Neutrik Speakon Differences?

[gruuv]

Quick question for those in the know. . . I was wondering if anyone can tell me the difference between the NL4FC and the NL2FC Speakons. I looked them up on their website and I know that the 4's are four pole and the 2's are two, but I mean as far as what amps/cabs they can be used with, etc. . .

Thanks in advnace

[Tony G]

4 pole speakons are used when bridging power amps. The two pole can be used in a power amp for one channel each, and most heads use only a 2 pole speakon.

[FunkMaster_]

As far as I know, the two and four pole are the same size. The difference is the amount of poles as you said...
You can use four poles for sending two signals trough one cable like +1 and -1 being low and +2 and -2 being high. Or when bridgin, the +1 becomes + and +2 becomes -.

[greenboy]

I haven't seen much gear that uses the two-pole (I'm including PA/SR gear as well as bass-specific stuff). Since they are the same size and the costs don't differ that much for bulk evidently, a lot of companies don't bother stocking the two-pole or using them in their designs.

[gruuv]

Thanks for the responses fellers. So, there would be no conceivable problem using the 2-pole for connecting head to cab, power amp to cab, or daisy chaining cabs?

[greenboy]

Nope they are compatible. Just as long as you aren't going to need to carry two signals (biamp or stereo) you'll do just fine. Last time I checked for building some cab jack plates and cables I didn't see any price advantage with the two-poles or they weren't available or something, so either way you will be fine if you wire correctly.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by greenboy

Nope they are compatible. Just as long as you aren't going to need to carry two signals (biamp or stereo) you'll do just fine. Last time I checked for building some cab jack plates and cables I didn't see any price advantage with the two-poles or they weren't available or something, so either way you will be fine if you wire correctly.

The two pole inline ones (NL2FC) are a good bit cheaper if you look around hard enough, in my experience at least.They should run just over 2 bucks apiece, NL4 should be around $3.50 or so in small quantities. I like the latch mechanism better on NL2 than the NL4 ones as well. They are often much harder to find too though. Amp and speaker cab manufacturers don't use the 2 pole panel-mounted ones because a 4 pole one on the cable end won't mate with it. But a 2 pole cable end works fine with 4 pole at the amp or cab end.

[greenboy]

Righto. Why the two-poles have widely been ignored/abandoned. Compatibility in one direction but not the other.

[Detonation]

I have a Dynacord power amp that has a left output, a right output, and a output which says 'Bridged'. I connect that output (speakon) to my speaker cab input (jack). So I need a NL4FC for that, or is the NL2FC ok?

[Detonation]

Bump, really like to know this!

[Mottlefeeder]

Originally Posted by Detonation

I have a Dynacord power amp that has a left output, a right output, and a output which says 'Bridged'. I connect that output (speakon) to my speaker cab input (jack). So I need a NL4FC for that, or is the NL2FC ok?

From what has been said above, a four pole speakon usually carries the send and return of two amplifiers, so to run bridged, you would need the four pole connector, and you connect your speaker lead to the two hot terminals.

You need to confirm with Dynacord whether they have brought the two hot terminals together in a two pole connector, or brought all four connectors together in a four pole connector. Alternatively, if you are comfortable doing so, take the lid off, and check how many wires are connected to the 'bridged' connector.

[Detonation]

Ok, so what happens if you only connect a two pole connector (like I do now)? Would that be the same as running only one amp?

[tadawson]

2 pole == 4 pole with only 1+/1- wired == what you can buy in pretty much any music store. == bridge cable for amps with a dedicated bridge jack wired to just 1+/1-. (The two pole connector is basically the four pole shell with the second pair of contacts left out to reduce cost, since most instrument amps are incapable of using the second pair anyhow.)

4 pole with 1+/1- and 2+/2- wired == biamp cable, as per GK or any biamped PA cabinet.

4 pole with 1+/2+ wired through to 1+/1- == bridge cable for amps wired with both channels on one speakon.

2 pole cable connector will fit any 4 pole or 2 pole jack.

4 pole cable connector will only fit a 4 pole jack.

- Tim

[Jerry J]

For some unknown reason I find this all confusing.

When you go with banana or 1/4" it's all pretty brainless. I've got to have a cable for bridged mode and a non-bridged mode.

Question: When going from one to another I would use which configuration?

[Vic]

Originally Posted by xgabriel

4 pole speakons are used when bridging power amps.

Or for biamping integrated cabs with bypassable crossovers (GK).