magma90210
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really dumb newbie question
Monty
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The Cambridge uses the most common terminals found on better equipment. Binding posts are able to achieve a more secure connection to bare wire or spade lugs. Anyway, that's why they are different from what you are used to.

Yeah, just strip about 3/8 of an inch or so off the wire and clamp her down...finger tight. If your cables have banana plugs on them (they look kinda like straight bananas) then you may be able to remove a rubber filler from the amps binding post and plug them in directly. I say "may be" because some European gear doesn't have this type of connection because of some new law.

Jeff Wong
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Hi - I can't be 100% certain, but, it sounds like this might be what you've got:

http://stereos.about.com/cs/glossaryandtools/g/5_waybinding.htm

You can loosen the screw down (knurled metal part) and loop the bare wire around the post and tighten, making sure not to have any stray wires touch the other terminal, or you could have your cables reterminated with spades or banana plugs.

wkhanna
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Congrats on the new equipment!
The terminals on your new speakers are most likely what are referred to as 'five way' binding posts.
They will accommodate bare wire, banana plug ends, or spade terminal ends. Higher end speaker wires can be purchased with these other types of ends (the banana or spade style) and your speakers are made with terminals that will accommodate them. As to which method for terminating your speaker wire is best........... the jury is still out on the issue, and it is a personal preference in most cases.
There was a poll taken just last week on this very issue, you can find it on the home page of the 'Stereophile' web site.

For now, you just use the bare wire at the speaker and amp terminals, and it will work just fine. You can always add the banana or spade type ends to wire if you wish at any time. Or if you buy a set of higher end wires, regardless of the terminals on them, they will work with your equipment.

Oh....BTW.......
The only stupid question is the one that was never asked, so in the future.....ask away, we are happy to help!

smejias
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Quote:
i'm kind of embarrassed to ask this, but you know...

I totally understand. I had the same question, and felt the same way when I first became familiar with hi-fi.

Monty
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If this is what you have, then these binding posts will accept bananas, spades or bare wire. The only thing I would caution you about with spades (they look like an elongated letter C that slides around the binding post) is that they come in different sizes. When in doubt, go bigger. However, it's best to measure the size of your speaker posts and your amp posts to get an exact size.

magma90210
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thanks guys that's what it looks like in back...i'll just use the bare wire for now. i probably need to get some better speaker wire soon anyway.

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