![]() ![]() The shells on the Blue Jeans Cables and GLS plugs must be steel, with both of those plugs exhibiting some magnetic attraction (ferrous properties). However, the construction of all three banana plugs is solid milled brass in the body of the plug, and it is the only construction technique that makes sense in this scenario. The Parts Express plug is the only plug to claim the body of the plug is milled from solid brass. The GLS plug is the only plug that specifies the type of bass (High-Grade H59-1). Materials - All three plugs claim brass as the primary material. ![]() The GLS plug was very tough to hand-tighten, requiring me to grip the end of the plug to keep it stationary while rotating the threaded shell that pushes against the locking mechanism. The Blue Jeans Plugs are MUCH SMOOTHER in operation, and I could easily hand-tighten to a firm connection. ![]() However, the design implementation was much better on the Blue Jeans Cables plug than on the GLS plug. The locking mechanism of both the inline plugs was similar in design. Locking Mechanism – The locking mechanism of the Parts Express plug was much more positive than the Blue Jeans Cable Plug or the GLS Plug. So how did the Parts Express Banana Plug compare with my older locking banana plugs? The angle of the plug was well implemented and provided a reasonable reduction of right-angle stain and downward pull on the wires where they exit the plug. The plug ferrule, when torqued down, was tight to the point of not turning in the barrel of the jack. The thumbscrew cap expands the ferrule to a tight, very tight, grip in any banana jack I tried. If using smaller than twelve-gauge wire, you will have to double, or even triple fold, the wire-end, and tin it into a solid mass to ensure the setscrews get sufficient purchase on the wire for a reliable connection. A tiny Allen wrench is supplied with each pair of plugs. The plugs can accept up to an 8 AWG wire in the machined barrel, and the wire is held securely by two bass Allen-head setscrews. The hole in the twist-cap is the entrance to the milled-in socket in the “spike” that allows additional banana plugs to be conveniently stacked onto the connector. ![]() As the cap is twisted, the spike expands the ferrule, “locking” the banana plug into place. The caps are press-fitted to a central threaded and tapered brass “spike” that extends into the split ferrule of the banana plug. The locking mechanism is capped with “color-coded” polycarbonate caps in red and black. The brass is then covered with a polycarbonate shell to protect against the possibility of catastrophic short circuits. A magnet confirmed they are indeed non-ferrous. Construction and Design The Parts Express plugs are constructed of solid milled brass plated with 24 karat gold. Blue Jeans Cable inline locking banana plug (manufacturer unknown) - $7.25 for one pairįirst, the review, and then a bit of commentary and comparison.GLS inline locking banana plug - $35.97 for ten pair.Parts Express Angled, Locking and Stacking banana plug - $22.96 for two pair.The three banana plugs used in this mini-comparison are, In this short review, I will focus on the Parts Express banana plug and compare that plug to two others I currently have in my system. In my quest for the perfect banana plug, I have tried several, both the “standard” and the locking variety, and I’ve found that I like the security of the locking type of banana plug in my system. Yes, banana plugs.Įspecially lately, with all the speaker and electronics reviews I have had the opportunity to do, I have been looking at more reliable and effective ways of swapping out equipment quickly and safely.īut even though this is ostensibly a review about the Parts Express Angled, Locking, and Stacking Banana Plug, it is really a tale of THREE locking banana plugs. One of the many things I have investigated in the past with an eye toward increased utility, effectivity, and efficiency has been banana plugs. The Review If you are anything like me, and opinions vary on whether you should be, you are always looking about, trying to find better ways of doing things. ![]()
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