How many banana plugs do I need to buy for the Ventriloquist system?

[Sasha_G]

A banana plug might make installation of the rear center easier. Unfortunately, the rear center has unusually small holes, which are too tight for most plugs. We'll, we've found a RadioShack banana pair that fits well, although they require some soldering to the wire.

Use the Catalog number in the search box at Radioshack.com
Catalog number: 278-307
Title: Banana Plug
Price: $7.99
Brand: Tandy Elect Pkg-440068

June 7th Update:
For the rest of your system, bananas can be useful when you unplug and plug-in speaker cable over and over. They offer a reliable, springy connection, something that bare wire just can't. With bare wire, you must be extra careful to fully tighten the binding posts each time. Plus, bananas reduce the risk of crossing wires.

To add Parts Express Dual bananas to a 6 channel system , you would need:

10 for the center and left/right fronts (pairs: 3 -> 3 -> 2 -> 2)
4 for the left and right rear surround (pairs: 2 -> 2)
1 for the rear center surround (pairs: 1 -> 1 pair of Radioshack bananas)
======
15 Parts Express Dual bananas plus the special Radioshack pair for the rear center (the rear center will have the jumper installed, so only one Radioshack banana pair is needed).

For a 5 channel system using the special rear center to simulate 6 channels
Using the rear center matrixing feature, you would need 14 Parts Express dual bananas and two pairs of the special Radioshack plugs. You would double up the wire on the rear satellite plugs and run them to the rear center.

For a 5 channel system
You would need 14 Parts Express dual bananas and no special Radioshack plugs at all.

P.S. For the Parts Express bananas, you might consider getting two colors to help keep track of left and right channels. For example, we sometimes use red for right and center, black for left. That would be six black ones, and the rest red. We then use a marking on the banana plug to keep track of polarity. You also need a small flat-head micro-screwdriver for the Parts Express bananas.

[Zoma]

I'm moving tomorrow and am thinking of ordering my HSU VT-12s and STF-2 at that time. I'm probably going to get the following banana plugs:

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...umber=091-1260

They come in packages of 4 (2 pair). I'm guessing I'll need 2 pair per cable (one side for the speaker, one for the receiver). Here's my breakdown:

2 pairs for the rear left
2 pairs for the rear right
0 pairs for the rear center (won't work)
6 pairs for the front center (if I understand the setup correctly)
2 pairs for the front left
2 pairs for the front right
Total: 14 pairs

Am I understanding this correctly (the front center takes two extra sets of inputs for the front left and right)? Also, do those plugs look like they'll work? I'm guessing they will, but I'd like to make sure.

Thanks

[tdekany]

you will need 18 regular bananas and the rear center takes small bananas.

[Zoma]

Cripes, I ordered 16 pairs (14 + two extras). Looks like I'll have to pick up an extra couple when I get the radio shack ones for the rears. Just wondering, where did I count wrong above?

[wid]

Looking at the instuction manual for 5 channel you will need 14 regular pair of bannanas and 2 smaller sets.For 6 channel you will need 15 regular pair and 1 pair of the smaller kind. It breaks down like this.

5 pair for the center speaker
5 pair for the reciever
1 pair for r/f
1 pair for l/f
1 pair for r/r
1 pair for l/r
For 6 channel just add 1 more set for the rear center going back to the receiver.Then you would only need 1 set of the smaller ones to the rear center.because you also use the supplied jumpers for the rear center.

Good luck.

[Zoma]

wid - That's what I thought. 14 pairs for the 5 speakers. According to what I've been reading, the 6th speaker (rear center) needs smaller plugs, like the ones that radio shack makes. So I should be good having ordered 16 pairs and then getting another couple pairs from radio shack.

[wid]

Looks to me you should be set,all you need now is your speakers.I think you will be pleasently suprised on just how good these little speakers sound.What reciever are you going to be using?I myself have a Panasonic SA-H70 and they sound pretty good with it,even with the crossover @100hz.This is actually my wifes system I have Rotel pre and amp with HSU-VTF 2 with Axiom M80's.This is what I am used to listening on for music and I still think the VT-12 sounds pretty darn good.With movies and music you wont be dissapointed.


Good luck

[Zoma]

For my receiver, I ended up getting the Yamaha HTR 5760. Should be a pretty big jump going from:

JVC 20" TV
Built-in speakers on TV
No receiver
PS2 as DVD player

to:

Zenith C32V37 HDTV
Hsu VT-12s
Hsu STF-2
Yamaha HTR 5760
Zenith DVB318 DVD player



My only concern right now is wiring the speakers. I can plug stuff in and read wiring diagrams pretty well, but cutting, stripping and (correctly) getting the banana plugs on is something I'm not sure about.

[wid]

With the bannana plugs you picked from Parts Express that part is going to be real easy.



Good Luck

[wid]

From what you had to what your'e system is now I think there is going to be a big woooooooow when you have everything up and running.Looking good!

[Zoma]

Hey, just so I know before I mess things up (heh), how do I put the plugs on the wires? Any tricks or things to look for? Or will they come with instructions?

Got the TV today, still haven't gotten an E-mail with tracking info from any of the 4 places I ordered from (Friday at ~3 PM PST) My only problem is that the TV stand is really wobbly (put it together myself!) but this may be fixed when I put the carboard piece on the back (instructions claim it stabilizes it).

I picked up a pair of speaker stands this morning from Wal mart for $27 ( http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?cat=3996&dept=3944&product_id=2045620& path=0%3A3944%3A3996%3A3964%3A38080 ). They look ok and seem to be built really well. I was debating about using these or the more expensive $50 stands I can get at Best Buy ( http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1055388028260&skuId=5590489&type=pr oduct ). Anyone know if there's a good stand for the rear center speaker? The Walmart stands can only hold up to 2 lbs, I'm not sure what the speaker weighs. Also, I guess I'd be wasting a stand, since they only come in pairs.

Thanks,
Zoma

[wid]

Hey Zoma theres no trick to the plugs there commpression type no soldering.Also have you checked out the speaker stands offerd buy Parts Express.I think the worst part of it all is the wait.Looking back at youre post I see you already got the Walmart stands.Just use them and see how they work.

Good Luck

[Retread]

Originally Posted by wid

Hey Zoma theres no trick to the plugs there commpression type no soldering.Also have you checked out the speaker stands offerd buy Parts Express.I think the worst part of it all is the wait.Looking back at youre post I see you already got the Walmart stands.Just use them and see how they work.

Good Luck

Those plugs for the center-rear have to be soldered. Also, "small" and "Radio Shack" aren't unambiguous. Radio Shack sells several "small" bananas, but only one kind will fit. Finally, I think the jumpers may not work, because they may block the hole into which the plugs go. I used two pairs of the special bananas on my center-rear and connected them together. The design of the connections on the center-rear leaves a lot to be desired.

There's a little art to putting the wires onto the regular banana plugs. Since you will be doing a goodly number, it's good to have wire strippers. It's important to strip the wire back just the right amount. Too little, and they will tend to come off. Too much, and the wires will cover the threads, making it difficult to screw the connector body on.

It would be a good idea to buy speaker wire that is color coded. That way, you can always attach the red banana to one color and the black banana to the other and not have to worry about whether you are getting reversals when you connect up.

[wid]

I was only referring to the plugs he bought from parts express.I did'nt use any plugs myself I just used bare wire.That was nice and simple and no worries about any plugs coming lose.Color coding is a good idea.

[Zoma]

Those plugs for the center-rear have to be soldered. Also, "small" and "Radio Shack" aren't unambiguous. Radio Shack sells several "small" bananas, but only one kind will fit. Finally, I think the jumpers may not work, because they may block the hole into which the plugs go. I used two pairs of the special bananas on my center-rear and connected them together. The design of the connections on the center-rear leaves a lot to be desired.

Right, I was just being vague. I have the P/N. Also, I'm not sure what you mean about the jumpers not working.

There's a little art to putting the wires onto the regular banana plugs. Since you will be doing a goodly number, it's good to have wire strippers. It's important to strip the wire back just the right amount. Too little, and they will tend to come off. Too much, and the wires will cover the threads, making it difficult to screw the connector body on.

Any clues or a link to a guide as to how much that right amount is?

It would be a good idea to buy speaker wire that is color coded. That way, you can always attach the red banana to one color and the black banana to the other and not have to worry about whether you are getting reversals when you connect up.

Already ordered the sound king from partsexpress, not sure if they are color coded.

Thanks

[Retread]

Originally Posted by wid

I was only referring to the plugs he bought from parts express.I did'nt use any plugs myself I just used bare wire.That was nice and simple and no worries about any plugs coming lose.Color coding is a good idea.

I also tried doing bare wire -- 12GA. Due to the jacks on the center-rear being recessed, there's not a straight shot through the holes in the sides. I found it impossible to thread un-tinned 12GA through the holes in pairs of jacks. I also found it impossible to feed tinned 12GA through the holes, so I cut off the tinned portion, trimmed the 12GA down to maybe 16GA, re-tinned it and used needle nose pliers to force each wire through the pairs of holes on the pairs of jacks. No way I'd have been able to force those through with the "jumpers" supplied with the speaker. After going through this a couple of times when I needed to rewire, I cut the ends off again and soldered the special Radio Shacks plugs onto the ends, using a 16GA pigtail to connect the second.

I suppose if one didn't anticipate changes, and one were using thinner wires, direct connecting would be OK.

As one who made his living building test equiment for a couple of years, I never use un-tinned stranded wire for hookup.

Why 12 GA? Big room -- long cable runs through the attic.

[Retread]

Originally Posted by Zoma

Right, I was just being vague. I have the P/N. Also, I'm not sure what you mean about the jumpers not working.


Any clues or a link to a guide as to how much that right amount is?


Already ordered the sound king from partsexpress, not sure if they are color coded.

Thanks

The speakers come with short, thin jumper wires, both ends stripped and tinned. The "banana" jacks are recessed into the body of the speaker, so there isn't a sight-line through the holes in the pairs of jacks. And the holes are fairly small. If you are using speaker cables with fat copper (12 GA, in my case), it's extremely difficult to thread both the speaker wires and the jumper wires through the holes. What I did is buy two pairs of the special "banana" plugs. I made a pigtail about a foot long out of 16Ga wire, soldered a 12GA and a 16GA to a Red, and another to a Black. Then I soldered the other ends of the pigtails to the other pair of plugs. Plug into the speaker and you are done -- and the next time you change something, you don't have to redo it.

I didn't measure the amount of insulation you have to strip off when installing the other kind of banana plug. Did it by eyeball. You want the copper to fold over the connector body juuuuust to the threads. Less and it is likely to come loose. More and the copper gets in the threads and makes it hard to tighten. It really, really helps to have a wire stripper.

[Zoma]

Radio shack claims the plugs in question will work with 12 ga wire and are screw-on. Is this true? I'm guessing you soldered them for a better installation, but I'd like to make sure.

[Retread]

Originally Posted by Zoma

Radio shack claims the plugs in question will work with 12 ga wire and are screw-on. Is this true? I'm guessing you soldered them for a better installation, but I'd like to make sure.

Drop down on this page to the January 6 thread with a frowny face that I started. That thread deals with the subject and has pictures of the (only) "banana" that will work. I can't get the boot off my plugs -- they are too tight -- but there just isn't enough room for screw-on wire holders. At least that's what I remember, but it's been a few months, and there were LOTS of things to connect, what with the audio, the projector, the computer, etc. I think Radio Shack is either steering you to the wrong plug, or they are confusing the screw expander with the method of attachment of the wires to the plug.

[DJT]

I bought the Radio Shack plugs Cat # 278-307, but they don't seem to fit in the center rear. What's changed? TIA

[Retread]

Originally Posted by DJT

I bought the Radio Shack plugs Cat # 278-307, but they don't seem to fit in the center rear. What's changed? TIA

They are expanding units. If you haven't already, try unscrewing the part that has the boot. Once unscrewed, it should just slide in. Then you screw the boot part back down and it is tight.

[delsol]

i am at this moment at a radio shack store trying to fit the 278-307 to my center speaker. but it is to big to fit into the speaker plug. what gives?

opps!!! after posting i then noticed the post above. that was the problem. plug was expanded but not apparently my mind.

[thegoldenhand]

• Anybody got pictures of how the banana plugs are attached to the speakers? I guess I want to understand how those dual banana plugs will work. (okay so I get it, 1 pair of the banana plug for each set of terminals)
• Also I don't get how the RS banana will work on the rear center. It says to connect both blacks together and both reds together. How can we do that with just one pair of banana plugs? (okay so I will use the jumper cables provided in the box of the VTF and just plus the banana on one of the terminals)
• But how come you guys are only counting 16 or 14? In my count (and if it's correct based on Figure 4: Hookup for 6.1 receivers of the manual) we will need 18 banana plugs for all the speakers except the rear center with which we'll use the radio shack plus # 278-307. The breakdown is 5 pairs (10 pieces) for the center and 4 pairs (8 pieces) for the satellites.
• So in actuarial for a 6.1 setup, we need 18 pieces of PartsExpress banana plugs and 2 pieces of Radio Shack banana plugs. Of course this excludes how many you'll need for the terminals on your receiver.
• Can anyone suggest a good connector/plus I can use for spring clips on my receiver? I got a Panasonic XR-50. Unfortunately it only has the screw type terminals for the front speakers and the rest are spring clips (excluding the subwoofer out which is coaxial).

[Dudley]

The parts express plugs are a pair (count as two) - hence only 16 plus the radio shack.

[htrookie]

I have ordered an extra (rear) speaker for the VT12 to setup a 7.1 system. Will this also require the Radio Shack (smaller) banana plugs?

[glenn71x]

Ok I give up..How do you connect those Parts Express Dual Banana Plugs to the Wire? I see no moving or screwing part when I look at it. Just empty holes. These dont require solder right? How do they work??
Thanks

[mdl_77]

Has anyone tried the banana plugs from monoprice.com?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040115&p_i d=2945&seq=1&format=2&style=

[lagsun]

FYI, after my useless soldering skills failed to connect my speaker wire to my small Radio Shack banana plugs, I happened to try these solder type plugs from Monoprice that I was planning to use for my other VT-12 satellite speakers:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...ormat=2&style=

These plugs worked fine in the rear center but are now too small for the other speakers and just fall out. You don't have to solder them either as the rear section screws off and can be used as a twist in type plug.

Hope this helps...

[norcalstoppy]

go to monoprice.com. I got 18 pairs for $1.50/pair. Very good quality banana plugs with gold plated contact.