Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions Speaker wiring

Have my new VP-180, but my speaker wire is WAYYY too long and am looking to get 12-gauge bulk from axiom.

Question is whether to use banana plugs or spades to my receiver, an Onkyo NR-801. Any preference? better/best method?

Am also going to upgrade all speaker wires to other speakers so I can just replace the speakers as needed and not constantly rewire. Am waiting next year to get the QS8s.

Use whatever you prefer, I like bare wire the best. You could also take a look at MonoPrice.com for wire.

I vote for bare wire too. Just watch for stray strands (sometimes the wire gets frayed trying to push it into the small opening on receivers). Bare wire has the least number of connections. Just wire to receiver, instead of wire to plug to receiver.

Although, Blue Jeans Cable has a sonic welding device that looks really neat. (Welds are nearly as good as the wire and plug being one piece.)

I swap out speakers somewhat regularly, I use Axiom's banana plugs to keep the connect/disconnect quick.

Banana plugs into receiver, bare wire into speaker. banana plugs and speaker wire came from monoprice. Sub cable from bluejeans cable.

If you want to do banana to the receiver and bare to the speaker (or the other way around), you can order a piece of wire with double-bananas at twice the length you need, and cut it in half. That may save a bit over two half-terminated shorter pieces.

Good idea Chris.

I just got the bare speaker wire by the roll and then purchased enough banana clips for one side only (5 pairs). It was pretty simple to thread the wire in, screw the two ends together, and then use the heat shrink and a blow dryer to make it all look nice.

Buying a pre-made set could be another option but I would imagine it would cost a little more $

Anyone get the ultrasonically welded, banana plug terminated speaker cable from Blue Jeans Cable yet?

Locking banana plugs from Blue Jeans Cable have been favorite. Superior to bare wire or any other banana connectors I have used, especially for the speaker connections at the receiver/amp.

I may need to check out those locking Banana plugs from BJC. The Axiom ones I have on my receiver are a little loose and I have been sliding the AV unit in and out adjusting various cables and am a little concerned one of the banana plugs will drop out.