Cat Burrito Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 Excuse my ignorance here but I connect my amp head to the cab via 2 jack to jack cables. Both are great quality as I don't like to skimp on cables. My backup head is solid state and has a single speakon cable socket as an alternative to the 2 jacks. Is this just a different option or are speakon regarded as a better signal? I'd be interested to know. Cheers Quote
crez5150 Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 Speakon is more secure as it locks in place and also it is now pretty much a standard connection on pro amps/speakers Quote
Musicman69 Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 IMO, usually high quality cable is used with speak-on but main thing is its a more secure connection and less likely to give trouble, hence the higher cost.. so, yes its better. Quote
obbm Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 Speakon has a higher contact area compared to a jack and consequently a lower resistance, however you can't just consider the connectors, there is the cable as well. There are many cheap Speakon cables available which are sold for PA use with very small cross-section conductors totally unsuitable for bass. 4-sq.mm. is probably best. Quote
d-basser Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 [quote name='obbm' post='711759' date='Jan 13 2010, 07:04 PM']Buying from obbm is probably best.[/quote] fixed Quote
Al Heeley Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 Not wishing to hijack the thread but what is the correct convention for wiring them when making a Speakon to 1/4" jack lead? Quote
wateroftyne Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 [quote name='d-basser' post='711773' date='Jan 13 2010, 07:13 PM'][quote]Buying from obbm is definitely best[/quote] fixed [/quote] fixed again Quote
obbm Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 [quote name='Al Heeley' post='711778' date='Jan 13 2010, 07:15 PM']Not wishing to hijack the thread but what is the correct convention for wiring them when making a Speakon to 1/4" jack lead?[/quote] For normal cabs: Jack tip to 1+ Jack sleeve to 1- Quote
Conan Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 I think I used to play in a band with Jack Sleeve. Good guitarist IIRC... Quote
Count Bassy Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 Speakons also have the advantage that both the pugs and sockets are finger proof. Leass likely to short out on he metal work whilst unplugged, and less likely to give you a tingle if you grab hold of a 'Live' plug. Quote
Bloodaxe Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 [quote name='crez5150' post='711742' date='Jan 13 2010, 06:54 PM']Speakon is more secure as it locks in place and also it is now pretty much a standard connection on pro amps/speakers[/quote] Once Upon A Time, in a far-off & strange land (Taunton) I had an ancient WEM 2 x 15" that once spat a 1/4" plug out of its socket (mind you, I think that cab was Cursed - it would pick up Norwegian radio stations as well). Speakons also make it nigh-on impossible to confuse a speaker lead with a patch lead. My only (minor) gripe is that the bodies snap together & the internal connections are secured by screws - I'd prefer it if they were solder connections. Pete. Quote
stevie Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 The Speakon was designed specifically to handle the kind of current that a high power amplifier can deliver. A jack was originally designed (correct me if I'm wrong) to handle low-level telephone signals. As the others have said, if you have a choice, use the Speakon. Quote
Cat Burrito Posted January 13, 2010 Author Posted January 13, 2010 Thanks for the responses folks Quote
crez5150 Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 [quote name='Bloodaxe' post='711844' date='Jan 13 2010, 07:56 PM']Once Upon A Time, in a far-off & strange land (Taunton) I had an ancient WEM 2 x 15" that once spat a 1/4" plug out of its socket (mind you, I think that cab was Cursed - it would pick up Norwegian radio stations as well). Speakons also make it nigh-on impossible to confuse a speaker lead with a patch lead. My only (minor) gripe is that the bodies snap together & the internal connections are secured by screws - I'd prefer it if they were solder connections. Pete.[/quote] you can solder them too. When you buy them you get copper sleeves with the connector to do this with Quote
Bloodaxe Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 [quote name='crez5150' post='711862' date='Jan 13 2010, 08:14 PM']you can solder them too. When you buy them you get copper sleeves with the connector to do this with[/quote] Really?! Never seen these! Got a link? I'll admit I've only ever bought four, all Neutrik & all from Maplin - basic 2-pole type. Trouble free so far, so I'm not in a-flustered. Pete. Quote
crez5150 Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 [quote name='Bloodaxe' post='711898' date='Jan 13 2010, 08:48 PM']Really?! Never seen these! Got a link? I'll admit I've only ever bought four, all Neutrik & all from Maplin - basic 2-pole type. Trouble free so far, so I'm not in a-flustered. Pete.[/quote] there you go - [url="http://www.neutrik.com/fr/en/audio/210_308361/NL4FC_detail.aspx"]http://www.neutrik.com/fr/en/audio/210_308...4FC_detail.aspx[/url] Quote
Bloodaxe Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 [quote name='crez5150' post='711910' date='Jan 13 2010, 08:56 PM']there you go - [url="http://www.neutrik.com/fr/en/audio/210_308361/NL4FC_detail.aspx"]http://www.neutrik.com/fr/en/audio/210_308...4FC_detail.aspx[/url][/quote] Thanks for that. Quote
bigjohn Posted January 14, 2010 Posted January 14, 2010 [quote name='Bloodaxe' post='711844' date='Jan 13 2010, 07:56 PM']Speakons also make it nigh-on impossible to confuse a speaker lead with a patch lead. My only (minor) gripe is that the bodies snap together & the internal connections are secured by screws - I'd prefer it if they were solder connections.[/quote] I sorta like that. I'm far more likely to have a screwdriver at a gig than a soldering iron. And I've had a few gigs where I wished all the connectors / cables where speakons and fixable with a screwdriver. Quote
Bloodaxe Posted January 14, 2010 Posted January 14, 2010 [quote name='johnbass57' post='712105' date='Jan 13 2010, 11:47 PM']You should have gone to OBBM You should know better [/quote] I won't say a word against him - quality product, great price, sterling customer service & he's a really nice bloke! However, I choose & prefer to make (and use) my own cables. Pete. Quote
Count Bassy Posted January 14, 2010 Posted January 14, 2010 The copper sleeves (AKA bootlace ferrules) are meant to slide over your cable end before you put it in the hole and screw it up. It prevents the action of the screw, and/or the concentration of the force on one or two strands from breaking strands off, and also ensure sthat all the strands go down the hole. Ideally you'd have a bootlace crimping tool which crimps the ferrule tightly onto the cable end before you put it in the hole, but decent ones of these are quite expensive (£100 +). Quote
Musicman69 Posted January 14, 2010 Posted January 14, 2010 [quote name='Count Bassy' post='712152' date='Jan 14 2010, 12:31 AM']The copper sleeves (AKA bootlace ferrules) are meant to slide over your cable end before you put it in the hole and screw it up. It prevents the action of the screw, and/or the concentration of the force on one or two strands from breaking strands off, and also ensure sthat all the strands go down the hole. Ideally you'd have a bootlace crimping tool which crimps the ferrule tightly onto the cable end before you put it in the hole, but decent ones of these are quite expensive (£100 +).[/quote] +1 thats the way to go.. end of story! Quote
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