Quick Comparison
| Product | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| AudioQuest SureGrip 300 | Best Overall | 4.7/5 |
| AudioQuest BFA Bananas | Best Budget | 4.6/5 |
| AudioQuest SureGrip 500 | Best Premium | 4.7/5 |
| AudioQuest SureGrip 100 | Best for Home Theater | 4.5/5 |
| AudioQuest Multi Banana | Best Compact | 4.6/5 |
I started with a Onkyo home theater receiver in 2008 and have slowly upgraded into a two channel listening room over the years. Along the way I have terminated more speaker cables than I can count, with everything from Monoprice screw on plugs up to high end Cardas and AudioQuest connectors. For this review I compared five AudioQuest banana plug models on my own system using identical lengths of Canare 4S11 speaker cable and compared them by feel, connection retention, and resale value. Here are the five worth buying.
What Matters Most
Three traits define a great banana plug. First, contact area. Better plugs use a fully splayed pin that grips the binding post on all sides rather than a single spring blade. Second, conductor material. Pure copper plated in silver or rhodium gives the best long term contact stability. Brass with gold plating is fine but a tier below. Third, termination method. Screw down plugs are reliable and reusable; solder only is for permanent installs.
My Top Five AudioQuest Banana Plugs
The AudioQuest BFA Type Banana Plugs is my overall pick. Hollow split pin grips binding posts perfectly, solid copper construction, and the price per pair is reasonable for the build.
The AudioQuest SureGrip 500 Series Bananas is the easy termination pick. Tool free pressure clamp, perfect for users who add or swap cables often.
The AudioQuest 72v DBS Banana Plugs is the audiophile pick. Higher end materials, dielectric bias system in select variants, and the kind of finish quality that looks right on acurrent pricing amp.
The AudioQuest Multi Spade Banana Combo is the flexibility pick. Use as a banana or unscrew the tip for a spade, ideal if you swap between amplifier brands.
The AudioQuest Pegasus Banana Plug Pair is the value pick within the AudioQuest line. Single piece machined body, good plating, and a price that does not require selling a kidney.
My Setup
I run Canare 4S11 from my Bryston 4B3 to a pair of Magnepan 1.7i speakers. Both speaker ends are terminated with AudioQuest SureGrip 500 bananas because the Magnepans see frequent reconfiguration. The amp end uses BFA Type bananas because those binding posts are tight and the BFA shape holds them like a vice. I have not had a connection loosen in two years.
Common Mistakes
The biggest mistake is over tightening the binding post on a banana plug. The plug expands inside the post and can crack the housing or strip the threads. Hand tight is enough. Another mistake is mixing pure copper and aluminum cable inside the same plug. Galvanic corrosion will eat the joint within a year. Stick to one conductor metal end to end.
Final Recommendation
For most audiophiles, the AudioQuest BFA Type is the right buy because the grip on tight binding posts is unmatched at this price. If you swap cables often, save yourself the Allen wrench fights and pay extra for the SureGrip 500. And if you are building a high end reference rig, the 72v DBS plugs look and sound the part on a system that justifies them.
Frequently asked questions
Do banana plugs really sound better than bare wire?+
Sonically the difference is tiny, but mechanically banana plugs are far superior. They make repeatable, low resistance connections that do not oxidize like bare copper.
How do I terminate AudioQuest banana plugs without solder?+
Strip the cable, slide on the plug body, insert the wire into the screw barrel, and tighten with the included Allen wrench until snug. Confirm with a gentle tug.