How import is the speaker plugs on the wires?

[E-Stat]

Just how import is the speaker plugs on the wires? I thought by plug the wire directly to the terminal offer the best contact. Anything else would just be cosmetic and another obsticle.

There are two considerations: contact area and minimization of oxidation.

There are some amplifiers, especially receivers, that either don't offer or make it difficult for a broad contact area using spades or bare wire. Banana plugs are superior in that case.

Bare wires tend to oxidize more quickly and that will run down the length of the wire. I prefer speaker wires that use spades or bananas that are soldered to the wire and use heat shrunk insulation to offer a better seal to minimize that effect.

rw