Re-wiring a Speakon cable

[Matthew_84]

Hey all,

Another annoying question brought to you by me, but many thanks for anyone who responds.

I'm hooking up a Crown XLS1000 into a GK 410MBE. I just got home with a 4-pole Speakon cable, and took off the ends to rewire it, but realized I'm not certain what to do.

The Crown says to run it in bridged mode (which is what I'm doing) you have to use the terminals 1+ and 2+, and I'm certain the cab just needs 1+ and 1-.

So does it matter which one goes where. Does 1+ from the amp end go into 1+ at the cabinet end, and then 2+ at the amp end will go into 1- of the cabinet end? Or is it vice versa? Does it even matter, as long as the same wires that are on 1+ and 2+ are the same wires that are on 1+ and 1-?

Also, what do I do with the remaining two wires? Is it safe to plug them into the spare terminals, or do I cut them out altogether?

Thanks for helping out a rig noob...

Matt

[GrowlerBox]

If it's not in your printed manual, the Crown website has detailed instructions on how to do this very thing.

[greenboy]

It's usually in the manual. Which is why people never know anything about it.

[canshaker]

If your cable has 4 wires, match them all (I.E. 1+>1+, 1->1-, 2+>2+, 2->2-)
It's possible that only 2 connections are needed, but having all 4 won't hurt anything.

[steveksux]

Originally Posted by canshaker

If your cable has 4 wires, match them all (I.E. 1+>1+, 1->1-, 2+>2+, 2->2-)
It's possible that only 2 connections are needed, but having all 4 won't hurt anything.

Not if he's trying to connect to a bridged power amp....

You want the +1 and +2 terminals at the power amp, and +1 and -1 at the speaker end.

typically +1 goes to +1 and +2 goes to -1. Doesn't really matter, you'll just reverse the polarity. Same as if you use the banana jack on the back of the amp and plug the banana jack in upside down. Who cares.

If you look at the bridge connector on the back of the amp it'll show you how to hook that end up.

Randy

[steveksux]

Originally Posted by greenboy

It's usually in the manual. Which is why people never know anything about it.

Equipment manufacturers are stupid for hiding important information in the manuals.

Randy

[greenboy]

Seems like there are always at least two of these SPEAKON thingies within ten threads of each other on the front page.

Bridging newby..are stock speakon cables stereo or mono?

It's all simpler than it seems once you've done each type of setup.

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by canshaker

If your cable has 4 wires, match them all (I.E. 1+>1+, 1->1-, 2+>2+, 2->2-)
It's possible that only 2 connections are needed, but having all 4 won't hurt anything.

Sorry but this is incorrect. If the OP was wanting to bi-amp you'd be right but he wants to bridge and thats a different kettle of fish.

For bridge you need to wire the amps +1 to the speaker +1, Amp +2 to speaker -1. The other poles are unused. The cable needs to be clearly marked which end is which as it will not work the wrong way around. Your cable only needs two cores.

[lbwdog]

Aggghhh!! Bridging again!!

[Matthew_84]

Lol, okay... Thanks guys,

so there's no harm in wiring the two spare wires into the spare terminals (ie. 2-)?

[projectMalamute]

Originally Posted by Matthew_84

Lol, okay... Thanks guys,

so there's no harm in wiring the two spare wires into the spare terminals (ie. 2-)?

There is nothing to be gained by doing this.

Some cabinets are wired internally with 1+/2+ and 1-/2- jumpered together, which would probably short both channels of your bridged amp to ground if you hooked up the extra terminals.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Is it a four-conductor cable with Speakon connectors, or a two-conductor cable with four-pole Speakon connectors?

[Matthew_84]

Originally Posted by projectMalamute

Some cabinets are wired internally with 1+/2+ and 1-/2- jumpered together, which would probably short both channels of your bridged amp to ground if you hooked up the extra terminals.

Wow, thanks for letting me know that... Really glad I asked, lol. I'll just cut off the two extra wires since I don't need them.

My wallet thanks you!

[Matthew_84]

Originally Posted by Bob Lee (QSC)

Is it a four-conductor cable with Speakon connectors, or a two-conductor cable with four-pole Speakon connectors?

four wires and four poles.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Did you ask for a four-wire cable, or did someone tell you to buy it?

You'd be better off with a two-conductor cable and four-pole Speakon connectors.

[Matthew_84]

Yeah, I figured that. I called my local shop and the guy knew what I was talking about. I was a little surprised to come home, pop it open, and find all four cables in there.

Regardless, I'll never need the other two wires, so I'll completely cut them back to the sleeve tape them and make sure they don't touch anything. the inside of the connector actually has no metal sticking around, except for inside the hole for the conductors, and the screw. I'll cut it back enough to not touch the screws.

[greenboy]

Most gear works fine with four wires anyway. Only a few pieces have I ever seen that implemented wrong, and they were dawn-age Speakon speakers. Of course, I did check to see what the deal was (RTM works almost every time, a meter works too) to know what the score was.

[Matthew_84]

That's a good idea. I'm actually just going to play it safe though and just cut out those two spare wires. It'll actually work pretty well with how I was planning on taping the ends for labeling purposes anyway.

Thanks again everyone!

[jelwood]

Bassman Paul got it right as did many others, my 2000rb speakon cable needs to be wired exactly liked this for bridged mode, I cut the other two conductors so they aren't touching and took a sharpie to the end that connects with the amp so I don't get confused.