Monster Cable QL GMT-H QuickLock Gold Banana Connectors (2 Pair)
Speaker wire is made from copper wire that can corrode very quickly, rapidly deteriorating the performance of your cables and the overall performance of your system. To avoid this, always terminate your speaker wire with connectors. The kind of connector you need varies with the kinds of connectors on the back of your amp/receiver and your speakers. In many cases, the connectors will mandate Banana type plugs, and that's where the QL GMT-H Package includes two pair (4 connectors)
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Monster Cable QL GMT-H QuickLock Gold Banana Connectors (2 Pair) Reviews
Obviously, sound quality wise these are not any better than $1 banana plugs where you have to tighten the screws, the question to ask is whether the convenience is worth $$ to you. Radio Shack carries similar banana plugs, but they cost only a couple of dollars less. Very easy to use but overpriced, however there is not much else out there with similar design. Three stars only because they are overpriced, if they were $10, I would have given them 5 stars.
What you give yourself in terms of quality can really only be justified by your budget, beliefs, and preferences. Your music, your life, your choices. If you feel cheated or swindled, or that you bought something you didn't need, then the music will always sound that way to you. But even then, you may not notice much difference until you really listen for the high and low notes, the quality of a singer's voice or a solo instrument, or the resonance of the bass notes.
Sorry if this sounds like I'm preaching. Listen to your music, enjoy it, and be proud that you can afford whatever you have. Don't be misled by thinking that all the expensive stuff is just hype - it does make a difference. But if you believe you bought the best quality you could afford, and that it's purpose is to serve your music tastes and enjoyment, then the sounds you hear will have that quality. After much research and actually trying different products, I can report that the differences are subtle and mostly subjective within a similar price range. Here's my point: bottom line, the technology takes SECOND PLACE within a similar price range or product line.
Believe, research, buy the best you can, and don't get hung up on the details.
But the difference won't change your life, it will only make you feel good if you invest and believe you're getting quality for your money.
There is no magic technology, no Star Trek in real life; there is just belief, dollars, common sense, and choosing to be satisfied with your choices and enjoy them for what they are.
Obviously there is a difference between high-end speakers and wires, and smaller, cheaper speakers using lamp wire or thin speaker wire.
When I stareted looking for some mid-to-high end audio components (speakers, wire, etc).
I asked myself, "What is the real difference between one item and another, very similar one.".
This is good.
The most important factor is how you feel when you listen to your music.
I quickly became overwhelmed with the many variations available from Monster and other vendors.
Only complaint i have with them is it's good if there's a way to they could hold the cable. Rightnow, if the cables are moved they would come out of the connector. They give a nice finish to the cable termination.
That said, these are terrific. First, while these are a Monster product they don't have the Monster price. Simply strip about 1/2 inch of twisted wire, insert, screw the top in place. I used them for both 12 and 14 gauge speaker wire with no problem at all. But, free shipping and no sales tax for me so I saved a few dollars and I wasn't in a hurry. I paid 19.97 here which is the same price that BestBuy sells them for in their store so there's no great savings on price. They're the same price you'll find for connectors from companies you've never heard of - but you aren't sacrificing Monster quality. Very easy to install.
A good connection is a good connection, period. The gnurled rubber grips are easy to grab and move, too. I have tried a lot of different banana plugs, and usually they feel flimsy and tend to work themselves loose, or make finicky and insecure connections. Plug them into your speakers or amp and appreciate how easy it is to see the polarity, and how satisfyingly the springy tips seat home in the sockets. OK, so I don't buy into all the hype about connectors or cables having an audible effect on sound quality.
I am constantly tinkering with things and modifying poorly-engineered products to work better, but I cannot really think of any way to improve these little tanks. Simple. Because they have a rock-solid, elegant and simple design. And the price isn't even that bad, compared to the absurd prices of most good connectors. They pull out just as smoothly, too: Not too tight or too loose.
And that's the best praise I can give. Terminate a speaker cable with them and see who easy it is; just strip the cable end and screw them on by hand; no tools needed beyond a wire cutter and stripper; not even a screwdriver. So yeah, these do the job. The cables drape naturally out of their ends, and the plugs aren't too deep for tight spaces. Tighten the nut down and admire how solid and fool-proof the resulting connection is. Hold them in your hand: They are satisfyingly heavy and rugged.
So why am I raving about these plugs.
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