I plan to buy speaker wire from futureshop.co.uk and have some doubt when placing the order.

Wat is PLUGS: banana airloc? wat is spade airloc?

Wat is termination means? This one cost so expensive than my wire. Do we need it? Thanks for your help.
If i just buy wire, the cable can be use? or how will it look like?

Please advise which i suppose to choose from the option menu.

This post has been edited by Darren Chuah: May 14 2009, 09:38 PM

plug means the connector

the one above are banana airloc and below are spade airloc


it depends on ur usage, mine i got without factory termination

I'm a big fan of SA XT. All my front speakers connected via this cable.

Banana and spade is just the type of connector. Most people use banana. Airloc is just the name of QED connector. This is the best connector for SA XT because of the design of this cable.

When u buy the cable, u can either buy the cable unterminated (only the cable without any connector) or u terminate one side with connector of ur choice (the other end will be bare wire) or u can terminate both end. Airloc is expensive so it will increase the cost of cable considerably if you terminate both end (but the most recommended because of the secure connection).

I don't recommend u buy SA XT without connector because the design of the cable will be pain in the ass to connect it to either ur amp or speaker. If you want it cheap without connector, better go for Silver Anniversary instead as this cable does not has the air core like SA XT.

Anyway after conversion and plus shipping cost, a pair of 3m SA XT terminated both end with Banana Airloc will cost u about RM380.

What arremie said. having your cables terminated makes it easier to plug your cables to the speakers and receivers (assuming they accept such terminals).

Also, the airlocs are best terminated by the shop for best fit - i believe a special clamp is also required. so decide if u want it terminated upfront before you purchase the cable rather than an after thought. that way, it will be shipped to you properly terminated at source.

remember buying from futureshop got no vat.

Thank you very much on all bro explanation here, I m using Jamo S 606 HC S3 with Onkyo 506, so the front tall boy speaker is bi-wire type, n front & surround speakers are normal one. So this speakers n AVR is most suitable for which plugs? and for the termination for bi-wire really cut my throat.....8 plugs need for bi-wire....

QED One Incognito Speaker Cable 20m - For my surround speakers
QED Genesis Revelation Speaker Cable (1 meter) - For my center speaker
QED Silver Anniversary XT Speaker Bi-Wire Cable (2x2.5meters) - For Front Speakers

I am happy if you can advise on my purchase before i place my order.

Picture below is the way banana plug slot in to our speaker terminal? Then which termination need for AVR side? I really scared i bought wrong thing.
Sorry for stupid question coz i really first time own home theater...

This post has been edited by Darren Chuah: May 15 2009, 11:16 AM


Attached thumbnail(s)

U can poke in a banana plug into ur Onkyo terminal except u need to take out the plastic cap on ur Onkyo terminaal first. First use a screw to screw into the plastic cap ( just a bit in will do ) then pull out the plastic cap. Once this is done u will see that the Onkyo spk terminal is the same as ur Jamo spk terminate.

Hope this help. BTW I am using banana on all my spk & AVR terminal. Except my banana ( Rm1 each ) & wire r cheapo type.

Thanks for your info, i found that my amp is offering a Bi-Amp function which i don have 2nd unit amp, do i still need a Bi-wire to my speakers? is bi-wire will improve my SQ?

I heard it will improve ur SQ. But I don't use it in my set up as I want to have 7.1 set up.

guys if i need 1m for my left speaker and 3m for my right speaker, should i buy

1) 4m and cut myself?

or

2) 1x 1m & 1x 3m

Yes bi-amp will improve ur SQ. I use 2 pairs SA XT terminated both sides to bi-amp my front. Read ur amp manual on how to.
Oh u might want to try QED silver micro for your surround. Nothing special with QED one. Haven't try Genesis but from what I read it can be very bright.

I guess the best is make it the speaker left n right same length for perfect balance signal. Correct me i f i m wrong.

u r right

Hi Arremie,

I don have 2 amps, how to make it Bi-Amp? I only have a front speaker offering Bi-wire. So i still need buy Bi-wire speaker cable?I really confuse about this. QED silver micro (£2.68/meters)is too expensive as i need about 20m for my surround speakers (10m each side). £53.6 pound for my surround speaker cable, i pokai lo...hehehee.....

I more thing if i no need BI-wire type, then can i split the bi-wire into 2 pairs? so i just buy 1 x 2.5m - £6.77(Bi-wire) will get 2x 2.5m(£4.21/m) wire. Bi-wire cheaper then normal wire in same type. So i save about £5.

1 x QED One Incognito Speaker Cable 20m £16.16
1 x QED Genesis Revelation Speaker Cable
- Length: 1m
- Plugs: Banana AIRLOC
- Termination: Both Ends £25.52
1 x QED Silver Anniversary XT Speaker Bi-Wire Cable
- Length: 2.5m
- Plugs: Banana AIRLOC
- Termination: Both Ends: 8 Plugs £40.74
Postage & Packing (1st Class) ( Malaysia: 1500 g): £19.99
Sub-total: £102.41
Total: £102.41

How much is £102.41 in Malaysia ringgit?

Sama gang, but mine better than yours a little bit la .. I use RM4/ea.

Do u guys think its worth to buy the termination ah? only 12 termination cost £66.26 , its more than my speaker wire leh......pls voice out ur opinion.....

the picture i showed are not the saxt la .. it just a DIY from QED performance one cables. I'm just showing the bananas only. oh yea that's for my center speaker BTW.

the airlocks are meant to reduce oxidation to the wires. factory terminated are always better than DIY. If it's within you budget, go ahead with the terminations, else just buy a length longer and snip ends off every 6months or so if you find them oxidized, if you are concerned bout it of cause, otherwise i feel it's going to be the same.

Me, I used bananas to ease out the cable swapping, and testings only.
but those Airlocks are really well built .. I just borrowed a pair of 3.0M yesterday from a friend to test out.

Genesis can be very bright, then can be use for center speaker, so that vocal will be very clear & lounder? or will over bright?

I suggest u just buy 3 x 2.5m SA XT terminated both end. Forget the Genesis. If ur only amp support bi-amp feature u can buy another pair (just check your manual la). Bi-amp with 2 amp is a different story.

Watch out for the end price. You don't want to exceed RM500 (shipping included) after conversion coz u'll have problem with our custom unless u got lucky.

Yes, my amp support bi-amp, so i need to buy 2x 2.5m of BI-WIRE SA XT, is the center speaker also need to be same length with the L & R speakers? coz my center speaker will only put above my AVR about 1.5 feet only.

My budget will not exceed RM 500, if both end termination will exceed right?

Just buy 3 single cable terminated both end la. Should be less than 500. No need to bi-amp yet. If you like the cable then next time buy another pair for bi-amping. Only then you can appreciate the difference.

Ok thanks bro arremie.

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Added on May 16, 2009, 10:39 pmthe center speaker wire also have to be same length with L & R ah? Why?

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Added on May 19, 2009, 9:06 pmwhy the center speaker wire have to same length with front speaker?

This post has been edited by Darren Chuah: May 19 2009, 09:06 PM

UK pound in increasing XT SA is increaing in price.

Bro, when order in Futureshop. The quoted price of speaker cable in single or pair?

Single i.e. for one speaker only.

wahh sexy connectors, wats ta prices like?

yes sexy but bloody hard to take off once inserted

izzit? the banana plug also very hard to unplug?
gosh, i just ordered recently

no worry....a little patience and some love will do

indeed very very very sexy but quite pricey... iit would a little expensive than the cable itself if both ends terminated and if u bought less than 4m .. i only order one side terminated since my avr dun have banana post... definitely loving it..

Bro Arremie,

Another noob here... Any idea how to self-terminate the SA XT with banana plugs (2 screws to grip the wire)? When I remove the outer poly sleeve, I see a silver braid and a small red core with fine silver wire at the centre. I just pushed the whole wire with braid exposed into the plug and turned both screws to grip wire securely. Then plugged it into the amp (the other end has the Airloc ori termination) and it seems to work ok. Am I doing it right? Can I use the bare wire at the amp in the same way ie. with only the braid exposed?

Many thanks for your help. Cheers.

no idea bro coz my sa xt terminated both sides with airloc. maybe someone else who has sa xt with normal banana can help u. i almost get myself unterminated sa xt also but i read somewhere in avs forum not recommending doing so.

This post has been edited by arremie: Jun 17 2009, 01:02 AM

hoffmeister,
i did the same thing since my avr dun have banana terminals.. just cut the outer skin n push all the exposed braid wire to the avr terminal and screw.. IMO the inner colored teflon aircore can be cut if it can't fit ur speaker or amp terminal.. since it stated in the website it is compressible/crushable when making termination..

if got extra $$$$ can go to CMY.. they charge u RM30+ for each airloc termination..

Thanks all the same bro. As I said, my method seems to be working. Cheers.

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Added on June 17, 2009, 12:59 pmYeah, zero...perhaps that's why the connection seems to be still there. Before using the plug, I tried with bare wire like you said but wasn't sure the core was connecting. Thanks for the CMY tip though...didn't know they did it here but rm30 per termination... Luckily my bi-wire set came terminated. Cheers.

This post has been edited by hoffmeister: Jun 17 2009, 12:59 PM

hi all,

may i ask what's normally the delivery time for purchases from futureshop?

i ordered some cables on 03-Sept, then received email that my order dispatched on same day, but till today (15-Sept) still no shadow of the cables...

if my items got held back by M'sian ketam, how would they inform me? i'm not sure if i left a phone number with futureshop...or will they (the ketam) write to me officially?

mine normally 5-6 days lors...

the postman bz with sending raya card

Mine usually takes 5-7 days. From my experience, delivery will be affected during festive season. Expect a sliw down duting Xmas and CNY too.

sorry!! hehehe...got worried too soon..the package arrived as i posted the question

What a surprise! Congrats bro.

think the postman must heard ur cry.. enjoy ur new toy...

Mine is airloc-terminated at speaker end. It's a 2.5m pair, and I am selling...only used for a week. My components prefer VDH CS122 so I bought another 3m pair to run from stereo amp to speakers...older 2.5m from AVR to speakers. Peasant, cannot afford to have separate system.

Podrunner,

Are you saying you are using the same front speakers for HT & music listening and connecting to AVR & Stereo Amp respectively? Do u do cable swapping like for eg, if you want to watch movie, just plug the AVR speakers, and if listen to music unplug it and connect the stereo amp speaker cable?? Basically 2 sets of speakers cables.

Yes, cable swapping, one on QED banana plugs, the other pair on VDH spades...am asking Tan to bring in the spades, as he's ordering CS122.

If you have an extra stereo RCA cables, you can use the pre-outs from the AVR to you stereo amp. This way only one pair of speaker cables needed, from the stereo amp all the way, no need swapping. But of course, you have to turn both the AVR and amp on, everytime you listen to music or watch movies.

I might just do that when I get tired of swapping cables....then I'll have extra pair of cables!...aiyah!

You can sell the extra cables if you decide to do so. Post them at hifi4sale.net, I'm sure a lot of buyers come asking. I sold my SA XT there, so many people asked for it.

Can we run 5.1 & 7.1 together?

i.e. when the movie is in 5.1, the AVR will do bi-amp for the front (as well as when doing stereo)

and when the movie in 6.1/7.1, the AVR automatic switch to 7.1 with surround back???

any AVR can do that automatically?

As far as I know Onkyo 906 can do that ie front spk A, front spk B where by u can choose spk B for serious music listening. But then it will be for 5.1 set-up.

U can always use 7.1 mode even if the source is 5.1, provided u got Neural THX 7.1 mode. Oh yes the switching will be automatic so if ur BD lossy is in 7.1 it will be switch to DTS HD 7.1 / DD HD 7.1 mode. Applicable to Onkyo with THX certified

This post has been edited by HornyAngMoh: Sep 16 2009, 03:58 PM

wow...

Ok, I will try and sell my SA XT there, thanks!! Think I will keep the extra VDH....is a damn fine cable!

Don't think so bro, at least not for my Onkyo 875. To bi-amp you'll need to use the surround back channel terminals. So you have to manually swap the cables back for 7.1 movies.

how come i dun see anything between the red/white inner PVC core? Is the silver braid the main conductor itself?

the inner red/white pvc core looks empty to me...i've cut off a couple of inches dy...still not seeing anything...

i've sent email to QED for guideline..but if anyone here with experience with self-termination, do help out....thanks!!

agreed. all my sa xt sold within the hour after i list them there.

You mean the SA XT? Yes, the silver braid is the conductor. It's silver-coated copper actually. They use X-Tube technology, the middle is the teflon aircore.



Not sure how to terminate, I ordered mine already terminated with their Airloc plugs. I think CMY has termination service.

ahhh...thanks for the reply...now i think i'm cleared...no reply thru email from QED also...

i think can easily bundled the braids together & terminate onto the banana plugs...no problem there...

i needed to terminate at home cos i cant confirm the actual length until it is laid from AVR to speakers....so need to self terminate them...

thanks again sifu aiman for the info!!