AlphaBaBanaTM
( Alpha Bocchino Audio Banana )
Pure Copper BananaWith an audio connector design experience going back over 20+ years I put quite some time into designing a banana connector. With extensive research commencing in 2002 the design is now the AlphaBabanaTM MkII. This incorporates a Beryllium Copper spring ( 98% Pure Copper and 2% Beryllium ) which is electroplated with over 60 microns of Pure Silver. The Wire Holding Body is now Pure Copper ( 99.94%+ Alloy C11000 ) and the locking bolt is Brass. Both holding body and brass bolt are electroplated with 11 microns of Fine Silver. Materials that alter and degrade sound, such as Nickel Electroplating, are not used at all. Manufactured from Pure Copper and then electroplated with >11 microns of Fine Silver the AlphaBabanaTM represents a radical approach to holding wire into a banana connector. Most banana connectors are manufactured from brass and low grade brass and electroplated with a Nickel subplate; then a Nickel doped hard gold electroplate is used to finish the outer surface. This gives the connector an excellent appearance but woeful sonics. This is because the Nickel self magnetises in the presence of an electric field and this retained magnetism gradually increases and destroys the clarity and cohesiveness of the music signal that transits this layer. The aural effect being that acoustic phase at the ear becomes vaguer and detail and finesse perishes.
The AlphaBabanaTM is electroplated with Fine Silver only with no other subplates. The Silver electroplate on the AlphaBabanaTM is a matt finish; there are no artifices in the silver solution to interfere with the ability of the silver to do its job of protecting the Pure Copper sub metal or to detract from the purity of the silver being used. Consequently the Silver electroplate is > 99.999%; Pure Anodic Silver! The physical construction of the AlphaBabanaTM assists in attaining a very high torque and holding pressure on the speaker cable inserted into it. The Pure Copper Hex outer body enables the use of two spanners, or a spanner and a socket or two sockets. to lock the wire with MODERATE force. Care should be taken not to over tighten the two components as the Pure Copper female thread will only take so much torque before being stripped. The high retaining torque on the bare wire in the AlphaBabanaTM assists in maximising transmission efficiency from cable to connector and hence to or from the loudspeaker or amplifier respectively. The locking bolt on the AlphaBabanaTM MkII is 2mm wider; It is now an M9 thread. No longer does it have a stacking hole to enable more banana's to be stacked behind. Thus ensuring the entire front face of the locking bolt holds the signal wire into the forward face of the Pure Copper AlphaBabanaTM holding component. The Locking bolt is made from Brass which has been Silver plated. The Fine Silver electroplated Brass bolt is not in the signal path and hence its electrical conductivity has no influence on signal quality. Being Brass enables the use of a non magnetic retaining bolt with excellent strength and torque holding characteristics to keep signal integrity transmission consistent and unwavering.
The sonic difference between the Pure Copper AlphaBabanaTM and every other banana connector available today is quite astounding; especially compared to gold on nickel banana's; Direct gold plating, also, is not an option because the Pure Copper will eventually absorb the gold into its body matrix over a period of time and the connector begins to look awful and perform awfully also. The improved signal transfer efficiency allowable with Pure Copper enables music to sound better and fuller than any other "Copper Alloy" equivalent.
The AlphaBabanaTM MkII is robustly constructed and will deliver excellent audio from whatever cable it carries. If inserting fine wires use a spacer or packing between the bolt face and the cable to ensure a firm grip and minimise shearing of the fine wires by the applied pressure.
Enjoy!
Dimensions of AlphaBabanaTM