Connecting Old Speakers to new Receiver

[Raigmore]

I have just replaced my faltering 9-year old Denon AVR-2800 Receiver with an Onkyo TX SR-706; the new one should arrive next week. I am wondering how best to connect my existing speakers to the new Onkyo.

Though 9-years old themselves, my Definitive Technology Pro-Monitor 80 Speakers work brilliantly and I want to keep them. At present the speaker cables are connected to the old Denon by being "wirescrewed" to the appropriate output points at the back receiver. But on the new Onkyo, I noticed (as far as I could tell from the blown-up picture of the Onkyo's backside), that receiver has both the screw-on and plug-in ports for the speakers. See the link below; it magnifies further, I think.

http://www.eu.onkyo.com/ir_img/18710384_349c2ccb8c.jpg

The existing high-quality speaker cables themselves cost me £250 to buy and get professionally installed 9 years ago and they are encased in protective sheathing and camouflaged along the wall. Changing cables will be complicated and in any case I do not want to do it unless I have to. Is there any way a serviceman (who is coming in anyway) can attach little plugs to the ends of my old cables to enable them to be plugged into the Onkyo's speaker ports or should I screw the ends on like before?

[driver8]

Hi Raigmore

Unless I'm very much mistaken, it sounds like you need some Banana Plugs - examples here : at Maplin (http://www.thedvdforums.com/affiliatelink.php?localaffiliateid=60&url=http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?menuno=13268) - or here : http://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/dynamic/eshop_products.set/ref/2153/fisual-easy-fix-banana-plugs-4-pack/display.html

there's no need to change your cables - these plugs act as cable terminators (at both speaker & amp) to keep all the cable fibres held together, allowing for easy connection & removal.

As to the question of whether they're actually needed or not - well, that's an argument as old as hifi itself, along with the merits of oxygen-free cabling, gold-plated terminators and upgraded power cables. :) It's certainly a neater solution, but whether your ears will notice any difference is arguable.

[Raigmore]

Thanks Driver8. I forgot to mention that the cables have quality banana plugs with gold-plated terminators at their speaker ends; but the lack of banana inlets at back of the old Denon meant that they had to be screwed on to the latter at the Amp end.

The sound quality from my Def Techs thus far (before the Denon started to go wonky) has been superb. But I never liked the screw-on job and like you (and others, I suspect) feel that the plugs seem neater. I just was not sure if the plugs could be installed on existing old cables; now it seems that it should not be a problem. :thumbs:

[Shingster]

If you like the neatness of Banana plugs and can afford a decent set without missing the money, then go for the plugs. If your budget is tight just screw the cable into the amp, I doubt you'll spot any difference in the sound whichever method you use.