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Having a serious problem with neutrik speakon connectors...

Damani311

Damani311

Sep 30, 2006
552
33
Asheville, North Carolina
#1
Was using cheap cables with no issues, one finally died to decided to upgrade to neutriks

So far I've tried 4 different cables, and all of them don't make a proper connection. Unless you basically hold the connector at an angle I get no sound.

Not sure what to think, definitely something wrong when the sound cuts out if you move the cable...using SWR cabs and an SWR head, not sure what to think...
 
#8
If you've tried 4 different cables, sooner or later it'll become obvious you're incredibly unlucky with purchasing cables, or cables aren't the issue.

Change the socket on the amp or cab. Rather, have a tech change it, if it's on the amp.
 
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#9
I am hopeful its just the cab end, just so its diyable. Amp end would be a solid maybe depending whats under the hood. If the amp connectors work, no matter how simple it may look, follow the old adage: if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
 
#11
TheRealKong said:
Are the cheap connectors capable for 4 wires or only for two? How much wires are the Neutric - Connektors capable?
And are they wired correct? I mean, are they wired for your cab/amp?
Click to expand...
I thought too they might be the wrong connectors, be wired wrong, or he screwed the wires into the #3 and #4 connections, and the amp and cab are expecting #1 and #2, or whatever, but he mentioned they did work when they where jiggled to a certain angle so I took that as meaning they would work, but the long metal to metal contacts inside the male and female parts weren't mating up exactly.
 
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#14
It seems unlikely to be a wiring error since if he side loads it, it works. It could be they didn't smack the screws down good inside the speakon, but not so likely on 4. Damaged sockets seem most likely. Maybe you can look with magnification and a bright LED flashlight.
 
#15
Internally, many speakon connectors have crap screw terminals with an angled plate which makes a good connection with bare twisted wire which compresses nicely, but can actually push a tinned cable end back out of the terminal as you tighten the screw. For me this is one major disincentive for using speakons. Try taking the speakon connector apart and seeing if there are any loose cable ends in there.
 
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#16
ficelles said:
Internally, many speakon connectors have crap screw terminals with an angled plate which makes a good connection with bare twisted wire which compresses nicely, but can actually push a tinned cable end back out of the terminal as you tighten the screw. For me this is one major disincentive for using speakons. Try taking the speakon connector apart and seeing if there are any loose cable ends in there.
Click to expand...
Never tin wires for a compression connection, crimp or screw. The wires strands you may find are likely the exact length of the insulation that was stripped off, because the compression did not break it; it was nicked by improper stripping of the wire.
 
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#17
BadExample said:
Never tin wires for a compression connection, crimp or screw. The wires strands you may find are likely the exact length of the insulation that was stripped off, because the compression did not break it; it was nicked by improper stripping of the wire.
Click to expand...

I meant loose from the terminals rather than loose strands, but it's worth checking for both... the cable maker might have tinned the ends or used single-strand mains cable (unlikely I know but it happens)
 
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#18
ficelles said:
Internally, many speakon connectors have crap screw terminals with an angled plate which makes a good connection with bare twisted wire which compresses nicely, but can actually push a tinned cable end back out of the terminal as you tighten the screw. For me this is one major disincentive for using speakons. Try taking the speakon connector apart and seeing if there are any loose cable ends in there.
Click to expand...
4 bad in a row is almost certainly not a loose wire in the female (cable) connector.

Tinned wires are a major fail when it comes to assembling SpeakOns. Cold flow of the solder under pressure causes loosening. The terminals are designed for bare copper only. They do make one terminal style that can use tinned wire, but my UL inspector frowned for "best practices" reasons.
 
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#20
Juststanley said:
Sounds like a similar situation I encountered on cheaper knockoffs from China that looked a lot like neutriks.....wouldn't quite connect. I replaced 'em with 'real' neutriks...no more problem !
Click to expand...
Yup, I encounter this sort of thing from time to time while helping with customer support.
 
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