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Gallien Krueger Legacy connection noob question

#41
The MB 500 I recently purchased was my first amp with speakon connectors. Went to my local shop and bought a speakon to 1/4" cable. (My only cab at the time has 1/4" inputs.) Plugged it in and off I went. Didn't even know the terms "NL2" and "NL4" existed, but apparently I got the right one. Really glad I didn't mess that up!
 
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#42
definenredefine said:
The MB 500 I recently purchased was my first amp with speakon connectors. Went to my local shop and bought a speakon to 1/4" cable. (My only cab at the time has 1/4" inputs.) Plugged it in and off I went. Didn't even know the terms "NL2" and "NL4" existed, but apparently I got the right one. Really glad I didn't mess that up!
Click to expand...
The older GG amps used NL4 jacks so it wasn't an issue.
 
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#43
Credit me with pure dumb luck for getting the right speaker cable for my Legacy the first time. No idea there were even different Speakons.
Related: can someone give me a high-level 'why' on the move to these connectors? I understand that they will not fall out once connected because they lock ... but I cannot say that this was ever a problem or even a consideration in my long playing/performing experience. Sure Speakons are clearly more hi-tech, but truly necessary in some way?
 
#45
agedhorse said:
SpeakOns provide a better higher current connection, so not short when plugging/unplugging, are shock-proof and locking.
Click to expand...
Thank you. To totally flog the subject, how are these improved capabilities necessary? Some attribute of recently produced amps that require a more robust connector?
What I'm reading suggests that they are simply an improved standard -- however, one real-world benefit would be that as amp heads get smaller and lighter they tend to tumble off the top of cabs more often, and in this situation the Speakon would mitigate loss of connection or damage to jacks.
 
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#47
(Even though it shouldn't like, ever, be done while powered on!) When inserting or removing a 1/4" connector, the positive on the plug can (will, more likely) contact the negative side of the jack. This is a big problem for bridged output power sections.

Edit
Any amp, really, if the negative on the plug is touching the negative on the jack at the same time as the tip during operation.
 
#49
definenredefine said:
So I guess I got lucky either way. Pretty sure I bought NL2s anyway cause they're 2 conductor.
Click to expand...
Note that NL4 plugs can (and often are) wired with 2 conductor cable and the 2+/2- terminals are not used.
 
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#51
Another noob question, while I'm here...

Can I use this particular amp safely without having any speaker connected to it at all? I understand that this is a death sentence for some amps, but I am really itching hear it through headphones at least as I await the delivery of the final puzzle piece...

The manual seems to imply this would be fine, but I'd like to double-check with anyone who actually knows their stuff before I do give it a shot, just in case ;)
 
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#58
GK used nl4 in the rb series heads, because you can bi-amp them...(a small amp for the horn and the main amp for full range). This made them pair very well with their neo cabs that have the full range/bi amp switch on them. I use the same nl4 cable that I use with my 1001rb, with my mb800 fusion (nl2 outputs) just fine. Obviously, with my cabs, when using the mb800, I need to switch to full range mode, and vice versa. Hopefully that clears a bit of stigma here.
Anyway, to use a neutrix or a speakon connector, when you plug it in, you will twist it, to lock it into place. Not all manufactures will mount them in the same orientation, so some may be "vertical" others may be "sideways ". (referring to the silver tab with an arrow on it). That silver tab is spring loaded (or should be). To unplug you need to pull that tab back, then untwist the cable and then it should slide out. (In the case of nl2 connectors, they have a ring instead of a tab, but the process is the same). The following is what I would recommend for you.
D'Addario SpeakOn Speaker Cable - Neutrik Connectors - Maximum Signal Transfer and Flexibility - Copper Conductors - Limited Lifetime Guarrantee - 5 Feet/1.52 Meters - Max Signal Transfer - 1 Pack https://a.co/d/bB4zvQ3
 
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#59
monti2889 said:
GK used nl4 in the rb series heads, because you can bi-amp them...(a small amp for the horn and the main amp for full range). This made them pair very well with their neo cabs that have the full range/bi amp switch on them. I use the same nl4 cable that I use with my 1001rb, with my mb800 fusion (nl2 outputs) just fine. Obviously, with my cabs, when using the mb800, I need to switch to full range mode, and vice versa. Hopefully that clears a bit of stigma here.
Anyway, to use a neutrix or a speakon connector, when you plug it in, you will twist it, to lock it into place. Not all manufactures will mount them in the same orientation, so some may be "vertical" others may be "sideways ". (referring to the silver tab with an arrow on it). That silver tab is spring loaded (or should be). To unplug you need to pull that tab back, then untwist the cable and then it should slide out. (In the case of nl2 connectors, they have a ring instead of a tab, but the process is the same). The following is what I would recommend for you.
D'Addario SpeakOn Speaker Cable - Neutrik Connectors - Maximum Signal Transfer and Flexibility - Copper Conductors - Limited Lifetime Guarrantee - 5 Feet/1.52 Meters - Max Signal Transfer - 1 Pack https://a.co/d/bB4zvQ3
Click to expand...
No, your MB800 has NL4 connectors with 2+/2- unused. It does NOT have NL2 jacks.

Your post is why there is confusion in the first place... I have this conversation often enough troubleshooting with players confused just like you are here, and exactly why I posted the information I did earlier.

The NEW GK amps use an NL2 jack and will ONLY work with NL2 plugs. The older GK amps use NL4 jacks and will all work with NL4 plugs regardless of if 2+/2- wires are present (biamp models excluded, and provided 2+/2- are not connected in the speaker which is 99.9% of all bass speakers using NL4 jacks)
 
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#60
Ryn said:
Hm! I must be doing something wrong then, since my friend and I tried his tried-and-true leads as well.

Here's a pic if it helps:
z410Ai6.png
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This amp can run at a min 2ohm load....in order to do that though....there's a selector switch to the left of the output jacks that will adjust the amplifier's output to compensate for the load. You can select, 8ohm (left output)+ 4ohm right output. Or 4+4ohm where both jacks accept a 4ohm load. These outputs are parallel, so I would not recommend daisy chaining speakers, unless you calculate your load. instead, just plug both speaker cabs into the corresponding output jack of the unit. tthe way I would use this head, with the 4ohm 2x12 cab, would be to set the head on top the cab, select 4x4ohm and use a short cable to connect the cab and amp.
 

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