Amp newbie here - why isn't my SpeakOn cable working?

Can you find the "Neutrik" brand name on the speaker cable connectors? Do you know someone you could borrow another Speakon cable from for test purposes?

Edit: Actually, if you're getting any sound through the speaker at all, the speaker cable isn't likely to be the problem. It's possible that you have a problem with the amp -- but you need to be able to do some isolating to troubleshoot whether or not that's the problem.

 

Speakon cables are inserted, then rotated until they click securely in place. Make sure you get the click.

Stagg does not use genuine Neutrik connectors, which can be an issue. I also see that the are made with wire that has “conductive rubber”, which sounds like an oxymoron. I would return it for a better product.

 

Inconclusive...not enough information. I'll assume you don't have the gear-on-hand to do component swap-outs to isolate the culprit. Any way you can hook up with somebody locally (...with amp>Speakon cable>cab) for some proper diagnostics? Load up, hit the road, and you can be at my place in a week.

Riis

 

A generous offer, I'm sure.

 

Smoke? There's nothing normal about that. I believe your power amp section is damaged. Either your cable damaged the amp, or the amp was already defective.

I don't know why people buy crappy cables and connectors. The are the cheapest investment compared to instruments, amps, speaker boxes, etc, so why scrimp to save a few dollars rather than buying quality connectors?

But, I guess you learned your lesson the hard way.

 

Hopefully, not by a defective speaker cable.

 

Find someone with a multimeter and test if the cable is shorted. If it is, you have a claim against Staff for frying your amp.

 

I defy anyone to do this with a multimeter alone -- the terminals resist being contacted by the meter's probes. Now if you happen to have two extra NL4-MP connectors, it's pretty easy....

Edited for correct Neutrik part number.

 

Maybe lug your amp to a music store...beg pardon, I mean 'shop' ... where you can plug into a cab with a Speakon cable that's known to be working. If the problem turns out to be the cable, buy the replacement from the shop where you did it.

 

Uhmmm...how are you accommodating the different voltage?

Edit: I.e., did you change the power mains selector at the IEC connector?

 

I know it probably seemed bleedin' obvious, but I figured I'd check, since you'd relocated from the New World. Dumber stuff than that comes up every day here on TB, IME.

 

If it works properly with headphones, it sounds like the cable is the culprit.

 

So, the amp still works through headphones even though it started smoking a bit.

Cool!

Hopefully it's just the cable!

 

Could be the speaker, could be the cable, but your cable is fried. The cable is cheap to swap out, but if something is screwed up with the cab, do you want to risk another head to test it? You will need to replace the head, I would definitely get a proper Neutrik cable and would toss the old one because of relative low cost, high likelihood of being the culprit. Somebody will have some suggestions to test the cab, maybe a multimeter and/or the 9V battery check? If you don't have the skill or gear to test the cab, probably take it to a shop for a quick bench test. It would be cheaper than blowing another head.

 

Except for the smoke. Power amp could be dead.