Loose connections on mesa subway cabs

[Chuck M]

Send it back to the manufacturer? To replace a jack that isn’t attached to a circuit board???
Or did I miss something about something only a factory tech can do like replacing the dilithium DMX interface or a talent protection module update?

The Speakon jacks on Subway speakers are indeed mounted on a circuit board.

 

[Jens Telemark]

The Speakon jacks on Subway speakers are indeed mounted on a circuit board.

Well how about that… Strong work.

 

[Pep]

So send the jack plate with the circuit board back. It’s still more cost effective.

 

[Pep]

I had the same issue with two of my Subway cabs. Probably didn't use a Neutrik plug at some point, not sure. Anyway, I removed the crossover assemblies and sent them directly to Andy (agedhorse) who replaced the connectors. Haven't had any issues since!

PolkaHero has the best solution.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Oh no, are the brown ones discouraged?

"The warning that I received, you may take with however many grains of salt you wish, that the brown acid that is circulating around us, is specifically not too good. It's suggested that you do stay away from that; of course, it's your own trip, so, be my guest. But, please be advised that there is a warning on that one, okay?"

Oh wait, you are talking about Brown Neutrik Speakon Jacks

 

[agedhorse]

Send it back to the manufacturer? To replace a jack that isn’t attached to a circuit board???
Or did I miss something about something only a factory tech can do like replacing the dilithium DMX interface or a talent protection module update?

It's attached to a PCB. All they need to do is send in the crossover.

We see the results of failed repair attempts all the time, it's better not to go down that road if possible. We still don't know if it's the jacks, or the cable plugs at this point.

 

[agedhorse]

View attachment 7377543

"The warning that I received, you may take with however many grains of salt you wish, that the brown acid that is circulating around us, is specifically not too good. It's suggested that you do stay away from that; of course, it's your own trip, so, be my guest. But, please be advised that there is a warning on that one, okay?"

Oh wait, you are talking about Brown Neutrik Speakon Jacks

View attachment 7377548

Wavy Gravy made that announcement, I worked with him on a 20 year run of a large music festival back in the 80's and 90's. Had many a breakfast with him.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Wavy Gravy made that announcement, I worked with him on a 20 year run of a large music festival back in the 80's and 90's. Had many a breakfast with him.

Could be, this however is the one I am referencing…

 

[agedhorse]

Could be, this however is the one I am referencing…

That’s Wavy for sure, I know that voice well and it hasn’t changed much with age.

 

[Jens Telemark]

It's attached to a PCB. All they need to do is send in the crossover.

We see the results of failed repair attempts all the time, it's better not to go down that road if possible. We still don't know if it's the jacks, or the cable plugs at this point.

A component that’s the only game in town yet is so easily damaged by operator error seems like a no win situation. Maybe this is a dumb question but couldn’t the jack be jumped onto the PCB instead of being mounted on it?

Combo jacks aren’t ideal but all my cabs have them. Better than hardwiring a cable to the speaker 20 minutes after doors.

 

[agedhorse]

A component that’s the only game in town yet is so easily damaged by operator error seems like a no win situation. Maybe this is a dumb question but couldn’t the jack be jumped onto the PCB instead of being mounted on it?

Combo jacks aren’t ideal but all my cabs have them. Better than hardwiring a cable to the speaker 20 minutes after doors.

It's NOT easily damaged by operator error, and it's NOT the only game in town. It's a standard part, PC mounted in an assembly. There are many thousands of these cabinets and crossovers (also used on all of the Powerhouse cabinets) out there with no problems at all. Issues are very rare.

At this point, since the OP's cabinets all work fine with the blue Neutrik plugs he has, and only the brown plugs are problematic, it may not be a jack issue at all but a plug issue (either counterfeit, knock-off or defective).

I have seen jacks damaged when a knock-off plug comes apart internally and the guts get jammed into the jack's finger contacts, but that particular style of contact isn't used on the combo jacks. I have also seen where a cabinet takes a hard fall and lands on the cable plug, breaking the inside of the jack and usually causing additional damage to the plate itself, but this doesn't appear to be what the OP is experiencing.

I'm trying to help resolve this for the OP, not get into a discussion about how you would design a crossover.

 

[Pep]

Some of this discussion is bordering on ridiculous.
You have the OP with an obvious problem connecting to his Mesa cabs, and a Mesa engineer trying to offer solutions to the problem.
Please allow him to do that. If you have a problem with the way Mesa cabs are built and wired, the simple solution is don’t buy them.
Your criticism and recommendations would be better served, and received, by starting another thread to question the design. I’m sure @agedhorse would be more than willing to address your concerns there and some members would want to chime in to be a part of the duscusdion.
JMHO

 

[Pep]

. . . . . . discussion.

 

[Jens Telemark]

It's NOT easily damaged by operator error, and it's NOT the only game in town. It's a standard part, PC mounted in an assembly. There are many thousands of these cabinets and crossovers (also used on all of the Powerhouse cabinets) out there with no problems at all. Issues are very rare.

At this point, since the OP's cabinets all work fine with the blue Neutrik plugs he has, and only the brown plugs are problematic, it may not be a jack issue at all but a plug issue (either counterfeit, knock-off or defective).

I have seen jacks damaged when a knock-off plug comes apart internally and the guts get jammed into the jack's finger contacts, but that particular style of contact isn't used on the combo jacks. I have also seen where a cabinet takes a hard fall and lands on the cable plug, breaking the inside of the jack and usually causing additional damage to the plate itself, but this doesn't appear to be what the OP is experiencing.

I'm trying to help resolve this for the OP, not get into a discussion about how you would design a crossover.

No need to bark.
I’m seeing something that doesn’t seem to make sense about cabs I think sound great and would buy. I’ve fixed gear on top of road cases with the tools and parts I have at hand and I’m just asking questions. For all I know there are many excellent reasons to mount a high use jack on a PCB.

 

[Pep]

No need to bark.
I’m seeing something that doesn’t seem to make sense about cabs I think sound great and would buy. I’ve fixed gear on top of road cases with the tools and parts I have at hand and I’m just asking questions. For all I know there are many excellent reasons to mount a high use jack on a PCB.

He wasn’t barking. He’s just needing some space to take care of the OPs problem.
If you were the OP wouldn’t you be getting frustrated at your issue being hijacked and sidetracked by off-topic questions?
You can do what you wish but if it were me I would let @agedhorse get the issue taken care of, and if I still had questions that needed answers, I’d start a new thread dedicated those concerns. Just a suggestion.

 

[bullgoose76]

I've had poor connections on 2 different brand-new Mesa Subway cabs. One got returned/exchanged (and was fine afterward), and on the other one I carefully bent the contact in its connector to make a more solid connection as I wanted to try that before initiating another exchange.
On both cabs it was the main "IN" connector which had issues.
Before anyone chimes in with the obvious: Yes I'm using proper genuine Neutrik cables from reputable source. 2 different cables. Even tried swapping ends on each.
Said cables work 100% everywhere else, on 2 different amps and another cabinet.

While I don't know how Mesa goes about testing their cabs before shipping out, I kind of wonder if it might be something like a testing jig getting worn or out of alignment. Or maybe they just plug in a cable by hand and its coincidence I've had 2 cabs exhibit this problem on the same jack.

Still, I didn't expect this from Mesa.

I've had poor connections on 2 different brand-new Mesa Subway cabs. One got returned/exchanged (and was fine afterward), and on the other one I carefully bent the contact in its connector to make a more solid connection as I wanted to try that before initiating another exchange.
On both cabs it was the main "IN" connector which had issues.
Before anyone chimes in with the obvious: Yes I'm using proper genuine Neutrik cables from reputable source. 2 different cables. Even tried swapping ends on each.
Said cables work 100% everywhere else, on 2 different amps and another cabinet.

While I don't know how Mesa goes about testing their cabs before shipping out, I kind of wonder if it might be something like a testing jig getting worn or out of alignment. Or maybe they just plug in a cable by hand and its coincidence I've had 2 cabs exhibit this problem on the same jack.

Still, I didn't expect this from Mesa.

I’ve 4 subway cabs, they’ve had an easy life 2 are brand new 2 second hand, they’re great but seem temperamental the only cab that I thought worked 100% has now developed a fault the speaker cuts down to low volume and only the horn works. So driving it back to the shop I got it from, the ampeg stuff all works perfectly with any cable I shove into it, but to my ears doesn’t sound as good.. can you give me more info on what and how you carefully bent the connection please .

C

 

[Pep]

C

So has there been a solution found to your problem, and if so can you share it? Many of us are interested in the outcome.

 

[agedhorse]

C

Two examples where we don't know what was/is really going on. When I offer to help get this resolved and don't get taken up on it (or even a response to my offer), this raises additional questions (including the development of urban mythology) to me.

We have tens of thousands of these combo jacks out in the real world and rarely have an issue with the jacks themselves. Almost always, it comes down to knock-off or counterfeit plugs, damage caused by knock-off or counterfeit plugs, or the cabinet took a fall and landed on the plug (usually breaking the connector and sometimes bending the jack plate itself).

The woofer cutting out with only the tweeter working is 100% NOT the speaker jack, so don't go bending things around and creating a new problem. This is the reason why PROPER troubleshooting is so important.

 

[bullgoose76]

So has there been a solution found to your priblem, and if so can you share it? Many of us are interested in the outcome.

Not yet. Might just chuck em in skip.

 

[Pep]

Not yet. Might just chuck em in skip.

Whatever the outcome, please share the solution. Right now it appears that the problems were caused by knock-off/counterfeit plugs. Trust me, you’re not the first to have had this happen with a knock-off connector and you won’t be the last.
I bought some off Amazon, but after reading the “horror” stories here at TB, I threw them away.
Also, if I’d bought any cables thst had knock-off/counterfeit connectors, they would be the first to hear from me about the damage they caused.