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Cab question: convert 1/4" plug to Speakon jack?

R

rodgersk24

Nov 18, 2008
154
2
MPLS, MN, USA
#1
Hello,

I have a question about bass cabs. The one I'm looking at has two 1/4" jacks and one Speakon on the back. Is it possible to convert one of the 1/4" jacks to a Speakon jack, and is it difficult? I would assume that one would only need to make a hole to fit the Speakon jack, have enough room to mount it, and wire it in parallel with the other jacks, but I don't know for sure.

I am interested in converting one of the 1/4" jacks to Speakon because my head only has one Speakon jack on it, and I would like to eventually get another cab and run them both via Speakon--Amp to cab A via Speakon, cab A to cab B via Speakon. Is this daisy-chaining possible with Speakon?

Now, I know and understand there is a big debate about 1/4" vs Speakon, and I understand both sides of the argument. After a lot of reading, mainly on this forum, talking with specialists (amp/speaker techs) around my area, and thought, I have decided to join the Speakon camp.

I also understand that one needs to do an assessment of intended benefit vs time and cost when converting or modifying anything, and again, I have done a lot of back-and-forth thinking and have decided that I would find it very beneficial vs time and cost to do this conversation, assuming, of course, that it is possible. Plus I really enjoy wiring/soldering/building things/etc (:

My apologies for the long post, and my apologies if this has been answered or asked anywhere else. I did multiple searches using the Google search and internal search, as well as outside Google searches, and couldn't find anything specifically answering this question--everything I found had to do with 1/4" to Speakon cables, which I do not need.

In the interest of full disclosure, the head I am referring to is an Ashdown ABM 500RC Evo II, and the first cab I am referring to is an Ashdown ABM 210T. The second cab I would like to add later would be another Ashdown ABM 210T for a vertical setup.

Thank you very much in advance! Any help is greatly appreciated!

Best wishes,

Kyle
 
#2
It should not be difficult at all. One possibility is to look through the Parts Express catalog for jack plates, and see if there is one with cutouts for two Speakons, but otherwise compatible with your jack plate. Then you can just build up the new jack plate and swap it with the old one. Having it out on your workbench is easier than groveling around inside the cab with a soldering iron.
 
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#3
Hi Kyle.

^+100.

Get another panel if it's possible, saves a lot of time.

Seeing that the cab in question most probably has a cross-over and is probably made with the modern mfg standards, I wouldn't dismiss the possibility of a PCB design. In that case You're pretty much SOL.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any pics of the connector panel to see whether it's a "standard" one.

If the swap proves to be a difficult one, having a Speakon cord between the amp and the first cab and a plug cord between that and the second cab isn't too bad anyway. IMHO only of course.

Regards
Sam
 
#7
If the cabinet is a new one doing as you suggest would void your warranty. You can make an adapter out of a small plastic box from Radio Shack and three speakcon sockets. Wire all three +1 to +1 and -1 to -1. If you buy the NL4 version, which I recommend, you can also wire +2 to +2 and -2 to -2. You will need to cut three 15/16" diameter holes for the speakons. I just mount then using 1/8" pop rivets.

Paul
 
#8
Paul,

Yep, I know about the warranty, I was actually going to try and buy used if I could.

Just for clarification, though: for the wiring, I'm sure that it's a given that there's more to in than just wiring all of the respective numbers together... where do the speaker wires come in? If you could point me to a diagram or walkthrough, or just try to explain, that'd be great!

Thanks for the idea with the idea on the adapter! I'll either do that, or if money becomes a problem, I'll look into the Avatar cabs as Dave said he could wire me a box with two speakons on the back.

Thanks for everyone's help, I'll let you know what my decision is!

Sincerely,

Kyle
 
#10
rodgersk24 said:
Is this daisy-chaining possible with Speakon?
Click to expand...

Certainly. I'm not aware of any connection type that doesn't allow for it... :hmm:

rodgersk24 said:
Now, I know and understand there is a big debate about 1/4" vs Speakon, and I understand both sides of the argument.
Click to expand...

I'm not aware of any great controversy regarding this. Quarter-inch phone plugs make only minimal contact with speaker-out jacks, are relatively unstable for use with high-powered amps, are pretty much a relic of the past, and are therefore on their way out. Speakons make much better contact with the jacks, lock securely into place, safely handle much more power, and are quickly (and at long last!) becoming the industry standard.

These facts are pretty much indisputable. There's scarcely even anything to debate... :hmm:

MM
 
#11
MysticMichael said:
Quarter-inch phone plugs make only minimal contact with speaker-out jacks, are relatively unstable for use with high-powered amps, are pretty much a relic of the past, and are therefore on their way out. Speakons make much better contact with the jacks, lock securely into place, safely handle much more power, and are quickly (and at long last!) becoming the industry standard.

These facts are pretty much indisputable. There's scarcely even anything to debate... :hmm:

MM
Click to expand...

And over the next 20+ years as older cabs drop out of service, perhaps that changeover will occur.

No, wait - I just bought a G-K cab last summer and it has 1/4" jacks.

Naw, I'm not buying it. Speakons are found on more cabs now than a few years ago, but they're not taking over the industry. I wouldn't consider them a standard unless considerably more than 50% of the amps and cabs came equipped with them - and to the best of my knowledge, that hasn't happened.
 
#12
Paul, one final question--is this mod that you are talking about possible if there happens to be a PCB in the cab for the connectors?

And MM, the "sides of the argument" that I was talking about was precisely what you mentioned about Speakon, and what Pilgrim responded with about 1/4". I just didn't want anyone to get into a heated argument or have my post start one, because I know they've taken place on other threads before (the above mentioned research and reading I did on this site) (:

But thanks, MM, for letting me know about the daisy chaining!

Kyle
 
#15
Hi Kyle.

rodgersk24 said:
Just out of curiosity, you're the second person to mention "eight screws"--does that point towards something?

Sorry, maybe I misunderstood something...

Thanks!

Kyle
Click to expand...

It's just that people read the original post pretty thoroughly, look at the possible pics and then reply without taking the time to read all the replies. It wasn't clear to everyone from the start that You didn't have the cab yet.

Regards
Sam
 
#16
T-Bird said:
Hi Kyle.



It's just that people read the original post pretty thoroughly, look at the possible pics and then reply without taking the time to read all the replies. It wasn't clear to everyone from the start that You didn't have the cab yet.

Regards
Sam
Click to expand...

Yes, my apologies. I reread my original post and see now that I forgot to mention that I don't have the cab yet, apologies.

I don't have the cab yet, and this may be one of the deciding factors if I get this or an Avatar cab or something else.

Thanks for pointing that out to me, T-Bird!

Apologies again,

Kyle
 
#17
Hello Kyle it may be easier to put a speakon on your amp should be more room to put one beside the one on your amp i did the ame thing with my amp with no problem you just have to be careful ,it will void your warranty!you say you like to tinker that may be the way to go,get the cab. first pull the back plate if every thing is soldered to the board then you need to find space for the speakon jack then wire it paralell to the speakon that is on the plate +1 pos -1 neg. do the same if you decide to go with installing one on your amp(just be carefull with those bit's of metal, keep a vacuum handy
 
#19
not such a good idea Charles IMO. A speaker plate is easily replaceable if something goes wrong with the installation. An amplifier chassis is not. The amps connections will almost certainly be PCB.

Kyle I'd just do the splitter as I suggested. It's easy to do at little cost and will not impact on resale or warranty.

Pilgrim The speakcon is superior in every respect to the phone jack which should never have been used for speakers in the first place. As soon as the FCC and CSA catch up with Europe they will become standard.

Paul
 
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#20
Speakons are all well and good. I prefer banana plugs, but that's a conversation we don't need to have right now. For any amount of power a 2x10(or even a 4x10, or even an 8x10) bass cab is going to be able to make use of a 1/4" jack is fine. Buy the heavy duty plugs if you are worried about it.

Point being that this is not something I would allow to be the deciding factor as to whether or not I buy a cab. If the thing is doing what you want it to do at a price you consider reasonable just get it and use whatever plugs it happens to accept.
 

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