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Uh..speakon vs 1/4" cable...

Oreomeister365

Oreomeister365

May 26, 2004
1,186
17
State college, PA
#1
okay, so I read in my amps manual and so on about the speakon cable which comes with it etc. Now I need this clarified, assuming I'm running the head (GK 700rbII) to a single cabinet (avatar 410), both of which have a speakon jack...will that do just as well as a 1/4" cable? Whenever I read about this speakon thing it always talks about bi-amping...so will it only have any effect if I'm hooking up two cabinets? Or can I use the speakon in place of the 1/4" cable for a single cabinet? It doesn't clarify what it cannot do...only what it can do. Thanks
 
#2
You need a NON-Biamping cable to hook up to that. A 2 conductor speaker cable with speakons is the way to go. GK's biamp system involves some different wiring, and the cabs I have seen not set up for that hook together 1+ and 2+ as well as 1- and 2-. If you were to use your GK cable, you run the risk of blowing one or both halves of the amp.
 
#4
You can either use a 2 conductor speakon or a 1/4" cable. (There are 4 conductor speakons, most often used for biamping, but you don't need this.) Either will work. However the 1/4" is really designed for up to 250 watts or so. Vibrations from bass can cause the 1/4" connection to momentarily separate resulting in distortion and loss of signal. It is also far less safe than the speakon since you can potentially get seriously shocked by holding one end of the connector while connected to the amp and sending a signal through. (Although I can't imagine why someone would do something like this.)
 
#5
ah thanks, so in a sentence, it is safe (and recommended) to use the speakon jack rather than the 1/4", if you can. Mine amp only came with a 4 conductor speakon..guess I'll pick up a 2

Thanks...

one more thing...as you can tell I'm a complete noob when it comes to these things um...both my head and my cab have two 1/4" cable jacks on them: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

what is the purpose of two?

thanks once more.
 
#7
BFunk said:
HOLD ON!!!

I just read the manual! The speakon connector is designed for biamp use only. This means that you will not get the high range output to your speaker at best. You should use your 1/4" jacks for full range.
Click to expand...

Easy now,

1. Yes, you can use your factory cable for a regular cab with the speakon wired +1,-1. This is standard.

2. Speakon --- +1, -1 = Woofer amp.
-------------- +2, -2 = Tweeter amp.
1/4" ---------- T+, S- = Woofer amp.

The woofer amp is actually full range.

The tweeter amp is only the highs.

I used a 1/4" cable with my 700RBII for years with ZERO problems. Use whichever you like.

:D

Joe.
 
#8
BFunk said:
HOLD ON!!!

I just read the manual! The speakon connector is designed for biamp use only. This means that you will not get the high range output to your speaker at best. You should use your 1/4" jacks for full range.
Click to expand...



Bzzzztttt! WRONG! The main amp signal on the Speakon 1+/1- is hard wired to the 1/4" jacks - it's the same signal. The only difference on the speakon connector is that the high amp is on the 2+/2- pins . . . . So, if you use a 2 wire speakon, you get exactly the same connection as if you were using the 1/4" connectors, with the exception of not being stuck with the crappy 1/4" connectors.

Speakon is pretty much superior across the board, and, IMHO, should be used whenever available . . . . there simply is no downside!

- Tim
 
#9
Well, its says that the 50 watt hi-end amp is going to the +2/-2, while the 380 watt low-end amp goes to the +1/-1. I assume this means the highs are sent to the hi-end amp in which case our friend will be missing some highs.

Also, chill on the attitude.
 
#10
BFunk said:
Well, its says that the 50 watt hi-end amp is going to the +2/-2, while the 380 watt low-end amp goes to the +1/-1. I assume this means the highs are sent to the hi-end amp in which case our friend will be missing some highs.

Also, chill on the attitude.
Click to expand...

Nah, that's not how it works on this amp.

The Woofer amp is full range. The High amp is highs only.

It makes sense if you think about it.

:D

Joe.
 
#11
Yup, the full signal goes to the woofers and only above 5khz goes to the tweets.

You CAN set the amp to produce 0-5000Hz on the woofers and 5kHz+ on the tweets, but as standard its full range on the woofers.

So the thread starter can use the cable that came with his amp no problem, there will be a full-range signal to his cab and the tweeter amp just wont be connected to anything. (Zero load, not a problem).
 
#13
Jack said:
Yup, the full signal goes to the woofers and only above 5khz goes to the tweets.

You CAN set the amp to produce 0-5000Hz on the woofers and 5kHz+ on the tweets, but as standard its full range on the woofers.

So the thread starter can use the cable that came with his amp no problem, there will be a full-range signal to his cab and the tweeter amp just wont be connected to anything. (Zero load, not a problem).
Click to expand...

Now, that may not be particularly true. My aggie cab has 1+ and 2+ connected, and 1- and 2- connected. If you try to run a 4 conductor cable with the GK on that cab, the amps will backfeed through each other there, and possibly blow.
 
#15
Trevorus said:
Now, that may not be particularly true. My aggie cab has 1+ and 2+ connected, and 1- and 2- connected. If you try to run a 4 conductor cable with the GK on that cab, the amps will backfeed through each other there, and possibly blow.
Click to expand...

Did you do the mod yourself or is that standard practice for Aguilar?

Does that mean that all their amps are wired that way too?

:eyebrow:

Joe.
 
#17
Trevorus said:
I would hope not. It came stock that way. I have not modded it. Though I might mod it and add a biamp switch possibly. (I have a GK 1001RB)
Click to expand...

I wonder why a big company like Aguilar would do something like that?

You would think that conforming to standard connectivity practices would be in their best interest.

My GS112's came wired up normally so I have never had a problem with them using any standard cable.

:D

Joe.
 
#18
Lowtonejoe said:
I wonder why a big company like Aguilar would do something like that?
Click to expand...

Me too!

"Standards" are meant to be followed . . . by ALL manufacturers!

That bit of "creative" engineering on the part of Aguilar could potentially cause LOTS of problems for their customers . . .
let the buyer beware.
 
#19
Any gear that uses Speakon connections probably should have a big red sticker on it that says RTFM for Speakon conventions used by this unit!!!. Not a fault of Speakons, just a fact of life that not everybody making gear has thought though the consequences of following or not following suggested practices with the 4-pole connectors.
 

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