Ran some 12' pairs and just twisted the heck out of the stripped ends and was very careful tightening them up. Hooked them up and was listening to some Diana Krall "Live in Paris" when the wife came in and sat down. She goes "hey, those sound way better than the ones you just had on there. Everything sounds more "right"". If she notices a difference, then there is one. They definitely sound different, better to my ears as well. Part of that is probably due to the pin connectors vs. the bare wire I'm sure. The hell with the spades. Thanks everybody for the suggestions, though!