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Neutrik Speakon Rant-on

Don Kasper

Don Kasper

Gold Supporting Member
Dec 30, 2012
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Los Angeles/Burbank, CA
#1
Full Disclosure : I Am Not A Professional Electronics Tech (,,,but I do have a history of reliable & proven DIY fabrication skills.)
So, I offered to make up a couple of back-up speaker cables for a friend - Neutrik 2-pole speaker cables, using some 12ga. speaker cable that I had leftover from a previous project.
The "old" Neutrik connectors (#NL2FC) have been replaced by a "NEW" Neutrik connector (#NL2FXX-W-S).
Well, the good folks at Neutrik decided to make it (nearly) impossible for a DIY build, as they now require the purchase of 2 proprietary "tools" to assemble the connector....(I figured out a way to bypass this ridiculous requirement - I used my HANDS!)
And, in order to attach the two wires inside the connector, they have chosen to utilize a Torx T8 screw head to secure each wire...they used a good ol" Phillips screw head on the old connector. (I now own a Torx T8 screwdriver, FYI.)
It seems the Neutriksters thought it would be fun to make it as difficult as possible to make your own speaker cables.
Boy, Ol' Timmy Chalumet (sp) was right - "The Times They Are A Changin' ".
Also, too - If Mr. Neutrik is found murdered/stabbed with a Torx T8 screwdriver thru his evil skull, you'll know who did it (and who to thank.)
Sheesh.
Thx.
 
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#2
The old ones actually used a Pozidriv head, not a Phillips. But many many people just ignored that, including myself when necesssary. ;)

I haven’t had occasion to enjoy the new format yet, but surely anticipate that with bated breath!
 
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#3
As an experienced DIY cable maker, I think it’s a good thing. Phillips screws are notorious for having the screw driver slip, and it’s very common for people to use the wrong sized screwdriver for the screw (i.e. a #1 driver for a #2 screw).

By comparison, the Torx, being a socket, won’t slip nearly as easily with pressure, and it’s virtually impossible to use the wrong-sized driver.

BTW, little tip for connectors like the Speakons and others (like Edison electrical) which use stranded wire: After a year or so, check the connection. You’ll probably find that the screw terminal will tighten an additional 1/4 turn or so. Something about stranded wire, it tends go “crush down” over time with the initial application, and eventually leave the connection less than 100% tight.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

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#5
WayneP said:
As an experienced DIY cable maker, I think it’s a good thing. Phillips screws are notorious for having the screw driver slip, and it’s very common for people to use the wrong sized screwdriver for the screw (i.e. a #1 driver for a #2 screw).

By comparison, the Torx, being a socket, won’t slip nearly as easily with pressure, and it’s virtually impossible to use the wrong-sized driver.

BTW, little tip for connectors like the Speakons and others (like Edison electrical) which use stranded wire: After a year or so, check the connection. You’ll probably find that the screw terminal will tighten an additional 1/4 turn or so. Something about stranded wire, it tends go “crush down” over time with the initial application, and eventually leave the connection less than 100% tight.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Official Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Official Heartfield Club #36
Administrator, Official Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Official Pre-Gibson Tobias Owners Club
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide
Click to expand...
Never tin the stranded wire, the connections will loosen as the solder cold flows under pressure. There's a warning about it deep within the Neutrik OEM paperwork.
 
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#8
Don Kasper said:
I've not found that to be the case on a couple of + 15yr. old speaker cables (Did It Myself) with Neutriks.
Thanks for your interest, expertise(!) and civility. I appreciate all 3.
Srsly.
Click to expand...
Tinning the wire is the number one cause of loose connections in SpeakOn plugs, probably 90% or more. There were a few Asian vendors that made budget cables for the large chain stores and resellers, they started out tinning and a whole lot came loose causing a bunch of warranty claims of "bad amps" and "bad speakers". In most cases it was bad cables, and between knock-off plugs and improper assembly it was (and still is in some regards) a nightmare.

Rule number one when assembling SpeakOns is to NEVER tin the wires.

This is true of all pressure type connections, solder flows like plastic under pressure.
 
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#9
agedhorse said:
Tinning the wire is the number one cause of loose connections in SpeakOn plugs, probably 90% or more. There were a few Asian vendors that made budget cables for the large chain stores and resellers, they started out tinning and a whole lot came loose causing a bunch of warranty claims of "bad amps" and "bad speakers". In most cases it was bad cables, and between knock-off plugs and improper assembly it was (and still is in some regards) a nightmare.

Rule number one when assembling SpeakOns is to NEVER tin the wires.

This is true of all pressure type connections, solder flows like plastic under pressure.
Click to expand...
OK, thanks.
I promise to let you (all) know if I experience that type of failure.
Thanks, again.
 
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#10
agedhorse said:
Tinning the wire is the number one cause of loose connections in SpeakOn plugs, probably 90% or more. There were a few Asian vendors that made budget cables for the large chain stores and resellers, they started out tinning and a whole lot came loose causing a bunch of warranty claims of "bad amps" and "bad speakers". In most cases it was bad cables, and between knock-off plugs and improper assembly it was (and still is in some regards) a nightmare.

Rule number one when assembling SpeakOns is to NEVER tin the wires.

This is true of all pressure type connections, solder flows like plastic under pressure.
Click to expand...
Solid advice. I had a cable with tinned ends - no matter how hard I tightened them, they would eventually loosen up and slip out. I cut off the tinned bits and the connections are still solid - though as mentioned above I do check the connections every year or so
 
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#12
SpyderX said:
Solid advice. I had a cable with tinned ends - no matter how hard I tightened them, they would eventually loosen up and slip out. I cut off the tinned bits and the connections are still solid - though as mentioned above I do check the connections every year or so
Click to expand...

Yep...they're engineered to accommodate stranded wire solely as the binding posts are designed to clamp, splay, and deform same. Anecdotally, the largest gauge I can squeeze comfortably is 13 g...strange size which I purchased via PartsExpress (Dayton in-house brand?).

Riis
 
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#13
96tbird said:
“Proven DIY skills” and you didn’t own a Torx set already? MmmK. I kid I kid. Good to know now we should carry another driver. Thanks a lot Neutrik.
Click to expand...
FYI - I DO own a set of Torx's....The smallest I had was a T9...I needed a T8. (Grrrrrrrrrr!!!!)
The DIY gods were angry today, my friends.
Thanks.
 
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#17
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#19
A Torx fastener is a huge improvement over the old Posidriv screwheads, IMO. If you do much of any electronic work these days, you're going to find additional need for a T-8 driver. I still have a fair number of 1.5mm hex drivers I acquired for the original NL4 connectors.

And yeah, do NOT tin the wires for NL-series, or any other compression-type connectors.
 
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#20
Don Kasper said:
FYI - I DO own a set of Torx's....The smallest I had was a T9...I needed a T8. (Grrrrrrrrrr!!!!)
The DIY gods were angry today, my friends.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Don Kasper said:
FYI - I DO own a set of Torx's....The smallest I had was a T9...I needed a T8. (Grrrrrrrrrr!!!!)
The DIY gods were angry today, my friends.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Blessed are the DIY projects that let me shop for a new tool! :)
 
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