which lets the plug to make contact on the ground pin before it is connected to the rest. This reduces the chances of damaging the whole system.

This connector also creates balanced audio which significantly reduces the electromagnetic interference and ensures a long-range signal. XLR connectors are suitable for a wide range of applications from microphones to amplifiers and more.

8. TOSLINK

TOSLINK (or Toshiba Link) is an optical fibre connection that can be used in consumer audio equipment. TOSLINKs, digital cables, transmit audio from audio sources such as CDs or DVD players to AV receivers.

The ports for optical cables are usually labelled “Optical” with a protective cap that opens when the cable is plugged in. These cables can only support 24/96 res audio. If you want to install a professional-grade system, opt for coaxial cables.

9. Speakon Connectors

Speakon connectors are available in 2 to 4 pole versions, as well as 8 pole versions. The 8-pole design is more powerful than the 2 and 4 variants. The 2- and 4-pole designs can be interchangeably. These connectors are very affordable and can carry more current than other connectors. They have a locking plug and a non-shorting electric contact.

10. Binding post

Binding connectors can be used to connect bare cables. You can use them with banana connectors or pin connectors. Nearly all speakers include a binding pin. These are very common and can be connected in two different ways. The speaker wire must be disconnected and inserted into the hole. The wire should be inserted into the hole in the binding post. Banana plugs can be used for this. You might find a plastic cap on the receiver that needs to be removed. It is resistant to corrosion and has excellent signal transfer capabilities.

11. Spade Connectors

For a spade connection, you need 4 spade connectors for a single wire. There are both angled and straight spade connectors available. There isn’t a big difference between them. Usually, these connectors are sold as a set. The connectors have the appearance of a forked metal. The connectors can be hooked to the speaker through different methods like soldering and crimping.

For a strong connection, a crimping tool is recommended. Also, it is best to not use pliers. If the connection is done in the right manner, then you would not need soldering. Spade connections are ideal for connecting wires to speakers located in the vicinity of a wall. In such situations, banana plugs are not required.

Why Use Speaker Connectors?

Colored connectors will make it easy to forget about second guessing, worrying, and scrutinizing. Connectors for speaker wires are a great way to save time, especially when using multichannel home stereo systems.

The terminals of speakers and home audio equipment are nearly always colored to indicate polarity. For example, the positive terminal (+), is red and the negative terminal (-), is black. However, the opposite is true for speaker wires.

Some speaker wires do not have two-tone insulation. For easy identification, prominent markings such as text, dashed lines or stripes are used to indicate the positive end.

It is also easier to connect speaker wires to amplifiers or receivers. Before inserting the strands into a spring clip, or binding post, they must be joined together (usually by twisting them). Sometimes it can be hard to see and the spaces between posts are limited. If you make a mistake and break or mush the wire, you will need to re-straighten it again.

Because speaker wire connectors house and protect the wires, plugging and unplugging audio can be done much more easily than with RCA Jacks.

Speaker wire connectors are a great way to keep audio cables running smoothly. Your stereo speakers will produce a high-quality signal if the tips are correctly installed. As if that weren’t enough, speaker wire connectors can also give your equipment a more organized and sophisticated look.

The backsides and receivers of amplifiers, speakers, and receivers might not be very provocative. The people you want to impress (including yourself), are the enthusiasts who take the time to look at what you’re doing.

Final Thoughts

It is important to use speaker connectors as they help complete the whole ensemble of your music system. There are several options when it comes to speaker connectors. We have mentioned in this article for your reference. Read the information clearly to know which one suits your requirements.

Was this article helpful? If you still have any doubts, write to us in the comment section below. We shall reply as early as possible.

Banana Plugs | Flex Pin Connectors | Speaker Wire

Skip to content

Sort by
$0. 00
Shipping
Total

United States—AfghanistanÅland IslandsAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntigua & BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia & HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBritish Virgin IslandsBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCongo – BrazzavilleCongo – KinshasaCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzech RepublicCôte d’IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard & McDonald IslandsHondurasHong Kong SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKosovoKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacau SAR ChinaMacedoniaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmar (Burma)NamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNetherlands AntillesNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth KoreaNorwayOmanPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairn IslandsPolandPortugalQatarRéunionRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaint MartinSamoaSan MarinoSão Tomé & PríncipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia & South Sandwich IslandsSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSt. BarthélemySt. HelenaSt. Kitts & NevisSt. LuciaSt. MartinSt. Pierre & MiquelonSt. Vincent & GrenadinesSudanSurinameSvalbard & Jan MayenSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad & TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks & Caicos IslandsTuvaluU.S. Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVatican CityVenezuelaVietnamWallis & FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabwe

AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFederated States of MicronesiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarshall IslandsMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPalauPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirgin IslandsVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces EuropeArmed Forces Pacific

How to install jacks, jacks, or studs on speaker wire

When it comes to directly improving a pair of stereo speakers, there aren’t as many options as, say, building desktop computers or customizing cars. One could have or to choose fancy audio cables. However, the result can be debatable for those who have taken the time and effort to hide and disguise all speaker wires. But if you’re really itching to do something nice – but meaningful – to your home stereo, there’s an easy and inexpensive upgrade worth considering. Get several sets of wired speaker connectors.

01

of 04

Why use speaker connectors?

Photo from Amazon

Although the terminals on speakers and home audio equipment are almost always color-coded to indicate polarity – the positive (+) terminal is red and the negative (-) terminal is black – the same cannot be said for speaker wires. Not all speaker wires are double-colored and/or have obvious markings (eg text, dotted lines or stripes usually indicate the positive end) for easy identification. If you’re unsure, you can always quickly check your speaker wires. But with color-coded connectors, you never have to scrutinize, worry, or make any assumptions. Speaker wire connectors can be a pain in the ass, especially for multi-channel home stereos.

Speaker wire connectors also make it much easier to connect and disconnect speakers from receivers and amplifiers. When using bare wire, the strands must be brought together (usually by twisting them) before being inserted into the spring clip or clip. This can be tricky when it’s harder to see and/or spacing between posts is limited; If you miss and mix up the wire, you will have to straighten it again and start again. But because speaker wire connectors contain and protect bare wires, the process of connecting/disconnecting audio is much easier than using RCA jacks.

In addition to optimized audio cables, speaker wire connectors help maintain a reliable connection. If the tips are installed correctly, the stereo speakers will maintain a high quality signal for the best sound. And if all that wasn’t enough to consider using wired speaker connectors, they’ll also help give your equipment a cleaner, more organized, and more sophisticated look. Of course, the backs of speakers, receivers and amplifiers may not be the most provocative. However, people to impress (including myself) would be enthusiasts who do care take a look at what you have going on.

02

of 04

Selecting the correct speaker wire connector

Photo from Amazon

There are three types of wired connectors that you can use with speaker cables: banana plugs, spade connectors, and pin connectors. Each one is easy to install and requires just a few simple tools. In order to choose the right kind, you first have to look at the terminals available on your hardware.

  • The banana plugs are designed to work with binders by inserting directly into the holes at the ends (note: not all binders have this). There are also twin banana plugs that are used for a two-wire speaker system.
  • Spade connectors (usually U-shaped) also work with clamp posts, maintaining contact with the base of the connector (as bare speaker wire) after the clamp post screw has been tightened.
  • Pin Connectors work with spring loaded terminals (also known as spring clips) but can also work with clamp pins that have a hole in the side of the internal connector (you have to unscrew the top back far enough to see it).

It is possible that you may have different types of connections on the back of your stereo equipment. Sometimes you may have multiple types (eg receivers and amplifiers). So, for example, if your speaker has spring clips, then you’ll need a pair of pin headers. And if your receiver/amplifier has terminals, you can choose either a pair of banana plugs or plugs.

Before purchasing any type of connector, check your speaker wire sizes. While most connectors are designed to accept the most common wire sizes—12 to 18 AWG (American Wire Gauge)—some may be designed to accept larger or smaller wire sizes. So check the dimensions first to ensure the best compatibility.

03

of 04

Preparing speakers for connectors

Westend61 / Getty Images

You will need a pair of wire/cable strippers to prepare the speaker wires for the connectors . While a pair of scissors or a small knife can be substituted, the use of strippers is highly recommended for safety. Make sure you start and end each end of the speaker wire (i.e. install the connectors) before moving on to the next one. Here are the steps to prepare:

  1. Trim the end of the speaker wire so there are no exposed copper wires.
  2. Carefully separate the individual wires (positive and negative terminals) from each other by about two inches. This should provide enough space to work.
  3. Select one single wire and set the cutting edge of the wire stripper about half an inch from the end. If your wire stripper is designed/labeled with different cut sizes, choose one that matches the cable gauge.
  4. Press down on the wire stripper to cut the jacket/insulation and then rotate the tool around the wire to ensure a clean cut.
  5. Remove the cut off part of the sheath – easier with a wire stripper, but be careful not to accidentally cut the copper underneath – to expose the bare wire.
  6. Use your thumb and forefinger to lightly pull on the copper wire so that all strands are one.
  7. Repeat process with another single wire.

Now that your speaker cable is branched with open ends, you are ready to connect the connectors. Be sure to identify and match the correct polarity (positive and negative) of wires and connectors so that your audio equipment is properly in-phase.

04

of 04

Installing connector

Photo from Amazon

There are several different ways to install speaker wire connectors, depending on each manufacturer’s specific design. Although they come as banana plugs, spades, or pin headers, the installation method usually falls into one of the following categories:

  • The speaker wire base connector unscrews a few turns and then stops (some may come off completely). With this type, insert the bare speaker wire into the lower end until it stops. If you can no longer insert the wire, screw the top of the connector down. When you screw it in, the bare speaker wire is screwed tightly into the plug for a secure connection. The wire should stay in place when you lightly tug on it.
  • “Self-crimping” speaker wire connectors split completely into two (sometimes three) pieces. With this type, insert the bare speaker wire into the bottom half of the connector so that the copper strands stick out at the top. You will now flick and bend the strands over the tip, being careful not to cover any parts of the thread. Once this is done, the top half of the connector is screwed onto the bottom half, which clamps the copper wires in place.
  • Speaker wire “screw” connectors have a gap in the connector itself. In addition to being able to feed wire through the bottom (similar to the types previously mentioned), these types also allow wire to be inserted through a hole in the side. Simply unscrew the connector pieces until you see that there is enough room to feed the bare copper wire into the side gap. Insert the speaker wire and then tighten the connector to lock it in place (you can see how the parts touch each other). These types (when the wire is connected through the side panel) are useful for those interested in daisy chaining speakers.
  • You can also find speaker wire connectors that are only opened by screw . They tend to be spring-loaded, where squeezing the connector between thumb and forefinger opens up a gap for the speaker wire to be inserted. As soon as you release, the connector will clamp and hold the wire securely in place.
  • Some speaker wire connectors, sometimes referred to as “screw-lock”, require a small flat-head screwdriver to install. These types of connectors consist of two parts – we can call them “internal” and “external”. Take the inside of the connector and loosen the two built-in screws with a screwdriver. Now push the speaker wire into the end until it can go no further. Tighten the screws with a screwdriver to secure the wire. Attach the outer part of the connector to the inner part and screw (by hand) the two parts together.

How to install male connectors, male or male connectors on speaker wire

Author Gleb Zakharov To read 7 min Views 1.1k. Posted by
Updated

When it comes to directly improving a pair of stereo speakers, there aren’t as many possibilities as, say, building desktops or customizing cars. One can choose more attractive audio cables. However, the result can be debatable for those who have dedicated the time and effort to hide and disguise all speaker wires. But if you’re really itching to do something nice – but meaningful – to your home stereo system, it’s worth considering a simple and inexpensive upgrade. Get multiple speaker wire connector kits.

Contents

  1. Why use speaker connectors?
  2. Selecting the correct speaker wire connector
  3. Prepare speakers for connectors
  4. Install connector

Why use acoustic connectors?

Although the terminals on speakers and home audio equipment are almost always color-coded to indicate polarity – the positive (+) terminal is red and the negative (-) terminal is black – the same cannot be said for speaker wires. Not all speaker wires are double-colored and/or have obvious markings (for example, text, dotted lines or stripes usually indicate the positive end) for easy identification. If you’re unsure, you can always quickly check your speaker wires. But with color-coded connectors, you’ll never have to scrutinize, worry, or make assumptions again. Speaker wire connectors can be a pain in the ass, especially for multi-channel home stereo systems.

Speaker wire connectors also make it much easier for the to connect and disconnect speakers from receivers and amplifiers. When using bare wire, the strands must be as one unit (usually by twisting them) before being inserted into the spring clip or clip. This can be difficult when it’s harder to see and/or the gaps between posts are limited; if you miss and mix up the wire, you will have to straighten it again and start again. But because speaker wire connectors contain and protect bare wires, the mute/plugging process is much easier than using RCA jacks.

In addition to optimized audio cables, speaker wire connectors help maintain a reliable connection. If the tips are installed correctly, the stereo speakers will maintain a high quality signal for the best sound. And if all that wasn’t reason enough for using speaker wire connectors, they also help give your equipment a cleaner, more organized, and more sophisticated look. Sure, the backs of speakers, receivers, and amplifiers may not be the most provocative. However, the people who will impress (including yourself) are the enthusiasts who are doing are eager to look at what you are doing.

Selecting the correct speaker wire connector

There are three types of wired connectors that you can use with speaker cables: banana plugs, spade connectors, and pin connectors. Each one is easy to install and requires just a few simple tools. In order to choose the right kind, you first have to look at the terminals available on your hardware.

  • Banana plugs are designed to work with binders by inserting them directly into the holes at the ends (note: not all binders have this). There are also twin banana plugs that are used for a two-wire speaker system.
  • Splitter connectors (usually U-shaped) also work with the terminals, maintaining contact with the base of the terminal (as if to expose the speaker wire) once the binding screw has been tightened down.
  • Pin headers work with spring loaded terminals (also known as spring clamps) but can also work with clamp pins that have a hole in the side of the inner connector (you have to unscrew the top cover hard enough to see it).

It is possible that you may have different types of connections on the back of your stereo equipment. Sometimes you may have multiple types (for example, receivers and amplifiers). So, for example, if your speaker has spring clips, then you’ll need a pair of pin headers. And if your receiver/amplifier has terminals, you can choose either a pair of banana plugs or spade plugs.

Before purchasing any type of connector, find out the wire sizes for your speaker system. While most connectors are designed to accept the most common wire sizes, 12 to 18 AWG (American Wire Gauge), some may be designed to accept larger or smaller wire sizes. So check the dimensions first to ensure the best fit.

Speaker preparation for connectors

You will need a couple of wire/cable strippers to prepare the speaker wires for the connectors. While a pair of scissors or a small knife can be substituted, the use of strippers is highly recommended for safety. Make sure you start and end each end of the speaker wire (i.e. installing the connectors) before moving on to the next one. Here are the steps to prepare:

  1. Trim the end of the speaker wire so there are no exposed copper wires sticking out.
  2. Carefully separate the individual wires (positive and negative terminals) from each other by about two inches. This should provide enough space to work.
  3. Select one single wire and set the cutting edge of the wire stripper about half an inch from the end. If your wire stripper is designed/labeled with different cut sizes, choose one that matches the cable gauge.
  4. Press down on the wire stripper to cut through the jacket/insulation and then rotate the tool around the wire to ensure a clean cut.
  5. Remove the cut off part of the sheath – easier with a wire stripper, but be careful not to accidentally cut the copper underneath – to expose the bare wire.
  6. With your thumb and forefinger, lightly put on the copper wire so that all the strands are one.
  7. Repeat the process with the other single wire.

Now that your speaker cable is branched with open ends, you are ready to connect the connectors. Be sure to identify and match the correct polarity (positive and negative) of wires and connectors so that your audio equipment is properly in-phase.

Connector installation

There are several different ways to install speaker wire connectors, depending on each manufacturer’s specific design. Although they come as banana plugs, spades, or pin headers, the installation method usually falls into one of the following categories:

  • The base speaker wire connector unscrews a few turns and then stops (some may come loose completely). With this type, insert the bare speaker wire into the lower end until it stops. If you can no longer insert the wire, screw the top of the connector down. When you screw it in, the exposed speaker wire is screwed tightly into the plug for a secure connection. The wire should stay in place when you lightly tug on it.
  • “Self-crimping” speaker wire connectors split completely into two (sometimes three) parts. With this type, insert the bare speaker wire into the bottom half of the connector so that the copper strands stick out at the top. You will now flip and bend the strands over the tip, being careful not to cover any parts of the screw threads. Once this is done, the top half of the connector is screwed onto the bottom half, which clamps the copper wires in place.
  • Speaker wire “screw” connectors have a gap through the connector itself. In addition to being able to feed wire through the bottom (similar to the types previously mentioned), these types also allow wire to be inserted through a hole in the side. Simply unscrew the connector pieces until you see enough room to feed the bare copper wire into the side gap. Insert the speaker wire and then tighten the connector to lock it in place (you can see how the parts touch each other). These types (when the wire is connected through the side panel) are useful for those interested in daisy chaining speakers.
  • You can also find open screw speaker wire connectors only . They tend to be spring-loaded where squeezing the connector between your thumb and forefinger opens up a gap to insert the speaker wire. Once you release, the connector clamps and holds the wire securely in place.
  • Some speaker wire connectors, sometimes referred to as “screw-lock”, will require a small flat-head screwdriver to install.