[pointmansm]

Just wondering what advantages/disadvantages there are to using SpeakOn connections and cables over standard 1/4".

Will most or all cabinets come with SpeakOn inputs as well as 1/4"?


Thanks.

[bluesbass]

Quote

On 2003-03-17 10:07, pointmansm wrote:
Just wondering what advantages/disadvantages there are to using SpeakOn connections and cables over standard 1/4".

Will most or all cabinets come with SpeakOn inputs as well as 1/4"?

they allow for a more solid, oxygen-free connection and this makes for much more power to pass through more efficiently. they make for a cleaner sound too. most, not all, manufacturers now use them in both their amps and their cabinets.

their pins can also be adjusted to allow bi-amping on certain amps. gallien kruger recommends that there amps be used in this manner and supply the modded speakon (or instructions for modding) with them as far as i know. as for how to do that, i am not sure. it would depend on what the amp needs (which pin is hot and which is cold etc.)

if you have speakons and you want to use them use an actual speakon cable. don't use a 1/4" to speakon adaptor because the 1/4" plug on it's own will be cleaner than the two hooked together. it is cheaper to buy speakon plugs and add them to your existing cables, you just chop off the 1/4" plugs. the speakon plugs just clamp right down on the bare wire, simple as that! :smile:

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[ This Message was edited by: bluesbass on 2003-03-17 12:51 ]

[pointmansm]

As always... bluesbass to the rescue. Thanks

[dansbass]

The guy's a friggin genius. :smile:

[lowden]

Simple answer, reliability and ease of use. With the added bonus that they don't fall out of the socket when the drunken roadie pulls the wrong cable.

Speakon are the on-the-road dream connector and vital to large arena gigs. No dodgy soldering and burnt fingers and they can be assembled or changed in a matter of seconds when you're 70 feet above the stage.

They are a trimuph of ingenuity, simple ideas are usually the best. Plus all that better oxygen-free connection stuff the dansbass was on about, but I'ld challenge him to hear the difference in a blind test of speakon versus 1/4 inch

[bluesbass]

play it through a super hi-fi system like an acme cab and a euphonic audio or demeter amp in a studio setting and you can... :wink:

[lowden]

Exactly my point, you're going to need excelent gear in a controlled environment to hear the full advantage. Most people will never have a need to use top-quality gear in controlled environments and will use speakon for their other qualities.

A lot of bass players would use speakon for the hardy construction and ease of use and locking facility rather than the purity of the audio signal, and even those who do worry about excelent electrical conductance and conections, will then play in noisy clubs and stand in front of their cabs. I know you would be of a different mindset and indeed I also prefer to get the purest audio signal from instrument to speaker, but most-times in a live situation other considerations negate the hard work, but that's no reason to stop trying.

[bluesbass]

search feature: speakon speaker cable neutrik bridging

[leedog]

hi mate, heard that u r a genius, so i thort id ask you this... i recently bought 2 professional dj speakers, and i would like to use them on my amp, my amp accepts only bare wire, the speakers accept speakon, is it possible to strip one end of the speakon and put that in my amp? i head that there are more than 2 wires in the speakon cabke, so could i just plug them in the negative and positive, hope you can help.... thnx in advance

[AcousticSmash]

Dude, this is a 6 year old thread.

[junior01]

hi mate, heard that u r a genius, so i thort id ask you this... i recently bought 2 professional dj speakers, and i would like to use them on my amp, my amp accepts only bare wire, the speakers accept speakon, is it possible to strip one end of the speakon and put that in my amp? i head that there are more than 2 wires in the speakon cabke, so could i just plug them in the negative and positive, hope you can help.... thnx in advance

I don't think that would work. As you mentionned there is 3 connections on a speakon, what does the third one is for? I have no idea but since it is designed with HIFI sound in mind i would think that it is there for a reason. Better check if there is some sort of connection box that will let you go from speakon to bare wire or at the very least 1/4" (wich have only the two wires).

Good luck