Are the new brown Neutrik Speakons actually bad?

[Balog]

I was looking at the NL2FXX speakon connectors, and was surprised to see they had a bunch of negative reviews on Sweetwater. I think those are mostly from people that didn't like the switch from Phillips to T8 Torx for the internal screws, but some did mention that the quality was lower overall or that the relief bushing was too small for some cable.

Are Neutriks still the best speakon connectors out there? I seem to remember @agedhorse saying he saw a lot of issues with amps needing service after knockoff brand connectors failed, but I'm not sure if they're still the gold standard.

 

[Wild_Bill_57]

I just saw the new connectors in person the other day, I was a little surprised by the new strain relief. I also noticed they have 2 different cable size ranges available. The new screws could be good or bad, just a different tool. Time will tell.

 

[Balog]

I just saw the new connectors in person the other day, I was a little surprised by the new strain relief. I also noticed they have 2 different cable size ranges available. The new screws could be good or bad, just a different tool. Time will tell.

What's going on with the new strain relief? I can't find a photo of what it looks like compared to the old model.

 

[Bob_Ross]

"Don't eat the brown speak-on!"

 

[Wild_Bill_57]

Here ya go

 

[Passinwind]

I was looking at the NL2FXX speakon connectors, and was surprised to see they had a bunch of negative reviews on Sweetwater. I think those are mostly from people that didn't like the switch from Phillips to T8 Torx for the internal screws, but some did mention that the quality was lower overall or that the relief bushing was too small for some cable.

Are Neutriks still the best speakon connectors out there? I seem to remember @agedhorse saying he saw a lot of issues with amps needing service after knockoff brand connectors failed, but I'm not sure if they're still the gold standard.

The old screws were actually Pozidriv, not Phillips. That "near miss" scenario was certainly less than ideal, IME.

I've yet to encounter the latest gen Neutriks, so I have no idea how they stack up.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I have one of the cables and no complaints from me. I didn't assemble it however.

 

[newfuture]

I bought a few to replace the generics on some of my older cables and they seem as high quality as the OG neutriks.

Substantially more difficult to open (I used a crescent wrench and brute hand strength instead of the proper tools), but high quality.
I'd have been bummed if I didn't already have a set of Torx bits.

 

[Clark Westfield]

Torx is a good thing, as you will not mistake a Posidrive for Phillips.

 

[Barghest]

Torx is a good move, as a couple others have said. Less risk of stripping screws, no chance of mixing it up with something else, etc. However, I'd say that a good amount of the criticism is levelled at the move of their 'required' tools, which is a pretty spendy piece of laser cut metal and an even more spendy piece of injection moulded plastic?

And, well, whoever chose that brown colour needs to be fired, turd brown isn't a great look.

 

[Aloe]

I didn't try them yet, however as for this:

the relief bushing was too small for some cable

the previous ones didn't have the relief bushing at all, after you assembled one, there was literally a hole in the back.
so, actually only the new series introduced the relief bushing. it comes in two sizes, so be sure to get the proper one.

I've heard that the new ones are more difficult to re-open without tools (if you'll want to assure, screws are tight in several years), but frankly I've used a spanner for the previous generation (it wasn't necessarily, as fingers could be used as well on the old one, but it was easier) and it looks like I can do it for new ones as well.

the reason I didn't try them yet is that I'm perfectly fine with Amphenols yet. I like them ergonomically more than Neutriks and they're very easy to assemble and disassemble with no tools, except of a flat screwdriver and a wire cutter/stripper. let's see, what I'll say in five years.

 

[Bushhog]

Is this bad news about the brown connectors? I just ordered a ProCo cable from Sweetwater and it has the brown connectors. Tell me it isn't true!

 

[Balog]

Is this bad news about the brown connectors? I just ordered a ProCo cable from Sweetwater and it has the brown connectors. Tell me it isn't true!

You'll have to tell us. I'm hopeful it's just people that don't like change.

 

[Bushhog]

Will report back tomorrow.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

It been a week.
You still on a bad brown connector trip?
Or they so good ya have not stopped playing?

 

[Garret Graves]

Have the brown ones for the past 4- 6 months or so. They work perfectly, no complaints here

 

[Bushhog]

The cable works just fine! Its very well made. I recommend it.

 

[Mike Caldwell]

I bought a few to replace the generics on some of my older cables and they seem as high quality as the OG neutriks.

Substantially more difficult to open (I used a crescent wrench and brute hand strength instead of the proper tools), but high quality.
I'd have been bummed if I didn't already have a set of Torx bits.

Actually they were designed to be hard to open to meet some new safety standards for the possible voltage that some high power power amps can produce, not like that various older versions would always easily open up and fall apart in your hand.
All told the new NL4 and NL2 are not so bad, yea you do need a wrench to crack them loose or at least wear gripping gloves.

Now the new MP panel connectors I feel are less solid in many ways, with the so called new high power version the worst of all.

In the final days of the now old versions of FC and MP Speakons lets just say I really stocked up!!!!

For a true heavy duty Speakon look at the STX series.