Radique Audio Banana Plug Installation Guide
Install Radique Audio banana plugs in a few minutes
Our gold-plated banana plugs use a dual set-screw, vertical-channel design for a rock-solid connection between your speaker wire and your speakers or amplifier. Here’s the full step-by-step, plus fixes for the questions we’re asked most.
The short answer
Strip 1.5 cm (⅝”) of speaker wire and twist it tight, loosen the two gold set screws, insert the wire fully, tighten the screws, tug-test it, then screw the jacket back on — red for positive, black for negative. All you need is a small flat-head screwdriver. The plugs take 12 AWG wire and thinner.
Step-by-step installation
Tools: a small flat-head screwdriver and a little patience.
Strip the wire
Carefully strip the end of your speaker wire to expose about 1.5 cm (⅝”) of bare wire.
Twist the strands
Twist the exposed strands tightly so there are no loose strands.
Remove the outer jacket
Hold the exposed gold end and gently unscrew the red or black outer alloy jacket.
Open the channel
With the screwdriver, partly loosen the small gold set screws in the gold tube. Don’t remove them entirely — they’re fiddly to re-insert. You’re just opening a channel down the centre of the tube.
Insert the wire
Push the stripped speaker wire fully into the gold tube.
Tighten the set screws
Tighten the set screws so they grip the wire firmly.
Tug-test
Hold the plug in one hand and the wire in the other and give it a firm tug. If the wire stays put, carry on. If it pulls out, go back to step 4 and see the wire tips below.
Refit the jacket, matching polarity
Screw the coloured jacket back on: red for positive (+), black for negative (−). Repeat for each end of each speaker wire, then plug into the binding posts.
Wire tips
Thin wire (16 AWG or thinner)
Strip the wire back a little further, fold the bare wire back over itself and twist the doubled section. The set screws get more wire to grip and hold it firmly.
Thick wire (up to 12 AWG)
Put a tight twist on the stripped section first to compress the strands before inserting. Wire thicker than 12 AWG won’t fit these plugs; most mainstream and audiophile 12, 14 and 16 AWG cable will.
Jackets loosening over time?
Only an issue if you swap connections often. After installing the plug on the wire, add a very small drop of Loctite 222 purple low-strength threadlocker to the gold threads, screw the jacket on tightly and let it set about 20 minutes.
Troubleshooting & FAQ
How do I install Radique Audio banana plugs?
Strip about 1.5 cm (⅝”) of speaker wire and twist the strands tight. Unscrew the coloured outer jacket, partly loosen the two gold set screws, insert the wire fully and tighten the screws. Tug-test the wire, then screw the jacket back on — red for positive, black for negative. You only need a small flat-head screwdriver.
My speaker’s binding posts don’t seem to have a hole for a banana plug. What’s going on?
Many speakers, especially European designs, ship with small black or red plastic caps covering the banana receptacle in each binding post. Gently pry them out of the top of the post with a small flat-head screwdriver, and the plugs will slide right in.
The plugs seem too large for my binding posts. Will they fit?
They fit more than 99% of standard binding posts. Line the plug up carefully and push it firmly into the receptacle; new plugs can take a bit of force, and a snug fit means a good electrical connection. Check that any plastic caps are removed and the binding post nut is fully tightened. A very small number of components use proprietary connectors that look like banana inputs — if you suspect yours is one, send us the make and model and we’ll confirm before you buy.
Why do my speaker wires wobble in the binding posts?
The plastic nut on the binding post is probably not fully tightened. Screw it all the way down to the base before plugging in; even a slightly loose nut stops the plug from seating fully.
What wire gauge do Radique Audio banana plugs accept?
12 AWG and thinner. For 16 AWG or thinner, fold the stripped wire back on itself and twist it so the set screws have more to grip. Wire thicker than 12 AWG won’t fit.
How do I stop the outer jackets from loosening?
If you frequently unplug and re-plug, add a very small drop of Loctite 222 purple low-strength threadlocker to the gold threads after the plug is installed, screw the jacket on tightly and let it set for about 20 minutes. Don’t use blue or red Loctite — they make the plugs hard or impossible to reuse.
Does it matter which jacket colour goes on which wire?
Yes. Use red for positive (+) and black for negative (−) on every connection. If polarity is reversed on one speaker but not the other, the speakers are out of phase and the stereo image sounds hollow and “off”.
The bottom line
- Strip back 1.5 cm and twist the strands tight.
- Insert fully and tighten the set screws firmly.
- Tug-test before refitting the outer jacket.
- Red for positive, black for negative.
Need more banana plugs?
Our Radique Audio gold-plated banana plugs come in packs of 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 14 pairs — the larger packs save you more per pair. Questions about your install? We’re happy to help.