musicbassman Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Hi all, I'm using a Vanderkley 212 with a Hartke LH500 head. The Hartke has jack speaker outputs, and the Vanderkley has Speakon sockets, but these are the type where you can also use a 1/4" jack in them This works fine using a standard 1/4" to 1/4" speaker cable, but I recently bought a 1/4" jack to Speakon cable and the Speakon plug makes a very poor connection into the Speakon socket in the cab - I can actually make or break the signal just by wiggling the speakon plug. I assumed that there was a break in the cable near the plug, but I'm now sure it's the Speakon plug and socket which aren't talking to each other reliably. So, I've reverted to using a standard jack to jack and everything is fine, but the jack to Speakon remains a problem. I've dismantled the Speakon plug and it all appears in order. Any ideas? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 On your cable, is the Speakon plug a genuine Neutrik or a low-cost Chinese copy? There really can be a world of difference in fit and solidity. I've had cheapo Speakons that were indistinguishable from the real thing, but I've also had some dreadful tat recently. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 15 minutes ago, Happy Jack said: On your cable, is the Speakon plug a genuine Neutrik or a low-cost Chinese copy? There really can be a world of difference in fit and solidity. I've had cheapo Speakons that were indistinguishable from the real thing, but I've also had some dreadful tat recently. This and have you locked it in place properly? There is an audible "click" when you twist it in the socket. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mybass Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 There are at least a couple of 'speakon' plugs that lock different to each other...Your speakon picture on here may help. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obbm Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Something to remember is: 2-pole Speakon plugs fit 2-pole and 4-pole Speakon sockets 4-pole Speakon plugs ONLY fit 4-pole Speakon sockets. Combo Speakon sockets are 2-pole and will ONLY take 2-pole Speakon plugs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicbassman Posted June 30, 2022 Author Share Posted June 30, 2022 (edited) Thanks for your replies. Here are 4 pics of the plug. It was difficult to take a pic looking down the inside of the plug, so despite what the pic looks like, there are actually two contacts set opposite each other near the tip of the central post, and a further two contacts opposite each other set at 90 deg. to the central post contacts, on the side walls. Then there are also 4 contacts on the inside at the base of the plug. I've never examined another Speakon plug so I have nothing to compare this with. Edited June 30, 2022 by musicbassman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigguy2017 Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Yes, if it has four screw terminals it's a 4 pole NL4 (and a knock off). You want a Neutrik NL2 type. https://cpc.farnell.com/neutrik/nl2fx/speakon-plug-2-pole/dp/AV24024 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obbm Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 31 minutes ago, musicbassman said: Thanks for your replies. Here are 4 pics of the plug. It was difficult to take a pic looking down the inside of the plug, so despite what the pic looks like, there are actually two contacts set opposite each other near the tip of the central post, and a further two contacts opposite each other set at 90 deg. to the central post contacts, on the side walls. Then there are also 4 contacts on the inside at the base of the plug. I've never examined another Speakon plug so I have nothing to compare this with. That is not a genuine Neutrik and being 4-pole should not be used with the Combo socket. I recommend you get a cable with genuine Neutrik plugs. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 53 minutes ago, musicbassman said: I recognise both the distinctive shade of blue, and the strangely 'rounded' edges. Do you recall that I mentioned dreadful tat ... 😂 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicbassman Posted June 30, 2022 Author Share Posted June 30, 2022 Oh dear ! It seems I've been done. 🙁 Thanks for your suggestion, @Bigguy2017 Any other recommendations as to where to get the real thing ??? (Which would appear to be a Neutrik 2 pole, and nothing else !) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicbassman Posted June 30, 2022 Author Share Posted June 30, 2022 I've just followed @Bigguy2017 's link, and it's only £3.82p inc the VAT, so not exactly a ball busting expense. 😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Studiospares are decent for connectors and made-up cables too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mottlefeeder Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 5 minutes ago, MoonBassAlpha said: Studiospares are decent for connectors and made-up cables too. I bought own-brand 5-pole XLR plugs from Studiospares and they did not fit Neutrik 5-pole sockets. Just sayin' David 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Sorry, I meant Neutrik ones, should have been more specific. It's really not worth saving a few Bob on the lookey-likeys. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Always had good service from these guys on various different cables I’ve needed https://www.designacable.com 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted July 2, 2022 Share Posted July 2, 2022 On 30/06/2022 at 13:19, obbm said: Something to remember is: 2-pole Speakon plugs fit 2-pole and 4-pole Speakon sockets 4-pole Speakon plugs ONLY fit 4-pole Speakon sockets. Combo Speakon sockets are 2-pole and will ONLY take 2-pole Speakon plugs. Neutrik combo sockets will accept 2-pole and 4-pole speakons, at least according to Neutrik. https://www.neutrik.com/en/neutrik/products/speakon-loudspeaker-connectors/speakon-chassis-connectors/speakon-combo I had to check as my Speakon cables are all 4-pole (I think), and I use them in combo sockets. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted July 11, 2022 Share Posted July 11, 2022 I had similar problems with my ampeg PF500 and Mark bass cabs, so I just reverted to using jack to jack. Maybe I'll look at my speakon cables to see what they are. What exactly is the advantage of speakon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigguy2017 Posted July 11, 2022 Share Posted July 11, 2022 (edited) 22 minutes ago, police squad said: I had similar problems with my ampeg PF500 and Mark bass cabs, so I just reverted to using jack to jack. Maybe I'll look at my speakon cables to see what they are. What exactly is the advantage of speakon? More rugged Locking Proper cable clamping Handles higher power Can carry 2 signals (if 4 pole) Plugs are protected from short circuit, unlike jacks Takes thicker cables (some jacks do too) Solderless Edited July 11, 2022 by Bigguy2017 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 11, 2022 Share Posted July 11, 2022 Speakon plugs/sockets are a properly engineered solution for the currents and voltages present in amp to speaker connections for anything other than low wattage (under 50W) combos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted July 11, 2022 Share Posted July 11, 2022 8 hours ago, Bigguy2017 said: More rugged Locking Proper cable clamping Handles higher power Can carry 2 signals (if 4 pole) Plugs are protected from short circuit, unlike jacks Takes thicker cables (some jacks do too) Solderless Yes yes yes, but apart from that ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted July 11, 2022 Share Posted July 11, 2022 I refer to my obbm speakon cable as "the anaconda" I think it will outlast me. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 On 11/07/2022 at 09:08, Bigguy2017 said: More rugged Locking Proper cable clamping Handles higher power Can carry 2 signals (if 4 pole) Plugs are protected from short circuit, unlike jacks Takes thicker cables (some jacks do too) Solderless Funny isn't it. I've never had speaker lead problems 😅I used a speakon. I thought I should use them because it was the new 'norm' I thought I had bought Neutrik (I usually buy Neutrik stuff) but I'm not even sure where they are now, so checking could be difficult Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 Just grab a decent quality speakon-jack lead with proper Neutrik ends and good quality cable. I have a stash of obbm ones (no longer in production) and also one from designacable, will do you for your entire bass playing life. One of my obbm cables is about 14yrs old I think and still gets used every rehearsal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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