What's the deal with speakon cables?

dminer · #1 05-30-2010, 11:20 PM

Ok, I'm pretty old school but I recently upgraded to a LMIII and I have an avatar 210 neo on the way....The LMIII has a speakon jack input on the back and I've just been running a regular speaker cable out from there to my older hartke 210. What are the advantages of getting a more expensive speakon cable...stronger signal/more power/no hum ect?
Thanks, David

gregwatts2008 · #2 05-30-2010, 11:26 PM

Speakon gives you a better connection and does not accidentally get disconnected. On some amps, it allows you more power, like the GK 2001 RBII

5StringBlues · #3 05-30-2010, 11:27 PM

The speakons on Markbass amps are combination,you can use either a 1/4 in. or a speakon cable.

I can't tell you advantages or disadvantages,but there is no danger with the 1/4 inch.

bongomania · #4 05-30-2010, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregwatts2008

Speakon gives you a better connection and does not accidentally get disconnected.

Correct, it latches into place; its electrical contact surfaces are much larger than with traditional plugs & jacks; and it allows higher current than traditional plugs and jacks. If you are running an amp with say less than 1500 W (very rough guess number), then the current used is probably not an issue.

**jmattbassplaya** · #5 05-30-2010, 11:32 PM

They can`t (easily) get ripped out the back if someone trips over them. That`s about it.

v-grooves · #6 05-30-2010, 11:42 PM

With the Speak-On, you have more metal on the actual plug completing the circuit from your power-amp to your cab.

This is more important when used with PA speakers that generally have longer runs. The Speak-On offers less of an impedance drop and a happy power-amp.

However, I dont know too many people who could do a blind A/B with 1/4" compared to Speak-Ons.

Like Greg said, the twistlock provides a positive, physical connection between your amp and cab and wont work it's way loose.

If your amp hums with a good working 1/4", it sure is gonna hum with a Speak-On.

V

dminer · #7 05-31-2010, 12:16 AM

Thanks everybody...no hum or any other noticable downside using my 1/4" cable that I can tell but I might pick up a speakon anyway before the new cab arrives just because...thanks dm

Beachcoma · #8 05-31-2010, 12:32 AM

Another upside of speakons is they don't short like 1/4" plugs do, therefore safer for your amp/cab if ever you're sleepy enough to (dis)connect the cable while the amp is running.

Lacktone · #9 05-31-2010, 12:34 AM

My speakon cable started giving a terrible distorted noise after about a month, thought I blew a speaker at first, switched out all my instrument cables trying to figure it out, then pulled out the speakon and put in my 1/4in back up speaker cable(using markbass amp so have option of either one) and it was gone. Disappointing, the cable was expensive, and felt to be off high quality. It was a core X2, no idea if thats a cheap brand or not, new to live sound, spent last ten years of bass playing just plugging straight up to a computer and recording personal songs, just now started playing in an actual band, so I don't exactly know much about hardware for live gigs....but I'll just be sticking to 1/4in speaker cables for now.

bongomania · #10 05-31-2010, 12:38 AM

Errr... You got a defective cable. It has nothing to do with the plug design.

walterw · #11 05-31-2010, 12:42 AM

+1

that's hardly an indictment of speakon cables. you just had a defective or damaged one. (or maybe you didn't have it all the way locked in, so it wasn't making good contact?)

the fact is, 1/4" jacks are lousy for speakers, and always have been; no real pro sound company uses them any more.

**Rune Bivrin** · #12 05-31-2010, 12:48 AM

Another aspect is that Speakons have fully isolated exteriors, so there's no risk of anything shorting the connection by touching the plug. This is important for any connection that doesn't have any of the leads at ground potential, such as a bridged output.

Jefenator · #13 05-31-2010, 12:59 AM

In this thread:

LMII Cutting Out

Some Markbass LMIIs were found to have issues with the Speakon output (or maybe the wiring to it). IIRC a few users cleared up a "cutting out" problem by switching to the 1/4" speaker jack.

I keep that in the back of my mind, in case I ever have a problem with my LMII. But I haven't thus far. I prefer to use Speakon wherever possible, for reasons already mentioned.

Another reason: it's really easy to make and/or fix your own Speakon cables - no soldering required!