AudioQuest 500 Series Spade Connectors (Silver)
AudioQuest don't just make high quality speaker cable, but also a range of matching connectors that can be used on most brands of quality cable with ease. By using AudioQuest Spade Connectors you are ensuring that your speaker wire is terminated in the best possible way.
These 500 Series Spade Connectors are one-piece solid high-purity Pure Purple Copper instead of inferior sounding multiple pieces or brass. Pure "Hanging Silver" is directly-plated without a normal sound-damaging intermediary layer. The barrels of the 500 Series accept up to 9 AWG speaker cable and use a Cold-Welded connection instead of inferior sound-damaging solder.
A Bit of Connector History
We just thought it would be a good idea to write a little about our experience with speaker cable and terminations which dates back to the mid 1960s as well as the reasons why connectors like Banana Plugs and Spade Connectors are no longer considered a luxury.
Of course, speaker wire or cable has been and will continue to be an important part of the audio video chain for the foreseeable future. You need speaker cable to connect between your Amplifier or AV Home Theatre Receiver and your speakers. You can use bare wire, but this is the #1 enemy in causing expensive damage to your Amplifier/Receiver. How so?
Up until the mid 1980's, most Amplifiers had a spring-clip connector and speaker cable was simple 18 AWG to 24 AWG (thin) stranded cable. It wasn't difficult to get it right although many did get it horribly wrong. Note: AWG stands for American Wire Gauge a USA standard for cable thickness.
We've seen plenty of people strip back even 50mm (should only be 8-12mm) of the insulation thus exposing lots of bare wire and danger! When the positive and negative "touch" disaster is only micro seconds away as well as a nasty burning smell from your precious Amplifier/Receiver!
As speaker cable came under the spotlight as a way of improving sound - Bill Low from AudioQuest was one of the first - and thicker cable was the first theory, a better way had to be found for connecting this thicker speaker cable. The first idea was thin brass pins that were crimped to the cable, and although an improvement, were tricky and often popped out of the spring connector - voice of experience here!
Spade Connectors: These had been around for many years in the electronics world and so the "smarties" among us started using these, particularly at the speaker end which often had thumb screws. However, these still only suited thin cable. So, not long after the brass pins came to market, so did some decent Spade Connectors.
Banana Plugs: Today, even entry-level Amplifiers/Receivers have provision for Banana (4mm) plugs and although Spade Connectors and Banana Plugs are still optional - yes bare-wire is also still a choice you have - quality connectors are chosen by most of our customers because (1) they keep everything a lot tidier; (2) are easier to remove and relocate on equipment that needs to be moved and (3) of course minimise the risk of damage to your expensive electronics. They also have one other benefit. Both Spade Connectors and Banana Plugs have a larger surface area than bare-wire alone and so more of the 'electronic' signal passes from Amplifier to Speaker.
Main Features & Specifications
- AudioQuest Silver Plated 500 Series Spade Connectors: Pack of 4
- This pack of 4 spade connectors is enough to do one length of normal (single wire) speaker cable – 2 spades at the amplifier end and 2 spades at the speaker end. If you need enough for a stereo system you will need two packs of 4 spades – 8 in total.
- These 500 Series Spade Connectors are one-piece solid high-purity Pure Purple Copper instead of inferior sounding multiple pieces or brass
- Pure "Hanging Silver" is directly-plated without a normal sound-damaging intermediary layer
- The barrels of the 500 Series accept up to 9 AWG speaker cable
- The cable is secured using a 4 bolt Cold-Welded connection instead of inferior sound-damaging solder
- The metal cover is secured by 2 screws
- Combination Allen and Philips Tool is included in the box
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 5 Years - Does not cover misuse or incorrect installation
- Learn more about AudioQuest
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.