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1/4 Jack - Speakon Question
- Thread starter JoshSmith
- Start date
Some speakon jacks have a 1/4" jack in the center, most don't. The ones that do are usually green while others that do not are black.
Does anyone know why there isn't a uniform standard? I'd think it'd make sense to have a universal jack.
Because like so many things where there should be standards, "my standard is better than yours" until one finally wins, or a new solution becomes the standard.
Although I rarely say this, but IMO the EU standard makes the most sense in this case...
- georgestrings
Peavey XR 8600 PA head has the combo 1/4 & Speakon jacks. Mine are black. I've seen green and black combo jacks. I think they are fantastic, allowing a substitute cable if needed for length or whatever the case. As far as I can tell, the Speakon function of the combo jacks work as well as the non-combo version.
IIRC Speakon/ 1/4" combo jacks can only act as a +1,-1 connection. This is why you mostly only see them on single channel amps like bass heads and a few power amps.
I just punched-out a 15/16" hole in the back panel of my '90's SVT-810 and soldered-in a Neutrik Combo speakON panel jack (PN: NLJ2MD-H). My combo jack is green; I don't know that I've ever seen a combo jack that wasn't green. I have various other speakON jacks laying around - all are black and none of them allow a 1/4" connection.
I just posed this comment in another thread today but it's kinda relevant to this thread as well...
I must admit I felt the same way about speakons as karl_em_all but since I've spent the money and converted a few of my amps and cabs to be compatible I've accepted that Speakons are actually better. I find them cumbersome to use however the larger contact area is a genuine benefit with the higher power heads and now that most heads are bridging sound modules to get their power ratings at 4 ohms the metal 1/4" handle on male cables could give a person a shock if the bass player was layin some loud bass lines out and the guy put his hand on the chassis of the grounded amp and used the other hand to remove the speaker cable.
The reality is, that situation would rarely come about however it is a possibility.
Once everyone converts over to Speakons we will be fine but this in-between stage is driving me nuts. First I bought a bunch of male Speakon cables pre made off Invalid Link Removed. Then I went on eBay and bought a bunch of female combo adapters that I've been adding to all my gear that didn't have them. It's made my life much easier.
My Mesa Walkabout Scout combo uses 1/4" outputs on the amp and the cab is simply a male 1/4" connector. I installed the Speakon 1/4 combo and now I can use any amp be it old school tube or modern Speakon equipped.
My SWR Headlite didn't come with a combo adapter either. Now it does:
If I had a vintage cab I was trying to mate with a modern head I'd modify the head to have a Green combo Speakon 1/4" jack. If you buy the ones with Spade connectors there's a good chance you wouldn't have to soldier to replace the stock black Speakon output. Some manufacturers use the board mounted Speakons but many use the simple spade connectors. Take a look inside the amp to figure out which.
I must admit I felt the same way about speakons as karl_em_all but since I've spent the money and converted a few of my amps and cabs to be compatible I've accepted that Speakons are actually better. I find them cumbersome to use however the larger contact area is a genuine benefit with the higher power heads and now that most heads are bridging sound modules to get their power ratings at 4 ohms the metal 1/4" handle on male cables could give a person a shock if the bass player was layin some loud bass lines out and the guy put his hand on the chassis of the grounded amp and used the other hand to remove the speaker cable.
The reality is, that situation would rarely come about however it is a possibility.
Once everyone converts over to Speakons we will be fine but this in-between stage is driving me nuts. First I bought a bunch of male Speakon cables pre made off Invalid Link Removed. Then I went on eBay and bought a bunch of female combo adapters that I've been adding to all my gear that didn't have them. It's made my life much easier.
My Mesa Walkabout Scout combo uses 1/4" outputs on the amp and the cab is simply a male 1/4" connector. I installed the Speakon 1/4 combo and now I can use any amp be it old school tube or modern Speakon equipped.
My SWR Headlite didn't come with a combo adapter either. Now it does:
If I had a vintage cab I was trying to mate with a modern head I'd modify the head to have a Green combo Speakon 1/4" jack. If you buy the ones with Spade connectors there's a good chance you wouldn't have to soldier to replace the stock black Speakon output. Some manufacturers use the board mounted Speakons but many use the simple spade connectors. Take a look inside the amp to figure out which.
Any idea why Mesa did not include Speakon (or combos) on the new Prodigy? I haven't seen a backpanel photo of the Strategy - did the larger amp get Speakons?
I went out and bought a couple of 1/4" to Speakon converters. I keep them in my gigbag as they can be handy. Saved my butt already a couple of times. They are $6-10 each. I now can do all 1/4", all Speakon or both.
I agree that the non-combo Speakon jacks are a pain. Wish the combo was used exclusively.
I agree that the non-combo Speakon jacks are a pain. Wish the combo was used exclusively.
Having read my neighbours post about his micro amp I would like to repeat my warming about the use of phone cables with these micro amps. A lot or them are running BTL permanently, that'a Bridge Transformer Less for those that don't know) 
.
if while using a phone cable the shell of the jack comes into contact with anything at ground potential, lighting, mic cables and instrument cables and the like, one side of the amp is shorted out. That's not good for the amp. The shell is live with respect to ground and the tip is twice as live. You hold that plug in your hand you could get a serious electrocussion.
I believe that AgedHorse from GB will attest to that fact.
.if while using a phone cable the shell of the jack comes into contact with anything at ground potential, lighting, mic cables and instrument cables and the like, one side of the amp is shorted out. That's not good for the amp. The shell is live with respect to ground and the tip is twice as live. You hold that plug in your hand you could get a serious electrocussion.
I believe that AgedHorse from GB will attest to that fact.
With regards to Speakons, I consider the combo jacks as a very poor thing. Speakons are so much superior to phone jacks that using them is an obvious thing. I converted all of my speaker cables to Speakon several years ago.
IMO phone jacks should never be used on high power amplifiers. I've seen too many people using instrument cables as speaker cables over the years, causing problems. Phone jacks wear out too and are easily yanked out the back of an amp or cabinet. That is not a good scenario to have while playing a tube amp while cranked. I've never seen a worn out speakon jack. I'll use phone jacks when building guitar amps but only speakon in bass amps.
