They're better, but they're not going to offer any concrete benefits to justify modding. When choosing a new cab? Sure, use that as a criteria.
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LOL Being an EE has it’s advantages. I don’t have to experience problems to know that the Phone plug is not suitable for high power speaker loads. I replaced them BEFORE they gave me any grief. "Sky is falling”? Who do you think I am? Chicken Little?
Look, I don’t want to get into a slanging match with you. You are content with Phone plugs. I never was. I hope you don’t live to regret that stance.
Eden- a reputable manufacturer- recommends using an alternative to 1/4" if available and yet. Mesa Boogie- another reputable manufacturer- uses 1/4" on their amp output.
I'm not stuck using anything, but 1/4" plugs worked successfully for 60 years so the OP would not have a problem using them now.
Read post #27. 60 years ago we didn’t have 500W and higher amplifiers! Come on over to the light, you won’t regret it.
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60 years ago Vox was hard pressed to get 100 watts out of an amp and they didn't even use 1/4".Read post #27. 60 years ago we didn’t have 500W and higher amplifiers! Come on over to light side, you won’t regret it.
True dat! My AC50 Foundation had XLR power and speaker connectors. I’ve never seen them since.
100% agreed. I'm not stuck using anything, either. I use them by choice. Even in my gear that has speakons, I still use 1/4". Works fine. I don't plug and unplug my gear when it's turned on, so no risk of electric shock to me, and the number of times I've had them come accidentally unplugged is 0. For monitors and cabs that are exposed to the crowd, sure, use speakons. My stuff is behind the stage and nobody messes with it but me.
And can we please stop this nonsense about 60 year old technology? Electric basses are 60 year old technology and we still use them, too!
These days I only use Neutrik cables.Read post #27. 60 years ago we didn’t have 500W and higher amplifiers! Come on over to the light, you won’t regret it.
In 1967 I also had XLR/Cannon plugs on my 50 watt Vox Foundation.
But my comments were re the OP who was posting about a 200 watt (or so) 210 cab not a 500 watt amp.
There's theory and there's practice.
In practice, 1/4 inch has served me and many others quite well at applications up to 350W. There is no return on investment or other justification for a theoretical upgrade when in practice the existing solution works just fine.
In practice, 1/4 inch has served me and many others quite well at applications up to 350W. There is no return on investment or other justification for a theoretical upgrade when in practice the existing solution works just fine.
Al Kraft
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I certainly cannot provide scientific proof of, let alone even subjectively hear, an audible difference between 1/4" and Speakon connections with equipment where there is an option. However, I am 100% sure that (especially in certain electrical conditions like higher voltage/power levels) I am better protected from electrical shock, have a larger contact area that provides some degree self cleaning, will have better reliability over time and not risk shorting an amp when using the Speakon instead of the 1/4".
Do I panic if I see a 1/4" connection on bass amp or a cab? Of course not! However, I'll take the better connector with no down side any day of the week, particularly when I don't have to fork over hundreds of dollars to get it. For the stuff that works fine with 1/4" I say use it. When the option is there to have an arguably better, more reliable connection at essentially the same cost, why try to talk yourself into less? YMMV...and apparently everyone's does!
Do I panic if I see a 1/4" connection on bass amp or a cab? Of course not! However, I'll take the better connector with no down side any day of the week, particularly when I don't have to fork over hundreds of dollars to get it. For the stuff that works fine with 1/4" I say use it. When the option is there to have an arguably better, more reliable connection at essentially the same cost, why try to talk yourself into less? YMMV...and apparently everyone's does!
I don't care about sound differences between 1/4" and Speakon. My considerations are practical. I make my own speaker cables out of Carol 14 or 16 ga. 2/C. A cable constructed with Neutrik connectors is dirt simple to build. A cable with 1/4" plug connectors - not so much. Additional benefits are the Speakon's cable clamping design, and the connector locking and non-shorting features.
The biggest problem for me is the fact that phone plugs short their tip and sleeve connections if partially unplugged. This is a bad thing for a working SS amplifier. It’s even worse for one working in bridge mono, where both amplifiers are shorted to each other.
In all honesty this subject has been done to death in previous threads over several years. Do a search if you disbelieve me.
In all honesty this subject has been done to death in previous threads over several years. Do a search if you disbelieve me.
That cabinet has to connect to an amplifier of some sort. THAT’S what is going to be damaged!
But we need this thread to go on and on and on and on
Why Jon? There’s none so blind as those who will not see!
