Darkglass 212 Cab Frustrations

[dumbuser]

Be sure the plug on the cable is a real Neutrik NL4FX, these are known to be a good fit in combo jacks. You have the FXX which have been problematic (not all but a higher percentage).

I know that Audiopile cables use the genuine FX version.

It could also be a defective jack, but IME less likely.

Let me get your opinion on why you think it's less likely to be a defective jack. The reason I'm curious is because when I plug the same cable into the Out connector, the connection is rock solid and won't cut out.

 

[jtg]

I got some of the good blue plugs from these folks.

https://ebay.us/m/UQlGpi

 

[agedhorse]

Let me get your opinion on why you think it's less likely to be a defective jack. The reason I'm curious is because when I plug the same cable into the Out connector, the connection is rock solid and won't cut out.

The out jack is a different jack, each part can have a slightly different molding tolerance.

You are going to have to trust me on this.

I got some of the good blue plugs from these folks.

https://ebay.us/m/UQlGpi

That will work also. Genuine Neutrik FX version.

 

[dumbuser]

The out jack is a different jack, each part can have a slightly different molding tolerance.

You are going to have to trust me on this.


That will work also. Genuine Neutrik FX version.

Interesting. I did not know that the In and Out jacks are different. If that's the case, then it sounds like I do need to try another cable.

 

[agedhorse]

Interesting. I did not know that the In and Out jacks are different. If that's the case, then it sounds like I do need to try another cable.

No, you aren't comprehending what I'm saying.

They are the same part, but obviously they are different jacks because there are two of them. One may have slightly different tolerances than the other.

The combo jacks are in general more sensitive to tolerance issues (mostly in the plug) because of how they are constructed internally compared with the non-combo versions.

 

[dumbuser]

All righty, I finally have an update.

Korg wanted me to try a different head, so I took the cab to a Guitar Center and they let me try a different head and one of the blue Speakon cables. The connection between the blue Speakon and the In port was solid and no amount of (reasonable) wiggling could get the connection to cut in and out.

Darkglass told me that any basic NL2 Speakon cable will work. Seems like that might not be the case.

 

[agedhorse]

It’s NOT the amp.

The Neutrik NL2 is indeed a different plug and if it’s based on the original tooling, it might be fine and you have identified what some of us have been trying hard to tell you in the first place!!!

 

[dumbuser]

It’s NOT the amp.

The Neutrik NL2 is indeed a different plug and if it’s based on the original tooling, it might be fine and you have identified what some of us have been trying hard to tell you in the first place!!!

Hey man, I appreciate your input and have heard you, but I'm doing what Korg is asking me to do. I never said you were wrong. I wanna keep the warranty on this thing, so I'm gonna do what they say. Read into that however you want. If I didn't have a warranty on this and didn't have Korg asking me to perform certain troubleshooting steps, I would have just gone out and bought one of those blue cables from Audiopile like you suggested.

 

[NitroBobby]

fwiw, i had an issue where the Neutrik jack in my GK 210 was intermittent. It would cut out occasionally if i moved the cable and sometimes it would not make any sound unless i moved the cable in a certain way.

i pulled the jack out and bent the contacts out a bit to ensure positive contact with the cable. simple. cost nothing but about 20 minutes of my time.

it's just a simple DC circuit. 2 conductors. if there's an intermittent connection when you wiggle the cable, then it's a mechanical issue, not an electrical one. make sure the contacts are mating between the cable and jack. not much more that could be wrong.

or, you can do the dance with the manufacturer. up to you.

good luck.

kgb

 

[dumbuser]

fwiw, i had an issue where the Neutrik jack in my GK 210 was intermittent. It would cut out occasionally if i moved the cable and sometimes it would not make any sound unless i moved the cable in a certain way.

i pulled the jack out and bent the contacts out a bit to ensure positive contact with the cable. simple. cost nothing but about 20 minutes of my time.

it's just a simple DC circuit. 2 conductors. if there's an intermittent connection when you wiggle the cable, then it's a mechanical issue, not an electrical one. make sure the contacts are mating between the cable and jack. not much more that could be wrong.

or, you can do the dance with the manufacturer. up to you.

good luck.

kgb

I've already emailed Korg about what I saw today, so I might as well finish this dance with the manufacturer. It's good to know though that there are simple fixes.

 

[agedhorse]

Hey man, I appreciate your input and have heard you, but I'm doing what Korg is asking me to do. I never said you were wrong. I wanna keep the warranty on this thing, so I'm gonna do what they say. Read into that however you want. If I didn't have a warranty on this and didn't have Korg asking me to perform certain troubleshooting steps, I would have just gone out and bought one of those blue cables from Audiopile like you suggested.

They are asking exactly what we have been suggestiolng (other than the amp, which it can’t possibly be).

The Audopile cable series use the older NL4 tooling like the cable you tried (except the NL2 format) and had success with.

Why ask us questions if you are going to argue with the answers you receive? Some of us know EXACTLY what’s going on since we are dealing with the same thing from a manufacturer perspective.

fwiw, i had an issue where the Neutrik jack in my GK 210 was intermittent. It would cut out occasionally if i moved the cable and sometimes it would not make any sound unless i moved the cable in a certain way.

i pulled the jack out and bent the contacts out a bit to ensure positive contact with the cable. simple. cost nothing but about 20 minutes of my time.

it's just a simple DC circuit. 2 conductors. if there's an intermittent connection when you wiggle the cable, then it's a mechanical issue, not an electrical one. make sure the contacts are mating between the cable and jack. not much more that could be wrong.

or, you can do the dance with the manufacturer. up to you.

good luck.

kgb

Bad advice, completely different contact type on the non-combo jacks. These are the combo jacks.

 

[dumbuser]

I guess I could clarify a little. They never asked me to try a blue cable, they asked me to try a new cable, which I did. I didn’t think to try a blue cable because A) my local Guitar Center only stocks the brown ones and B) Korg said that any Speakon cable should work. As far as I’m concerned, all this back and forth is on them for not realizing that maybe not any old Speakon cable will work.

And as far as I’m concerned, I never had any problems with your answers. I had more questions about your answers because I don’t understand any of this stuff (at least not the way that you do). So go back and read through my responses. I only ever wanted clarification or to know the why behind some of your answers. I’m pretty sure that at no point I argued the info you provided. I know you have the chops to stand behind what you’re saying. Educate me and don’t take my questions as argumentative. Take them as curious.

I’m definitely not here to fight anyone. Let’s be cool, people.

 

[agedhorse]

OK, the problem is almost certainly due to the brown/green SpeakOn plugs. Try an older blue series one (which you did) and your problems will resolve (which they did).

That's pretty much a condensed version of the entire problem and solution.

 

[dumbuser]

OK, the problem is almost certainly due to the brown/green SpeakOn plugs. Try an older blue series one (which you did) and your problems will resolve (which they did).

That's pretty much a condensed version of the entire problem and solution.

All right, let me see if I have this straight.

The connectors in the cab: not great build quality/construction/whatever you wanna call it.
The connectors in the brown cables: not great build quality/construction/whatever you wanna call it.
The connectors in the blue cables: great build quality.

When you match up two things that don't have great build quality, there's a high chance the connection won't work. When you match up two things, but one of them does have great build quality, it's good enough to make up for the not so great build quality in the other.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[agedhorse]

All right, let me see if I have this straight.

The connectors in the cab: not great build quality/construction/whatever you wanna call it.
The connectors in the brown cables: not great build quality/construction/whatever you wanna call it.
The connectors in the blue cables: great build quality.

When you match up two things that don't have great build quality, there's a high chance the connection won't work. When you match up two things, but one of them does have great build quality, it's good enough to make up for the not so great build quality in the other.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Dude, you need to improve your comprehension. This may be the root of the problem with your communications.

1. The JACKS in the cabinet are fine, the SpeakOn combo jacks in the cabinets are more sensitive to tolerance issues with the PLUGS. The non-combo connectors don't have this issue.

2. The PLUGS with the brown or green rings have shown some manufacturing tolerance issues, which show up as intermittent connections... mostly when used with combo JACKS.

3. The GENUINE NEUTRIK PLUGS that have the blue ring/collar are fine, haven't seen any issues with either the standard or combo JACKS.

4. Beware of knock-off (non-genuine Neutrik) plugs no matter what the color. Not only are they poor quality, but they can also damage the JACKS. This is why we are recommending the genuine Neutrik plugs with t he blue collar/ring.

5. The Genuine Neutrik plugs with the brown/green rings can be problematic (maybe 2%-5%), this is what you are seeing and this is something that us amp/cabinet manufacturers have been dealing with. It's NOT just Darkglass.

 

[dumbuser]

Dude, you need to improve your comprehension. This may be the root of the problem with your communications.

1. The JACKS in the cabinet are fine, the SpeakOn combo jacks in the cabinets are more sensitive to tolerance issues with the PLUGS. The non-combo connectors don't have this issue.

2. The PLUGS with the brown or green rings have shown some manufacturing tolerance issues, which show up as intermittent connections... mostly when used with combo JACKS.

3. The GENUINE NEUTRIK PLUGS that have the blue ring/collar are fine, haven't seen any issues with either the standard or combo JACKS.

4. Beware of knock-off (non-genuine Neutrik) plugs no matter what the color. Not only are they poor quality, but they can also damage the JACKS. This is why we are recommending the genuine Neutrik plugs with t he blue collar/ring.

5. The Genuine Neutrik plugs with the brown/green rings can be problematic (maybe 2%-5%), this is what you are seeing and this is something that us amp/cabinet manufacturers have been dealing with. It's NOT just Darkglass.

Editing my post.

All right man, I'm trying my best here. That just ain't nice.

 

[agedhorse]

Editing my post.

All right man, I'm trying my best here. That just ain't nice.

Sorry, but it really seems that you haven't read (or at least comprehended) the answers that you already received. If you really are trying your best, I'm sorry.

Several people have walked you through this and you continue to have the same questions with the same incorrect conclusions and it comes across as that you are arguing with us.

The answers I have given you are correct and accurate. Hopefully Neutrik is following through and updating the new version plugs (green/brown bands) to address this.

 

[dumbuser]

Sorry, but it really seems that you haven't read (or at least comprehended) the answers that you already received. If you really are trying your best, I'm sorry.

Several people have walked you through this and you continue to have the same questions with the same incorrect conclusions and it comes across as that you are arguing with us.

The answers I have given you are correct and accurate. Hopefully Neutrik is following through and updating the new version plugs (green/brown bands) to address this.

Just look at my user name.

 

[agedhorse]

Just look at my user name.

I don’t make assumptions.

 

[dumbuser]

Here's the part where I'm stuck. Seriously, help me understand.

The cab's In connector doesn't work with a brown cable. The cab's Out connector does work with a brown cable. And you're telling me there's nothing wrong with the In connector? Seems to me like they could improve the tolerances of the combo jacks, especially if cab manufacturers are going to tell customers they can use any NL2 cable.