One of the main reasons people use banana plugs is convenience. Connecting speaker wires directly to binding posts can be a hassle, especially if the wire frays or doesn't fit snugly. Banana plugs ...

A high-quality plug and socket for speaker cable. The banana plug is pushed into the socket, and the spring-like protrusions on the prong make a snug fit (see cutout on illustration). Five-way ...

Yeah, the banana plugs probably have a little plastic cover, and the plastic itself might be a little different. Parts are small these days, so the tips might be a little finer than older probes.