Speakon cables and connectors

**Bob Gollihur** · #1 10-01-2001, 07:36 AM

Just a quick note to fellow AI and other amp/cab owners that use Speakon connectors. I had a hard time finding them a while back, especially for bridged connections, and so made my own. While they are more readily available now, they all seem to be mega-long and mega-expensive, and I've yet to see a commercially produced bridged amp cable.

Recently I got some heavy speaker cable and connectors so I can build them for clients and others (recently sent ChrisF one for his Clarus), so if you need connectors, cable, or a custom made cable of a specific length, let me know.

**HeavyDuty** · #2 10-01-2001, 01:04 PM

Bob -

You wouldn't have any Speakon chassis jacks around to measure, would you? I'd like to convert my G-K 400RB to speakons, but the back panel is kind of crowded, and I'm not sure if they'll fit where the 1/4" jacks were located. I don't have any other space to mount them that I can find.

Also, someone mentioned to me that they've seen Speakons that still take a 1/4 plug in the center, which I can't see as being possible.

Comments?

**Bob Gollihur** · #3 10-01-2001, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HeavyDuty
Bob -

You wouldn't have any Speakon chassis jacks around to measure, would you? I'd like to convert my G-K 400RB to speakons, but the back panel is kind of crowded, and I'm not sure if they'll fit where the 1/4" jacks were located. I don't have any other space to mount them that I can find.

Also, someone mentioned to me that they've seen Speakons that still take a 1/4 plug in the center, which I can't see as being possible.

Comments?

There is no physical way I can think of to combine a Speakon and 1/4" - maybe they were thinking of the 1/4"/XLR combination jacks.

Visit www.switchcraft.com and search on HPC, the line of Speakon connectors they have. There is a 5 page document in PDF format you can download and view/print, with technical drawings of the connectors so you can check the physical requirements.

**HeavyDuty** · #4 10-01-2001, 07:30 PM

Thanks, Bob.

I had a feeling that he was wrong - the few times I've glanced at them, there seemed to be no way a 1/4" could be integrated into a Speakon.

Unfortunately, Switchcraft's site seems to be down right now. And, I had a thought (I know, I should keep it because I may never have another) - if I mount one Speakon and leave one 1/4" jack on my G-K, I'll increase the versatility, and can still daisy-chain two 8 ohm cabs. I'm pretty sure I can cram one Speakon into my GK, put a pair would be a v-e-r-y tight fit.

I'll wait until my new Bag End S15-D shows up, since I'm not 100% sure it has parallel Speakon input jacks. I could swear the one I tested did, but their website makes no mention of Speakons in this cab.

Mike Goodbar · #5 10-22-2001, 12:35 PM

Why does AI use Speakon connectors? Do they provide better sound than the standard 1/4"?

Bob, can you make Speakon-to-1/4 cables (for future reference, when I finally buy my Contra)?

Thanks.

**Bob Gollihur** · #6 10-22-2001, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike Goodbar
Why does AI use Speakon connectors? Do they provide better sound than the standard 1/4"?

Bob, can you make Speakon-to-1/4 cables (for future reference, when I finally buy my Contra)?

Thanks.

Speakon connectors are the wave of the future for speaker connections. They have a laundry list of advantages over 1/4" jacks/plugs, and are becoming a requirement in European countries. I have been making custom cables for my Contra/Clarus customers and others, no problem.