Speaker cable binding posts

[Mikeeo]

I've just blown past the 96 hours, continuous use mark with the WBT 0710 fine silver speaker binding posts. Incidentally the same ones I use on my speakers. Truth is I was blown away instantly but knew from previous experience to bide my time, wait for 72-96 hours as they tend to blossom and sweeten in a few days. This time however I've heard no significant improvement since Saturday morning. In fact it was so good immediately I was floored! Far greater than ANY binding post in the past. Coupled with my findings last night and this morning I'm hardly surprised. Getting rid of four separate & individually powered EMI generators shooting interference up & downstream of the OEM binding posts will have that kind of effect! Its like a whole new system and was that way immediately. I honestly believe removing the old binding posts to be of far greater significance than any new ones I could've added. Sadly no way to confirm it as you have to replace them with 'something' then you're stuck with the same paradox yet again.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear of people who've replaced existing speaker cables with better speaker cables and maybe hearing some measure of improvement but nowhere near the net result they were expecting. Same could likely be said even of adding new/different speakers. I also have no way of knowing how extensive this contaminated brass is. The contaminated OEM posts are really bad, no, I mean really, Really, REALLY bad! Poorly executed with a steel split ring and grossly inappropriate metallurgy. I can't imagine how that passed QC at the factory. Who buys iron-impregnated brass!?! Is it their attempt at a ferrite bead or choke? Did no one check the brass for iron content or magnetism!?! Shooting EMI down every speaker cable outside the box and scattering magnetic interference inside the rear access cover throughout the cabinet is simply unforgivable. Its really no wonder the people at the beginning of this thread found such improvement with removing various pieces of the OEM binding posts as every one of those individual parts & pieces is a contributing factor that compounds/exaggerates the problem. They've basically built inverted electro magnets running current thru a ferrite-contaminated brass core instead of running current around a ferrite rod. The perfect EMI generator!

Now I wonder how extensively this issue runs? How much ferrite-infused brass is out there? Is it in every Devialet binding post made, purchased from an untrustworthy vendor? Chinese perhaps? Was it just cheaper than pure brass so they took the "let's jump on it approach?" I mean they obviously purpose-chose a steel split ring for the tailpiece. Are they that inept? Uncaring? I'm just mortified and stymied.

In short I can't report on a simple speaker binding post replacement. I will tell you instead I have an entirely new system and I love it... but just a LOT!!

Manoet,

Thanks for your findings and experience as this has trigged me to try as well. 
These magnetic issue may just be a factor of a very thick nickel coating which is the 'std' glue metal for a gold coating for these purposes as well as get a very shiny and smooth surface of the gold coating. Cut it and put it into an scanning electron microscope to measure both thicknesses of the coatings and have elemental analysis (EDS).
Without going into a long story I share many of your findings when it comes to plugs/connectors etc which had me change them many times on even very expensive gear with astounding positive results. Why do they do this? Either it is design philosophy, and I do not care, or hear a difference, OR just cost effectiveness, and why not both!
In my previous life I worked a lot for the semi conductor industry looking at materials interaction and making sub atomic surfaces etc...there is a lot going on.... and now I do biotech instead relaxing with music and the never ending quest for the 'perfect' music making gear!

Keep it coming/Mike