Had this issue years back upgraded with speakon connectors and have used nothing but speakon cables for cabs since then
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- Jan 26, 2014
- 1,525
- 1,946
- Disclosures
- I teach lessons and perform live music in and around San Diego CA. Sometimes I even make money doing it!
I've never had a problem with 1/4" in over 20 years, but speakon is a worthwhile upgrade if it's a cab you intend to keep around. The only speaker connector that's ever failed me was... a banana plug. One of the wires came out of the crimp and it was really hard to see, I thought my old USA crown took a dump. It didn't, even though it was running with no load when the cable malfunctioned. I hard wired into the amp lugs after that. Still have the amp.
I wonder if there's any difference in sound between the neutrik and the 1/4" phone plug inputs. My guess is there is none. I challenge anyone to show evidence of a difference.
The power handling of DX210XLT reads as 350 watt (rms).
I think you don't want to push the cabinet with way more power than its rated number.
Speakon is superior vers 1/4" or banana in any case but, I'm not sure you'll really get out tons of benefits with speakon in this distinct situation.
get the combo SpeakONs, which allow you to plug in 1/4" as well
they're green:
but I'm not sure if they make them with that big flange on the back
There are two types of Neutrik combo connectors, with what they call horizontal and vertical terminals. Unfortunately, both are printed circuit board mount only. I did two different circuit boards for the vertical model. They accommodate up to 18ga stranded wire.
Details here: Technical - Amplifier | TalkBass.com
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Cabinet already has two 1/4" in parallel which I will retain, but thanks!get the combo SpeakONs, which allow you to plug in 1/4" as well
they're green:
but I'm not sure if they make them with that big flange on the back
Right. My gigs are pretty low volume so I don't push it too much. Plus I have a D112XLT that I can use in parallel if necessary. If I'm doing outdoor concerts there is usually a sound company which I take a direct out from my amp to the board and it's just for stage volume. Thanks
Beware of air leaks\whistles with unused connectors.
Hmmmm, might help me with Redding's dock of the bay... Pulling my plug off my spare speakon tonight.
I was about to give my point of view. But it's been already covered here
Monster 1\4" jack or regular
Dependant on the melting point of your solder maybe, if used in an insane application.
Seriously, no, and that is not disputed. Genuine neutrik speakons benefits are power capacity, locking and easy/field servicable. All three are sound connection when used in the proper application.
Much worse connections ship with 300 watt stereo speakers. Most never see more than 20 watts though.
I like Speakons just fine.
I really like the green combo connectors
and will use them on all future cabs.
Still, most of my gear is 1/4 inch.
I really like the green combo connectors
and will use them on all future cabs.
Still, most of my gear is 1/4 inch.
I think the original design intent for the connector that became the 1/4" Tip/Sleeve (in a slightly smaller size but not so much that it was easy to eyeball the difference) was for use in telephone switchboards. It had to be something that was reliable, and fast to use. It didn't need to be aligned before being plugged in.
Of course being used in switchboards, the design met Bell standards which mean it was much more rugged than most of what we see today. The plug has a screw-on connection that uses a special screwdriver with a spring loaded, recessing, center pin that helps hold the screw until you get it started in the thread.
We still have a few of those plug and jacks floating around at work. Still have at least one of the special screwdrivers. They are what is called the long frame design. The jacks are much deeper than what we usually see today. They even make 1/4" compatible jack versions that do mate with standard 1/4" plug, but are built like tanks. If you have the room it would be the way to go if 1/4" was your only choice. They were never designed to carry much current though. Just battery and ring voltage/currents for analog phone systems.
Of course being used in switchboards, the design met Bell standards which mean it was much more rugged than most of what we see today. The plug has a screw-on connection that uses a special screwdriver with a spring loaded, recessing, center pin that helps hold the screw until you get it started in the thread.
We still have a few of those plug and jacks floating around at work. Still have at least one of the special screwdrivers. They are what is called the long frame design. The jacks are much deeper than what we usually see today. They even make 1/4" compatible jack versions that do mate with standard 1/4" plug, but are built like tanks. If you have the room it would be the way to go if 1/4" was your only choice. They were never designed to carry much current though. Just battery and ring voltage/currents for analog phone systems.
Which is why people are CONSTANTLY having problems with their 1/4 inch plugs/jacks and complaining about it here. Oh wait...
Seriously, unless you're pushing probably more than a fairly continuous 500w, or have some reason why your cab may commonly get unplugged, 1/4" is completely fine. You may want to BUY a new cab with a speakon jack and use that, but to mod an existing cab, as I said above, is a pointless waste of money and time. If your amp only had a speakon output, maybe then it would make sense.
And I’m afraid that I have to disagree! As soon as I purchased an amp that had SpeakOns I went whole hog and replaced at least one phone jack on every cabinet I own in cluing my vocal monitors. I do not use phone plugs on any of my speaker cables.
If you want to stick with Phone plugs more power to you. I hope that you never lose a valuable amplifier from a jack partly pulled out and shorting. Especially an amp in bridge mode!
Just because you made pointless mods doesn't really prove anything. Did you actually experience any problems with 1/4 that caused you to do that, or did you just read some "sky is falling" nonsense from someone like yourself that drove you to do it preemptively? If it was really that big a deal, we'd be hearing of these problems all the time, and you never hear about any of them.
Everyone who claims 1/4" connectors are just fine or just as good as SpeakON are stuck using those 1/4" phone plugs, or aren't bothered changing them.
The truth is SpeakON is better, and not just for the handling of high power.
The truth is SpeakON is better, and not just for the handling of high power.
