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Ok, well I'll just keep using my problem free 1/4" cables on cabs/amps that have them, and unfortunately not worrying about nonsense that is about as likely as getting struck by lightening. But you guys go ahead and pat yourselves on the back for being super cautious and spending time and money modding cabs. I'll drink a beer in your honor with the money I save.
Well you have to understand the Engineer mindset. As a technician (not even a baby engineer, but without any credentials) I get what BassmanPaul is saying.
Engineers and techs are often of a mindset that we must consider the failure points of something and take preemptive measures to ward off that failure.
It is a constant battle with management about making something as good as it can be vs making it as cost effective as it can be. So I get your point as well.
Here...
I must admit, when speakons were first introducted I resisted changing over. I had to spend a bit of time learning how to use them. 1/4" plugs are a lot simpler to deal with but you do have to get them into the right jack. You don't want to plug your cab into the preliminary amp out instead of the speaker out. I found that getting speakons in isn't that bad, align, push and click, but unlocking them proved to be more of a challenge. Eventully you figure it out and find that the new technology isn't that bad.
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To add: surprisingly a SpeakOn plug is not all that much more expensive than a good quality Phone plug! 
@Omega Monkey people get stuck by lightning every day! Sad but true!
@Omega Monkey people get stuck by lightning every day! Sad but true!
@Omega Monkey people get stuck by lightning every day! Sad but true!
That must be why I can't get out of bed in the morning after an overnight thunderstorm?
As sad and true as that may be, somehow I got the impression he was referring to the astronomically low odds of an occurrence.
You are almost literally right. About 500 per year in the US according to NOAA, with about a 10% fatality rate (about 50 people, or roughly 1 a week). Out of a country of 300 million. Which means you have about a .000008% chance of it happening to you.
I don't know about you, but I don't walk around in a rubber suit all the time with that knowledge in mind.
I don't know about you, but I don't walk around in a rubber suit all the time with that knowledge in mind.
I'm about to go out in weather that's been alternately clear and thunderstorming all week. Hope I make it...I don't have a rubber suit
Well Omega, don't wear your rubber suit at all in a lightning storm, because it won't protect you from lightning, and we don't want to see you having an electrical injury combined with rubber melted into most of your skin.
Lightning do what lightning wants to do.
It laughs at rubber suits.
As long as there is no signal running through an amplifiers output it was even possible to shorten the output terminals without any harm to the amplifier.
If there is no signal respectively voltage present at the output terminals (+) versus (-) there is no way to draw any current even if there was a short. Some noise floor is of no concerne in this regard.
Did this method countless times in practice just to plug and unplug cabs with 1/4" connecters.
If there is no signal respectively voltage present at the output terminals (+) versus (-) there is no way to draw any current even if there was a short. Some noise floor is of no concerne in this regard.
Did this method countless times in practice just to plug and unplug cabs with 1/4" connecters.
I'm about to go out in weather that's been alternately clear and thunderstorming all week. Hope I make it...I don't have a rubber suit
Be safe Jimmy!
Practice safe walking.
I would still turn it off. I don't doubt you, but a bit safer. For hot plugging it with no signal, I'd go quickly. ThisBass is no dummy and does not tell lies or misinformation.
BTW: We've moved onto lightning strike, please stay on topic! (I am joking and hope that does not translate into an insulting remark!)
Pidgin toed is safest. More stable. You'll look cool too Jimmy!Be safe Jimmy!
Practice safe walking.
I drove.Be safe Jimmy!
Practice safe walking.
Well that goes without saying! I was actually born pigeon toed and had to wear casts on my feet when I was a baby.
I ax you if speakons are so much better how come my favorite sounding stuff is all 1/4"? Huh? HUH???
That flawless logic aside since I made the several tens of dollars investment in variously configured cables I give a much larger **** about getting hit by lightening than I do about the shape of the speaker cable hole.
That flawless logic aside since I made the several tens of dollars investment in variously configured cables I give a much larger **** about getting hit by lightening than I do about the shape of the speaker cable hole.
There is a combination Speakon/1/4" jack that Barefaced uses on it's cabs. I've found it very handy.
