Oyaide SGBN Banana Connectors

The durability of Oyaide SGBN banana connectors is enhanced by the combination of silver and gold plating, providing both advantages.

Oyaide Electric released "SGBN" sterling silver + thick-wall 24K gold-plated banana plugs in December 2022. The new banana plug combines the advantages of both gold-plated and silver-plated plugs, which have never been available before, with durability.

The development of "SGBN" started two years ago with the cooperation of a plating factory to find a new plating combination suitable for speaker terminal connection plugs, while maintaining the simple, well-honed design, meticulous detailing, and non-magnetic phosphor bronze material. The development of "SGBN" started two years ago in cooperation with a plating factory to find a new plating combination suitable for speaker terminal connection plugs. Based on thick-wall 24K gold plating, we produced more than 10 prototypes with different combinations of plating materials and thicknesses of each plating. After repeated comparative listening tests, we selected pure silver + thick-wall 24K gold plating, which gave the best results in terms of both sound quality and durability, and exquisitely tuned it by applying silver plating on the base to extend the high frequency range, while taking advantage of the long-term stability and the good phase characteristics of the mid-range range that gold plating gives. We have upgraded the product.

For the tip diameter, the size was selected based on the standard WBT speaker terminals. Of course, we have also verified it with speaker terminals other than WBT, and it can be adapted to general banana plug receptacle terminals as well. In order to securely clamp the cable conductor, a highly rigid stainless steel set screw with a diameter of 5 mm is used in relation to the cable insertion diameter (4 mm). This ensures a perfect connection by maximizing the contact area without allowing the twisted wire portion of the cable conductor to escape.

The main body is carefully buffed and polished one by one by hand to a mirror finish. The perfectly polished body is plated twice with sterling silver and thick-wall 24K gold plating, which together with the blue screws give the "SGBN" a high-grade, elegant appearance.

Features

Material / Structure

Smooth and tight. SGBN" aimed to complete this theme with only the characteristics of the material. Phosphor bronze was used to achieve a secure hold with the fewest number of parts. Phosphor bronze is widely used for contacts, which are the key components of electrical products, because of its excellent springiness and electrical characteristics.

In planning SGBN, the most careful attention was paid to the contact area around the tip. In order to secure the maximum contact area, the tip is divided into four sections with cross slits, and the slits are designed to fit closely together when inserted. The tip length is designed to perfectly match WBT's speaker terminals. We created more than a dozen samples in increments of 30μm from the standard value of 3.8mm, and selected the size and shape that could be said to be the smoothest and tightest. In addition, we have also tested speaker terminals other than those made by WBT, and they can be used with any type of banana plug receptacle terminals.

The cable insertion part, which is set for a maximum cable diameter of 4 mm (5.5 sq.), is tapered to facilitate insertion of twisted wires into the main body.

Dual screw clamp method is used for connection. The cable and main body are securely contacted and fixed with two screws. Furthermore, the screws used to secure the cable are also carefully designed. A highly rigid stainless steel set screw with a diameter of 5mm is used for the 4mm-diameter cable penetration area. This eliminates the gap between the main body and the screw part and secures the maximum contact area.

Machining

The "SGBN" is the result of the outstanding precision of cutting: an 8 mm phosphor bronze round bar is machined to a high degree of accuracy by a highly programmed CNC machining process. The body is mechanically barrel polished, then buffed and polished one by one by hand to a smooth mirror finish.

Plating

The mirror-finished body is plated with sterling silver as the base coat and then finished with thick-walled 24K gold plating.

In general, gold plating has a straightforward characteristic with no habit from low to mid-high frequencies, but the extension of the high frequency range may seem a little lacking." SGBN" is exquisitely tuned by applying silver plating to the base to extend the high-frequency range, while taking advantage of the long-term stability and the uniquely good phase characteristics of the mid-range range that gold plating provides.

In order to confirm the long-term stability of the new plating combination, it has been tested for more than 18 months of continuous use to ensure its reliability. While most gold-plated terminals use magnetic electro-nickel plating as an undercoat to prevent erosion, the gold plating on Oyaide products eliminates electro-nickel, thereby preventing sound quality degradation.

Mirror finish and direct plating. It is simple, which is why it must be crafted. Oyaide's philosophy and craftsmanship are condensed here as well. Proud to be "Made in Japan SGBN" is a proof of highly polished Japanese craftsmanship.

Specifications