Using old cabs with new amps (speak-on content)

[eastcoasteddie]

I have an SVT 2-Pro which has 1/4" jacks and a single speak-on. I'm also using a pair of SWR Goliath II cabs with 1/4" and banana jack inputs. I'd like to use the speak-on and made my own speak-on-to-banana cable....but I just don't like it. The Banana jack just looks so fragile even compared to the 1/4" jack; and I did buy quality banana jacks.

What to do in this situation? Continue to use 1/4" phone jacks?
Continue to use Banana jacks?
Retrofit the cabs to accept speak-on? (it it worth the hassle to cut into the cabinets' control plates?)

[Roadkill]

Originally Posted by eastcoasteddie

Retrofit the cabs to accept speak-on? (it it worth the hassle to cut into the cabinets' control plates?)

Yes and yes. Easier to set up and more reliable .

[BassmanPaul]

Agreed, you just have to open on the the jack holes out to 15/16" and the speakon will fit right in. Two 1/8" holes for the mounting flange - I use pop rivets for mounting them. Use the NL4 variety and wire to +1 and -1.

[eastcoasteddie]

So I've been doing some research and looking at my SWR control plates. The SWR plates are designed really tight. If I use the existing 1/4" jack holes as a place to put the speak-on inputs, the plastic housing will be very close to the horn attenuator dial. I may have to trim some of the square mounting flange to fit. I'll also have to install them so that the flange is on the inside of the plate, and use a machine screw and nut to hold them in place rather than a sheet-metal screw to hold them directly to the plate if I were to mount them from the outside (as in the pic below).

I'll also get the 1/4" jack-speak-on dual use input like Carvin uses...since I'd be eliminating the original 1/4" jack.

this would be the cleanest way to do it and also the hardest way to do it.

I can go the easier route and get these:



but I'm not sure I want to cut into my cabinet for a 2nd plate...but it would be a lot easier....

[kdogg]

IMHO it's just not worth the hassle, unless your into the DIY thing. I used the 1/4 inch phono jacks with my SVT and 810 for years with no issues.

[Sartori]

If you really like your cabs, but you also really would prefer to have speakons in the cabs, you could install them. Long term, probably the best solution if you intend on keeping your cabs forever.

[ezstep]

I took five floor monitors into my local mom-n-pop music shop, and they bored out all ten 1/4" jacks to mount ten speakon connectors onto the same metal plates. I lost the 1/4" phone jacks altogether - no big deal to me. About...$14 per speakon connector, including labor.

However, I have two 1x15 BagEnds with 1/4" phone jacks or a banana plug. And, I have speakon-to-1/4" phone plug and speakon-to-banana as well as speakon-to-speakon cords. I don't see the problem with the banana plugs. A hundred times better than the phone jack.

[eastcoasteddie]

Originally Posted by kdogg

IMHO it's just not worth the hassle, unless your into the DIY thing. I used the 1/4 inch phono jacks with my SVT and 810 for years with no issues.

I am DIY....

I also REALLY love those cabs. They are preahaps the smallest 4x10's due to the rear port, 22 x 22 x 18.75

I ordered these speak-on jacks

Combination 1/4" phone jack center and speak-on



same ones in my Carvin BX500 amp, cost $2.64 each. Ordered 4 for my SWR cabs and 2 for my older Avatar 1x12.

[Blues Bass 2]

Where did you order them from ? I got a pair from Carvin but they were the kind for soldering to a circuit board and didn't have the lugs for wires . I got them to work but it would be nice to get some that have lugs . Here's a small dish you could add to the back of your cab that you could add a pair of speakons to .
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=262-334

Originally Posted by eastcoasteddie

I am DIY....

I also REALLY love those cabs. They are preahaps the smallest 4x10's due to the rear port, 22 x 22 x 18.75

I ordered these speak-on jacks

Combination 1/4" phone jack center and speak-on



same ones in my Carvin BX500 amp, cost $2.64 each. Ordered 4 for my SWR cabs and 2 for my older Avatar 1x12.

[eastcoasteddie]

Originally Posted by Blues Bass 2

Where did you order them from ? I got a pair from Carvin but they were the kind for soldering to a circuit board and didn't have the lugs for wires . I got them to work but it would be nice to get some that have lugs .

These are the same as the Carvin units, but I got them from

http://www.fullcompass.com/category/...onnectors.html

because they were 1/3 the cost. I wanted the combo-jacks and these are the only ones available as far as I can see. I think I can make them work...I can do some soldering.

[Growly Lytes]

Originally Posted by kdogg

IMHO it's just not worth the hassle, unless your into the DIY thing. I used the 1/4 inch phono jacks with my SVT and 810 for years with no issues.

God did you ever feel the tips of those leads that you used at the time , they would`ve probably been red raw` hot to touch ?
I was told by a good tech to not use 1/4` for anything over 300-400w

[Growly Lytes]

Originally Posted by Sartori

If you really like your cabs, but you also really would prefer to have speakons in the cabs, you could install them. Long term, probably the best solution if you intend on keeping your cabs forever.

+1
If its going to be high power its the best bet its reliable & safe.
I got some connected in parallel with the 1/4` inputs by my tech.He used heavy duty `metal speakon` inputs.
Charged me $10 each for installing them so $20 all up.
Best thing i did !

[lbwdog]

Originally Posted by Growly Lytes

God did you ever feel the tips of those leads that you used at the time , they would`ve probably been red raw` hot to touch ?

Nawww! Playin' a little bass guitar through it is not going to generate enough heat to feel.

I was told by a good tech to not use 1/4` for anything over 300-400w

Yes, Speakon is now recommended, but we've been using 1/4" phone plugs for 60 years.

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by lbwdog

Nawww! Playin' a little bass guitar through it is not going to generate enough heat to feel.
Yes, Speakon is now recommended, but we've been using 1/4" phone plugs for 60 years.

Depending on what power level you're using you can melt the plastic phone (not phono) jacks. I've seen it before. Yes we have been using phone jacks for decades but doesn't mean that they were the right connector in the first place.

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

Depending on what power level you're using you can melt the plastic phone (not phono) jacks. I've seen it before. Yes we have been using phone jacks for decades but doesn't mean that they were the right connector in the first place.

Yup - amps that put out more than 300 watts are the norm these days - not the case 25 years ago, hence the need for a connection system that can handle that kind of power in a reliable, safe manner...


- georgestrings

[kosmicwizard]

Paul,

They might have been in the first place, but as the wattage increased they because obsolete, and it is only due to unfortunate circumstances and some people's stubbornness that has caused speakon connections to be a fairly recent development. Cheers.

[BassmanPaul]

Speakons ARE a recent development. IIRC designed to satisfy the EU's insistence on safety. That said, you are perfectly correct that people resist anything that is forced on them. Even if it's for their own safety. Look how long it took for people to start using the seat belts in their cars!

[Growly Lytes]

God in my home country if you try to put on a seatbelt you will be told to get out of the car !!
For the connections i tried to tell lbwdog thats its not reccomended but he said quote..

Nawww! Playin' a little bass guitar through it is not going to generate enough heat to feel.

All the best.