Quick Answer / Summary: Bare wire gives the lowest interface count but oxidises and loosens; tinned wire resists oxidation but can creep under pressure; ferrules make a stable, reusable joint for screw terminals; banana plugs give tool-free connection with sprung contact; spades provide the largest contact area under a binding post collar. Match the method to the terminal and to how often it will be disturbed.
A termination is where the cable meets the terminal, and it is the part of a loudspeaker circuit most likely to fail. Five methods cover nearly every installation, and each trades contact quality against convenience.
The Three Wire-End Methods
Bare wire is the reference: no interface between conductor and terminal, lowest resistance when new. It oxidises in open terminals and work-hardens if repeatedly re-tightened. Tinning seals the strands and stops oxidation, at the cost of a softer contact that can creep under screw pressure. A ferrule compresses the strands into a solid end, which is the best of the wire-end methods for screw terminals because it prevents strand spreading and can be reused.
Why Ferrules Beat Bare Wire
A ferrule contains every strand, so the screw cannot cut or spread them. The joint stays stable through thermal cycling, and the end can be removed and reinserted without loss. The cost is a crimp tool and a few pence per end.
Tinning Trade-offs
Solder wicks into the strands and stiffens the end, which concentrates bending stress just behind the joint. Tinned ends suit fixed installations, not cables that are handled often.
Plug and Spade Terminations
Banana plugs make the connection removable without tools and are the default for amplifiers with 4 mm sockets. Spades offer the largest contact area under a binding post’s collar and resist loosening better than bare wire. Both add one interface, which is acceptable where the connection must be repeatable or the terminal is difficult to reach.
Spade Sizing
Spade forks come in widths matched to binding post diameters, commonly around 8 mm and 6 mm. A spade that is too wide will not seat under the collar; too narrow and it does not reach the post’s shoulder.
Mixing Methods Across a System
Mixing is acceptable electrically, but keep each channel consistent. A system with a plug on one side and bare wire on the other is harder to diagnose and easy to get out of phase.
Contact Resistance in Context
Two clean interfaces add a few milliohms, which is nothing against an 8 ohm load. The reason terminations matter is mechanical: a loose joint changes resistance unpredictably rather than adding a fixed amount.
Termination Methods
| Method | Contact Quality | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Bare wire | Lowest when new | Fixed, low-disturbance |
| Tinned | Good, can creep | Fixed installs |
| Ferrule | Good, stable | Screw terminals |
| Banana plug | Good, removable | Tool-free connections |
| Spade | Largest area | Binding posts |
Practical Applications
Terminating cable for a fixed installation, choosing between ferrules and bare wire in a screw terminal, sizing spades for a binding post, and standardising termination across a multi-room system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best speaker cable termination?
For fixed screw terminals, a crimped ferrule. For tool-free or frequently changed connections, a banana plug. Bare wire is electrically fine when new but oxidises and loosens.
Are ferrules better than bare wire?
In screw terminals, usually yes: they contain the strands, prevent cutting and spreading, and stay stable through thermal cycling.
What size spade do I need?
Match the fork width to the binding post diameter, commonly around 8 mm or 6 mm. Too wide will not seat under the collar; too narrow will not reach the shoulder.