Gutwire banana plub bent , please advise

[RoseKloud666]

I have a pair of gutwire congruence speaker cables .

Somehow one of the plugs has bent (i attach 2 pics to explain)

I ve had these things less that 24 hours and am beside myself 

They still work fine , it is not a complete break , but rather a bend , but due to the weight of the cables and the design of my speaker connects(Dynaudio focus 340) they hang with pressure on the break .

Im wondering if i may somehow strengthen that crimp/bend with solder , a very wee amount , or something else .The weight/pressure will likely eventually completely snap the plug off .

Thank you

[RoseKloud666]

11 minutes ago, esldude said:

It won't effect the sound being bent until it starts to crack or break.

 

I would inquire from them about having it repaired with a new end. 

 

Then you need some support just behind the speaker to support those cables or it is only a matter of time before they all get bent I would think.

 

Many speakers have the binding posts angled that way.  Makes it easier to see when you connect.  It is a very poor design for just the problem you are having.  They would be better to angle the opposite direction.  Hard to connect initially, but you don't do that very often anyway. 

 

I also would ask Gutwire if they could make you a set with the banana plugs angled at 90 degrees. 

Thank you for a reply

 

Could i in the meantime strengthen the crimp/bend (edge is actually cracked) with something ? Foe IE: a spot of solder .

 

Its likely only a matter of time now IMHO . I have to move things for cleaning etc , tho im always very careful , the speaker does need an occasional very gentle move when i clean . For now i have duct taped (gotta love duct tape) the heavy orange part thats between the thicker cable that leads to the bananas , to the wall behind speaker to relieve a tad of the stress .

 

Tho it happened real fast to me , im guessing this would eventually happen due to the rather weaker banana end enduring all that weight .

 

Right angle ends are a brilliant suggestion tho mate . So cheers 

 

I just spent over 6k on a new amp and this cable , so i may have to hold off on a total re termination to right angles .im hoping it will be cheaper to just send 1 cable in to repair 1 banana end .

 

But ill see 

 

thanks mate

[RoseKloud666]

9 minutes ago, esldude said:

I don't think the solder would hurt.  Might check with Gutwire, they might make it good, but might not want you soldering on it if they do. 

thanks 

[RoseKloud666]

2 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

Spades are the answer.  Whack off the bananas and solder on spade lugs.  You will also get more surface area  in contact with the binding posts, which can help with current delivery for the bass drivers.

Thank you

 

Sorry to sound daft , but how risky is that for a daft laymen who has never done such a thing ?

 

What would i need in total to accomplish this ?

 

Would i be able to make them as good as original ?

 

Thanks

 

[RoseKloud666]

2 hours ago, mrvco said:

I'd also make absolutely sure that the banana doesn't break off in the binding post.  It might make some sense to use a banana to spade adapter until you can get the banana replaced.

Banana spade adapter 

 

Now theres an idea 

 

Where would i find such a thing ?

 

I ve never heard of such a thing 

 

PS tnx for the tip on end breaking off in post 

 

 

[RoseKloud666]

19 hours ago, esldude said:

I don't think the solder would hurt.  Might check with Gutwire, they might make it good, but might not want you soldering on it if they do. 

thanks

 

Seems ill have to pay for the repair .i was hoping i may get a pass since ive only had them under 24 hours 

 

Still waiting on a price quote . Not sure whats taking so long

[RoseKloud666]

15 hours ago, mrvco said:

With that angle, it might be best to have the terminated with spades.  In the meantime, I think this is the perfect application for...

 

Thank you 

[RoseKloud666]

11 hours ago, semente said:

Try inserting the whole banana plug and connector inside a long hard tube in a way that the latter will bear the weight.

Thank you

 

 

7 hours ago, esldude said:

That is a good idea in the interim and maybe permanently.  You might wish to cover it with heatshrink or paint it, but small diameter PVC would be about right for this.  Even going past the connector up the cable an extra inch or two would spread the load more too. 

 

Either PVC electrical conduit in 1/2 inch or if needed to clear everything 3/4 inch PVC.  A 10 ft stick is only  a couple bucks.

 

http://www.homedepot.com/p/1-2-in-x-10-ft-PVC-Schedule-40-Conduit-67447/100122861

 

 

Thank you both 

 

Im having a problem picturing exactly how thi would look , even tho you were kind enough to send me a link 

 

"You might wish to cover it with heatshrink or paint it,"

 

Heat shrink which part exactly ?

 

Again sorry to sound daft

 

Many cheers folks

[RoseKloud666]

PS

 

I found some banana plug adapters online 

 

Is there a preferred brand/kind ? What need i look for in buying those ?

 

Will using an adapter impede/hamper or degrade the sound in any manner ?

 

Im now worried about losing the end in speaker post

 

Cheers

[RoseKloud666]

5 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

Parts Connection will have decent ones.  You want something that is mechanically sound and not made from Chinese Drywall.

 

Soldering the spade on with solder and a soldering iron will give a better mechanical connection than an adapter, but it may not matter for several years or moves of the speaker.  There will be no sound degradation (until something pulls loose).

 

Use a hemostat to retrieve any broken off parts.

Chinese Drywall , ffs you made me laugh there 

 

Thank you 

[RoseKloud666]

4 hours ago, Solstice380 said:

 

I use a set of Cardas banana - spade adapters for this reason, but I have locking bananas.  I think I got them from a brick and mortar audio shop that sells online.  Maybe it was Dedicated Audio.  No difference in sound quality noticed. 

Cheers

[RoseKloud666]

4 hours ago, wwaldmanfan said:

What is all this talk about adapters? Just cut off the banana plug and attach a new one. Or spade lugs. You don't need to mess with solder. Most use set screws to capture the wire.

 

 

Thanks mate

 

Im not sure why i dont feel confident as some of you s do about cutting into 1k+

 

cables . im quite daft when it comes to handicrafts peoples work 

 

I ve never done any such thing before , it does not appear to be rocket science ,but im still wary as heck

 

Im may look into this a bit more and realize i can restore these to new condition

 

Thanks mate

 

 

 

[RoseKloud666]

3 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

True, but solder will give a better connection

Are you saying i can use solder to strengthen the bend/crip . Or after i put a new end on , then use solder ?

 

Im wondering would solder impede the signal if i used it on the banana itself ?

 

Apologies in case im being daft 

[RoseKloud666]

23 hours ago, new_media said:

Agree, I wouldn't make any modifications until you speak to the manufacturer about repair/replacement.

thanks

[RoseKloud666]

13 hours ago, wwaldmanfan said:

 

1k+ cables? With cheezy 50¢ plugs? What planet am I on?

Now that you mention it , ffs those are cheap ends 

 

i ve never really noticed until you pointed it out 

 

 

[RoseKloud666]

11 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

have sympathy...

 

OP, I assume you cannot return the cables.  If you can, do so.  There is no reason to spend > $100 on speaker cables.

 

It won't hurt anything to cut the end off.  Go ahead and get the screw on spade terminals pictured above.  Just don't pull hard on them, and in 10 or 15 years you may have some corrosion to clean off.

 

Good Luck!

 

Despite a few people stating opinions for facts, this site has more knowledgeable people on it than other audio sites I know of.  You can greatly improve your system by doing some of the things here, whether you set a cost limit of $400 for a=the entire system, or a cost limit of $10,000 for the speakers alone.

 

I'll suggest moving your speakers around in the room and doing room treatments to begin with.

thank you

[RoseKloud666]

11 hours ago, esldude said:

Honestly I would hope they might help out a customer especially if they received more than $1k for the product.  Most especially if it sort of failed in 24 hours.  How much do they want to let you send it back and have them re-terminate it?  They didn't spend more than a few dollars for the banana (even some cheap ones wouldn't have bent so easily).  So material cost for them to repair it is not much.  Time to do it might be a little something if the wiring is intricate.  Or maybe they have a machine doing it and no one does such things for them.

 

I would think it too much, but if they asked for $100 on some $1k plus cables it would make me feel better to pay it and get it made right.   Spades would be better for your situation, but you are past that decision now.  They probably made an $800 profit on those so surely they could help a customer out.

Nope it will cost me 

 

One banana plug with parts and labor are CAN $40.00 + Shipping + Tax
Four spades with parts and labor are CAN $150.00 + Shipping + Tax

 

To be honest it is way cheaper than i had imagined , but leaves me wondering if it is that cheap why not give a customer who spent over 1k a one time break 

 

That would really make me feel good about the company , and i would feel compelled to spread the good news 

 

Im not as disappointed in them as i am with moon audio (USA)

 

I ve spent thousands of dollars on their cables , i think my HD-800 cables were about 1k or more USD , just that one

 

I ve had a few problems with their weak connections , but love their sound 

 

At one point i was expected to pay half for repairs on  one problem cable ,plus shipping , the other cable was for my Future sonics MG6 pros , they would not fix them , they said it was too expensive to start the machine up for just 1 repair 

 

I politely suggested that i was in no hurry , "please just leave them on a shelf until you start the machine again and fix my one end please "

 

They refused , did nt offer me anything to correct this .

 

Also note (at least on HD-800s at least ) its best to just leave cables in , dont switch in and out . Where you have to pull , the connection is weak and will crimp .

 

They make awesome sounding cables , but im very disillusioned with their support .

 

thats why i ve went somewhere else for cables and wont return to moon .

 

PS if anyone knows of a place who will reterminate/repair my damaged moon cables , please advise me here .

 

Esp my MG 6 pros . i have such cheap cables on my DAP since my moons failed ,nice , damaged moon cables sit in my sock drawer . wasted money 

 

Cheers mates

 

 

[RoseKloud666]

OOPz should i have started a new thread about asking for advice on who will fix/reterminate my moon cables ?

[RoseKloud666]

Since i find folks here who are confident enough to reterminate their own gear ill ask this here . If i need a new thread , ill apologize and do a new thread .

 

As i stated earlier moon fell out of favour with me , and i still have their cables they cant/wont repair , but they sound great in spite of this bad experience .

 

Please see attached 

 

1. Is a mini to MG6 pro ( future sonics CIEM) The mini is fine , but the MG6 ends need to be reterminated  or repaired . Just one of them has a short in connection .No hope in hell i can reterm that one 
2. Is likely my easiest option . 

Thats big end is a RSA SR71B end (i flogged my RSA the cable still works) The MG 6 pros are fine on  this cable .
 I just need the RSA end reterminated to a mini .
Is there somewhere , other than moon , i can send this to have the RSA reterminated to a mini ? Or is this a job that i should be comfty with ?

Also advice on tools i would need and where to get the best mini end i can would be appreciated 

Cheers 

[RoseKloud666]

4 hours ago, bgoc said:

You might check audio adviser, they have a guy that works for them that does all there terminations. Just don't know if they only do there cables. That said I did a double run of cables on my rig ,I got a set of audioquest  screw on ,like the ones shown above from music direct ,it was a piece of cake putting them on. The screws make an incredibly good connection ,the quality of the spades would be light years ahead of what you have now,and would give you much better sound.

Thanks

 

"audio adviser" Is that audioadvisor.com?

 

On that 2nd cable above , that has the MG6 pro ends and the mini , is it dead easy to lob off the end i dont need (R.S.A. SR71B end) and neatly fit it with a hi-end mini myself ?  

 

Im guessing ill need a sharp razor and one hi-end mini , and something to close/seal where i re-terminated to mini ?

 

Could i somehow seal it all up proefessional looking and not some hack job ?

 

I want them to look as good as they sound , and they do travel with me , so as sealed as possible would be best , nothing loose or bare .

 

Cheers mate

 

 

 

 

[RoseKloud666]

On 2017-5-23 at 2:34 PM, wwaldmanfan said:

What is all this talk about adapters? Just cut off the banana plug and attach a new one. Or spade lugs. You don't need to mess with solder. Most use set screws to capture the wire.

 

 

Those are nice looking spades/bananas 

 

With 1K plus cables im now very disappointed in what gutwire put on mine 

 

Whats that brand and where can i get those ?

 

Is that top set , banana ends a universal size ? Would they fit my dynaudio focus 340s?

 

To summarize your advice 1.i would just use a sharp tool/razor to lob off the plastic ends (or could i somehow otherwise take that piece off to preserve as much wire as possible?) .

 

2.Now i wont have bare wire yet ? Ill need something to strip back that rather thick/rough insulation material ? Then ill have bare wire ? Which i then simply inset into either the banana or spade and turn screws down ? And Bobs my uncle ?

 

In that banana  picture , is all that i dont see under/inside the banana just bare wire /

 

Thanks mate 

 

I ask so many questions as im concerned about mucking about with 1k plus cables (That should never have had such cheap ends) .

 

Cheers 

[RoseKloud666]

2 minutes ago, wwaldmanfan said:

Heat shrink tubing.

 

 

Nice , thank you 

 

that looks pro  Is that unique to audio/cabling Heat shrink tubing ?

 

If so wheres the best place to get that ?

 

If you did that yourself mate , NICELY NICELY 

 

Am i correct on the rest of my post on how to go about it ? Ill need to strip away all the insulation to bare wire and all bare wire goes inside the banana/spade , then screw it down , then shrink tubing , and its all nicely nicely after that 

 

Cheers

[RoseKloud666]

1 minute ago, Ralf11 said:

check out Parts Confection

 

http://www.partsconnexion.com/

Cheers mate

[RoseKloud666]

6 minutes ago, esldude said:

 

You can get those here:

 

https://www.avoutlet.com/cables-connectors/av-connectors/speaker/banana/furez-tst-sb40-50-60np/

 

You Probably need the 5 mm or 6 mm size.  The spec on your wire says the conductor is just under 5 mm (.192). 

 

Terminating cables like this isn't usually too bad a job.  I understand if you haven't done it before and maybe aren't great or have little experience with handy work.  Are there any audio dealers or electronics places where perhaps you could pay someone a few bucks to do the termination for you?  Just had another thought.  There is a greater likelihood there is a car stereo shop in your general area.  They do this sort of thing all the time with many different wire sizes.  Probably even have some nice spades or bananas on hand to get one that fits your wire.   That might be your best bet. 

 

Oh, and if I were you, wouldn't buy from Gutwire anymore.  Actually, I would write them an email linking to this thread.  CA is one of the larger audio websites around.  Let them know the kind of publicity they are earning for themselves.   There have already been nearly 600 people view this.  None have come away from reading this thread thinking, "damn, that Gutwire is some good stuff, and they really care for their customer.  I'd like to buy from them next time I buy wire." 

Thanks mate

 

Not likely anything here . Im in small amish town Ontario . We have groceries and one computer store and lotsa horses LOL .i dont drive and everything is hours away . Internet or do it myself are my options .

 

Maybe the computer store dude ? hes a nice chap is all in know of him .

 

Thanks for all the advice 

 

Now im seriously questioning gutwire . Its only 40.00 CND to fix one banana , but ill assume thet put the same cheap end back on , and with shipping 2 ways and insurance , that adds up 

 

Cheers

[RoseKloud666]

11 minutes ago, wwaldmanfan said:

 

I buy my stuff from Douglas Connection. The pics I posted are their Furez copper connectors. The solid copper or silver-plated copper spades are good.

For bananas, I prefer the locking type. They are more durable than the plain copper ones.

 

http://www.douglasconnection.com/Speaker-Cable-Connectors_c10.htm

thank you

 

"For bananas, I prefer the locking type."

 

So the bananas that lock are silver ?

 

PS are all bananas universal sized ? My speakers are dynaudio focus 340s

 

Cheers