Speaker Cable Suggestions For Ampeg SVT-3PRO?

ryevick · #1 06-13-2011, 09:48 PM

I am out of state and haven't been able to get home yet to play with my new bass rig. I bought an Ampeg SVT-3PRO and an Avatar TB153. I want to go ahead and shop for the cables I need to connect them but I am unsure of the actual connection types the use... I am use to combo amps. My first guess would be a single 1/4" speaker cable but it may be two or some other type. Also are there better ways than others to connect them?

I am running a single 4 ohm cab.

JimmyM · #2 06-13-2011, 09:53 PM

You can use either 1/4" or speakon cables. Doesn't matter which.

floridagatorfan · #3 06-13-2011, 09:58 PM

like Jimmy said 1/4" or speakon on the Ampeg im not sure if the Avatar cab accepts speakons though I'm Not very familuar with them, you need at least 14 gauge wire though, 12 would be better though

walkerci · #4 06-13-2011, 09:58 PM

If the Ampeg accepts a Speakon NL-4 connector that is the best way to go.

I get mine from Audopile. Great cables, reasonably priced.
I have probably 20 or so, and never had a problem.
Why so many? 5 bass cabs, 4 bass amps, 8 unpowered PA cabs, and I like to have spares / different lengths.

NL213GA

ryevick · #5 06-13-2011, 10:04 PM

I just downloaded the SVT3PRO manual and I see the Speakon connector. It actual says it's better to use that than the 1/4" connectors. I just need to find out if the TB153 has speakon.

ryevick · #6 06-13-2011, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkerci

If the Ampeg accepts a Speakon NL-4 connector that is the best way to go.

I get mine from Audopile. Great cables, reasonably priced.
I have probably 20 or so, and never had a problem.
Why so many? 5 bass cabs, 4 bass amps, 8 unpowered PA cabs, and I like to have spares / different lengths.

NL213GA

What does the NL-4 mean? Is that the only type that will fit the svt3pro?

ryevick · #7 06-13-2011, 10:15 PM

The Ampeg manual says "The pin connections for this jack are 1+ = positive, 1– = negative." referring to the speakon connection. Wouldn't that be a 2-connector not a 4-connector?

JimmyM · #8 06-13-2011, 10:34 PM

Yes, the Avatar cab has speakons. How do I know? I looked it up on their website. Not hard. Wouldn't have said you could use speakons if it didn't have them.

rpsands · #9 06-13-2011, 10:37 PM

The place to get cables is ebay. Cheap chinese cables with free shipping = victory.

Here you go:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-15-FT-SPEAKO...ht_3894wt_1000

14 bucks shipped, for 14 gauge wire. Kinda ridiculous.

ryevick · #10 06-13-2011, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Yes, the Avatar cab has speakons. How do I know? I looked it up on their website. Not hard. Wouldn't have said you could use speakons if it didn't have them.

you also said it doesn't matter which you use... speakon or 1/4"... ampeg clearly does not agree with you... they say it's best to use speakon

ryevick · #11 06-13-2011, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpsands

The place to get cables is ebay. Cheap chinese cables with free shipping = victory.

Here you go:
NEW 15 FT SPEAKON TO SPEAKON 14 GA PREMIUM CABLE 2 WIRE | eBay

14 bucks shipped, for 14 gauge wire. Kinda ridiculous.

i don't think so... i'm going with neutrik probably...

rpsands · #12 06-13-2011, 10:44 PM

You can not think so all you want but I have a bunch of cables from ebay I've been using nonstop for years. Wire is wire. And it's half the price you'll be paying even at audiopile

Buy two and keep a spare, still cheaper than buying a cable at sitar center.

Next best thing is to buy ends and make your own. Speakon cables are incredibly easy to make.

ryevick · #13 06-13-2011, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpsands

You can not think so all you want but I have a bunch of cables from ebay I've been using nonstop for years. Wire is wire. And it's half the price you'll be paying even at audiopile

Buy two and keep a spare, still cheaper than buying a cable at sitar center.

Next best thing is to buy ends and make your own. Speakon cables are incredibly easy to make.

I'm sure they do work fine but if I can choose not to buy from China I will... not that it really will matter anymore...

rpsands · #14 06-13-2011, 10:48 PM

You might want to call Dave up and ask him where eminence bought the neodymium for his 3015LF's

ryevick · #15 06-13-2011, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpsands

You might want to call Dave up and ask him where eminence bought the neodymium for his 3015LF's

believe me i know just about everything is made in china now... and a lot of it is good quality... i just hate the status of things and not to get political but our president is an absolute idiot and making it worse...

ryevick · #16 06-13-2011, 11:01 PM

just gotta figure with a 2 pole or 4 pole speakon now... i don't know anything about them but the little i have read sounds like if you only need 2 pole and run 4 pole it doesn't matter... it will just use 2 of the 4 poles...

JimmyM · #17 06-13-2011, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryevick

you also said it doesn't matter which you use... speakon or 1/4"... ampeg clearly does not agree with you... they say it's best to use speakon

I think a better reply would have been:

"Thank you, kind sir, for looking up information I could have looked up myself but was too busy to do so because I was busy posting the same question on Talkbass 3 or 4 times."

So don't use the 1/4" jacks then. Use speakons. I merely told you what kind of jacks they include. And really, unless you're dealing with wattages greater than 500w which can cause possible shock hazards, the only benefits speakons give you are not mistaking your instrument cables for speaker cables, and a locking connection. So yeah, they are better to use. But soundwise they're identical, and they both can be used quite safely on that particular gear, as many of have used 1/4" speaker jacks for decades. I, in fact, used to own an older 3 Pro, and used nothing but 1/4" jacks on it because it didn't even have speakon jacks, and it worked fine.

And I'll bet you $500 Ampeg agrees with me on that.

walkerci · #18 06-13-2011, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpsands

You can not think so all you want but I have a bunch of cables from ebay I've been using nonstop for years. Wire is wire. And it's half the price you'll be paying even at audiopile

Buy two and keep a spare, still cheaper than buying a cable at sitar center.

Next best thing is to buy ends and make your own. Speakon cables are incredibly easy to make.

Audiopile does stand behind the products they sell.
I am willing to pay a little more for a quality product from a vendor I can trust and have bought a lot of other gear from.

You are correct about Speakon cables being easy to make.

ryevick · #19 06-13-2011, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkerci

I am willing to pay a little more for a quality product from a vendor I can trust.

Totally agree.

ryevick · #20 06-13-2011, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I think a better reply would have been:

"Thank you, kind sir, for looking up information I could have looked up myself but was too busy to do so because I was busy posting the same question on Talkbass 3 or 4 times."

So don't use the 1/4" jacks then. Use speakons. I merely told you what kind of jacks they include. And really, unless you're dealing with wattages greater than 500w which can cause possible shock hazards, the only benefits speakons give you are not mistaking your instrument cables for speaker cables, and a locking connection. So yeah, they are better to use. But soundwise they're identical, and they both can be used quite safely on that particular gear, as many of have used 1/4" speaker jacks for decades. I, in fact, used to own an older 3 Pro, and used nothing but 1/4" jacks on it because it didn't even have speakon jacks, and it worked fine.

And I'll bet you $500 Ampeg agrees with me on that.

Would you like cheese with your whine?