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"4 Pole" Speakon???
- Thread starter jokerjkny
- Start date
Nobody else knows what it "means" either. 
It's nothing but a 4-conductor plug and jack, but the confusion about what it "means" in the choice of cable or pinout is absolutely staggering, even at the manufacturer's customer support level.
I've been trying for months to get to the bottom of it without success. At the moment, I'm waiting for a response from SWR about it, after three more have produced contradictory answers.
It's nothing but a 4-conductor plug and jack, but the confusion about what it "means" in the choice of cable or pinout is absolutely staggering, even at the manufacturer's customer support level.
I've been trying for months to get to the bottom of it without success. At the moment, I'm waiting for a response from SWR about it, after three more have produced contradictory answers.
NL4-Four Pole Version (Biamped) Speaker Cable
use (1+) and (1-) for bass signal
use (2+) and (2-) for treble signal
use (1+) and (1-) for bass signal
use (2+) and (2-) for treble signal
bongomania
Commercial User
Most (not all) Speakon plugs contain four connectors. But many times the actual cable between them is only two wires, and the jack at the amp or cab end may have any of the four connectors hooked up in any arrangement, with no standardization.
so can i just be safe and get a 4 pole to cover all my 4 and 2 connection speakon jacks?
Theoretically, but not practically.
Unless you are 100% sure of the pinout configuration used on your particular gear, it's not safe.
SWR insists to me that a NL2FC plugged cable will not work in their NL4MP-equipped mono amplifiers.
Why? I don't know. Neither do they. It should. What's their pinout? They don't know. Jeeze...
I wouldn't do that. Use the 4 pole for biamped applications. Use the 2 pole for the typical full range MI amplifier connection.
In the PA / Pro Sound world it's the lo's on pair 1 and hi's on pair 2 - I've never actually seen it anyother way except for...
On Bag End Speakon's the 15's and 10's are assumed to be the top cab's in a biamped setup so the input's are on 2. On the 18" cab's pair 1 driver the speaker and pair 2 are passed through where they might eventually find the top box. A very PA'ish way of thinking there. Confusing as all get out if you only have the 15's or 10's though ...
Those Speakons are handy dandy dudes. So far all the plugs I have seen have 4 conductor abillity but not all the Jacks.
Pin 1+ and 1- are usually used for a non Bridged Mono Signal.
Pin 1+ and 2+ can be used to enable a single Speakon Connector to Bridge Mono a Power Amp. Only one end should be wired this way and that end should be marked. The other End should be left as 1+ and 1-. Now this can only be done of the amp provides this in the A Speakon Jack. When they are, they are marked 1+ 1- 2+ 2- and you use the pins you need. If the 4 conductors are not there they are marked only 1+ 1- or only 2+ 2-.
I use a Single Speakon to Bridge Mono from my Yamaha Power Amp into my SWR 4x10 Cab.
Pin 1+ and 1- are usually used for a non Bridged Mono Signal.
Pin 1+ and 2+ can be used to enable a single Speakon Connector to Bridge Mono a Power Amp. Only one end should be wired this way and that end should be marked. The other End should be left as 1+ and 1-. Now this can only be done of the amp provides this in the A Speakon Jack. When they are, they are marked 1+ 1- 2+ 2- and you use the pins you need. If the 4 conductors are not there they are marked only 1+ 1- or only 2+ 2-.
I use a Single Speakon to Bridge Mono from my Yamaha Power Amp into my SWR 4x10 Cab.
There was not a single NL4FC plug on a Speakon cable for sale at Guitar Center when I was in last. All had NL2FCs.
The hilarious thing about Speakons is that they were supposed to be a universal answer that would provide a standard, safe, foolproof, no-brainer, industry-default interoperability for all amp/cab wiring.
What happened in fact was the diametric opposite.
First i heard of the NL4 thing was when i picked up an Eden WTX260. The manual says its an NL4 type connection. A US Music rep had told me to run one as he said there was a difference in what you will hear. Go figure, so i went to my local GC, as usual they don;t know anything about it. There were none in the store. Did an online search and finally found some info on them.
Then i forgot about the whole mess and practiced.
Then i forgot about the whole mess and practiced.
With a mono cabinet, I certainly can't imagine how.
Seems like it would be hearing something as opposed to hearing nothing.
That guy should get a job with Monster Cables.
I would, but I need to get my cab plugged into the amp first.
[I wish that was funny. It's not.]
Why don't you write to Butch at Bayou cables?
He make em, so he knows all the specs.
http://bayoucables.com/
Mike
He make em, so he knows all the specs.
http://bayoucables.com/
Mike
Shoot Guys, they also make 8 conductor Speakons... A 2 conductor will plug right into a 4 conductor jack. Amp manufacturers generally use 4 conductor jacks on the amps. Cheap cables come with only 2 pin plugs. (+1 and -1)
It was mentioned here for bi amping, but a lot of amps are just flat wired channel 1 or A is +1 -1 and Channel B or 2 is +2 and -2...
It goes way out there with 8 conductor units for the big suspended 2-4 way PA cabs...
Mono-Block amps come in all sorts of different flavors. Mine are +1 and +2 for mono-block. But somebody mentioned their brand uses standard connections for MB of +1 and -1.
The nice thing about these connectors is they are easy to change with just a screwdriver. A guy just needs to know how to wire his stuff and do it right.
I ALWAYS mark my Mono-block cables with a couple bands of colored electrical tape on the amp end. The speakers are all wired the same. This avoids confusion as to what type of cable it is.
When I buy connectors I always buy the Neutrik brand myself, but I'm sure others are fine too, but I standardize myself.
BOB
It was mentioned here for bi amping, but a lot of amps are just flat wired channel 1 or A is +1 -1 and Channel B or 2 is +2 and -2...
It goes way out there with 8 conductor units for the big suspended 2-4 way PA cabs...
Mono-Block amps come in all sorts of different flavors. Mine are +1 and +2 for mono-block. But somebody mentioned their brand uses standard connections for MB of +1 and -1.
The nice thing about these connectors is they are easy to change with just a screwdriver. A guy just needs to know how to wire his stuff and do it right.
I ALWAYS mark my Mono-block cables with a couple bands of colored electrical tape on the amp end. The speakers are all wired the same. This avoids confusion as to what type of cable it is.
When I buy connectors I always buy the Neutrik brand myself, but I'm sure others are fine too, but I standardize myself.
BOB
F
FuxxBoxVoodoo
Guest
I picked up a Bag End 4x10 and your right it was wired Backwards by our standards.
The seller thought that the speakon connector was broken.
I dont know why they would do something so out of the ordinary.
Now two of us have suggested you just order the correct cables. By now you would have had them and would be enjoying your rig. Why does GC have your rapt attention? They are just Home Depot in disguise. Jong at Jive Sound will make you some. I told you Sweetwater carries the Pro Co Fat Max. Bayou could make you some. All at reasonable cost. You could have them in a couple days from Bayou Cables.
If GC doesn't have it it doesn't mean there are no other choices. In fact if GC has it it's often an indication to look elsewhere.
Jong at Jive Sound will make you some. I told you Sweetwater carries the Pro Co Fat Max. Bayou could make you some. All at reasonable cost. You could have them in a couple days from Bayou Cables.If GC doesn't have it it doesn't mean there are no other choices. In fact if GC has it it's often an indication to look elsewhere.
Most times the guys at GC have no idea what your talking about. They do sell them but the ones they sell I do not like. They have that Grey Plastic end that ends up breaking.
I got all mine at Ack Electronics here in Atlanta. They keep them in stock. I recently replaced all my PA Speaker Cables with these. I picked up some SJ Cable at Home Depot and put the ends on the cable myself.
These things are very user friendly. You dont need to solder to install them. Just a knife and a screwdriver.
I got all mine at Ack Electronics here in Atlanta. They keep them in stock. I recently replaced all my PA Speaker Cables with these. I picked up some SJ Cable at Home Depot and put the ends on the cable myself.
These things are very user friendly. You dont need to solder to install them. Just a knife and a screwdriver.
