• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Making my own speaker cable (amp to cab).

ninjatanzen

ninjatanzen

Mar 4, 2011
244
397
#1
Long story short, I'm finally ready to toss any speakON to 1/4" speaker cables I have lying around and go speakON to speakON (for primary use, and backup cables).

Looking at a pre-built 3' 12 AWG cable with Neutrik speakON connectors is roughly $41 and up. My plan is to instead build my own cables using Mogami W3103 12 AWG cable at $4.29/ft with Neutrik NL2FXX-W-S FXX connectors on both ends ($4.25 ea). This puts a 3' cable at about $21.37. The Mogami cables list as 12mm diameter for the jacket, and the connectors say 6-12 mm is accepted.

Am I missing any details here, or am I good to go? Half the price seems too good to be true, but then again a company assembling a cable needs to make profit/there are those where convenience is worth the extra cost.
 
#2
You don't need 12 ga., 14 is plenty and the heavier weight of the 12 ga. cables will put more stress on the connection. DO NOT Tin your wires. The new Brown connector plugs may have issues with "Combo" jacks (see thread below).
B

Thread 'Loose connections on mesa subway cabs'

Can anyone help or shed some light, I’ve got 4 mesa subway cabs and the speakon connections are really bad no matter how much I spend on fancy cables, I’ve tried keyed, non keyed all genuine neutrik cables spent a small fortune, but when I plug in the connections are loose so a slight wiggle or movement and the connection is gone to the cab, the amp connection is solid. 😫
 
  • Like
Reactions: ninjatanzen and Aloe
#3
WRM said:
You don't need 12 ga., 14 is plenty and the heavier weight of the 12 ga. cables will put more stress on the connection. DO NOT Tin your wires. The new Brown connector plugs may have issues with "Combo" jacks (see thread below).
B

Thread 'Loose connections on mesa subway cabs'

Can anyone help or shed some light, I’ve got 4 mesa subway cabs and the speakon connections are really bad no matter how much I spend on fancy cables, I’ve tried keyed, non keyed all genuine neutrik cables spent a small fortune, but when I plug in the connections are loose so a slight wiggle or movement and the connection is gone to the cab, the amp connection is solid. 😫
Click to expand...

I did read that thread as it progressed, and am keeping that in mind. I will try looking for the older blue connector instead, as well as 14 ga wire. No tinning of the wires, as I believe I read that won't crush and hold over time in the connectors used in these speakON crimp ends. One less step I need to take, no problem! :laugh:

Thanks for the input! My RB1001 and new used cab won't be here for a bit, so I still have some time to find the right parts.
 
  • Like
Reactions: five7 and WRM
#5
brianrost said:
Unless you’re worried about your old cables failing, just get rid of the 1/4” plug and replace with a Speakon. That will save you some more money.
Click to expand...
That's a great point too. My old cables are in good condition with no signs of abuse or wear. This is likely the route I will start with. I may make a new cable for backup, but converting my old cables first is a wonderful idea. Thanks!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Doctor Morbius
#6
ninjatanzen said:
Long story short, I'm finally ready to toss any speakON to 1/4" speaker cables I have lying around and go speakON to speakON (for primary use, and backup cables).

Looking at a pre-built 3' 12 AWG cable with Neutrik speakON connectors is roughly $41 and up. My plan is to instead build my own cables using Mogami W3103 12 AWG cable at $4.29/ft with Neutrik NL2FXX-W-S FXX connectors on both ends ($4.25 ea). This puts a 3' cable at about $21.37. The Mogami cables list as 12mm diameter for the jacket, and the connectors say 6-12 mm is accepted.

Am I missing any details here, or am I good to go? Half the price seems too good to be true, but then again a company assembling a cable needs to make profit/there are those where convenience is worth the extra cost.
Click to expand...
No need to spend $4.29 a ft., IME this will work perfectly: Audtek 1 ft. 13 AWG 2-Conductor OFC Portable Speaker Cable
 
  • Like
Reactions: ninjatanzen
#7
Passinwind said:
No need to spend $4.29 a ft., IME this will work perfectly: Audtek 1 ft. 13 AWG 2-Conductor OFC Portable Speaker Cable
Click to expand...
That's the site I would have been purchasing from anyway. With the decrease in price of cable, it'll help offset what looks like an increase in price of the blue vs brown Neutrik speakON connectors. Given, I am still looking around. I recently spoke about not particularly caring for the price of Mogami, so this is a great suggestion. The main difference I see between your linked suggestion and the W3103 (other than gauge/price) is the Mogami seems to have an additional material in the sheath. I'm not sure if that's for durability or what, but I'm totally fine foregoing the extra cost. The cable is going to be a short run from head to cab, I don't think I need the additional material in the Mogami.

Much appreciated!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Passinwind
#8
ninjatanzen said:
That's the site I would have been purchasing from anyway. With the decrease in price of cable, it'll help offset what looks like an increase in price of the blue vs brown Neutrik speakON connectors. Given, I am still looking around. I recently spoke about not particularly caring for the price of Mogami, so this is a great suggestion. The main difference I see between your linked suggestion and the W3103 (other than gauge/price) is the Mogami seems to have an additional material in the sheath. I'm not sure if that's for durability or what, but I'm totally fine foregoing the extra cost. The cable is going to be a short run from head to cab, I don't think I need the additional material in the Mogami.

Much appreciated!
Click to expand...
Parts Express used to brand that same cable as Dayton, one of their long standing house brands monikers. I have several DIY Speakon-Speakon cable builds that have held up perfectly for well over 25 years, FWIW.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WRM, retslock and ninjatanzen
#9
ninjatanzen said:
Long story short, I'm finally ready to toss any speakON to 1/4" speaker cables I have lying around and go speakON to speakON (for primary use, and backup cables).

Looking at a pre-built 3' 12 AWG cable with Neutrik speakON connectors is roughly $41 and up. My plan is to instead build my own cables using Mogami W3103 12 AWG cable at $4.29/ft with Neutrik NL2FXX-W-S FXX connectors on both ends ($4.25 ea). This puts a 3' cable at about $21.37. The Mogami cables list as 12mm diameter for the jacket, and the connectors say 6-12 mm is accepted.

Am I missing any details here, or am I good to go? Half the price seems too good to be true, but then again a company assembling a cable needs to make profit/there are those where convenience is worth the extra cost.
Click to expand...
FYI - In case you didn't know, for the NEW Neutrik connector #NL2FXX-W-S, assembly, you'll need a Torx T8 driver to tighten the leads to the connector insides. I just made a pair of Neutrik speaker cables for a friend, using the New Neutriks.
(My apologies if you knew this already.)
Good Luck and Good Cabling. It's refreshing to hear of folks still in the DIY World of Analog Wonders.
IMFO, of course.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ninjatanzen
#10
Don Kasper said:
FYI - In case you didn't know, for the NEW Neutrik connector #NL2FXX-W-S, assembly, you'll need a Torx T8 driver to tighten the leads to the connector insides. I just made a pair of Neutrik speaker cables for a friend, using the New Neutriks.
(My apologies if you knew this already.)
Good Luck and Good Cabling. It's refreshing to hear of folks still in the DIY World of Analog Wonders.
IMFO, of course.
Click to expand...
I actually didn't know they were Torx, but I do have plenty of tools around thankfully. Many years of fiddling with various things and I probably have more tools than I need... yet there's always more that I want. I will take a Torx over phillips/flat head any day!

Now that makes me wonder if there are Torx pickup screws, or ones that would fit. Probably so, even if not marketed as such. I would just need the right length and thread. I'm going through my beaten up Warwick a bit more currently, and the screws in there are not great. Stripped heads, rusty, and there's a white powder on the screws and pickups (once removed). As it was a used bass, I'm really hoping it's something innocuous. Gloves and mask to clean it up just in case.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Don Kasper
#12
Bob_Ross said:
Make sure the Mogami 12 gauge cable is actually available in 1 foot increments. Lots of vendors will give you a price per foot for bulk cable, but they have a minimum put-up that they will sell you… And sometimes that minimum is 100 feet, and sometimes it is 1000 feet or more!
Click to expand...
Based on reviews it didn't seem so from parts-express, BUT that is a great consideration before purchase. At this point (with the helpful feedback of everyone here) I am likely starting by re-purposing old cables with new speakON ends where needed. For the fully new cables, I will be going with the 13 ga Audtek linked by Passinwind.

Thanks for adding your input. Minimum order quantity (amount or length) has definitely tripped me up before.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bob_Ross

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back