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Rant.. Neutrik Connectors Without 1/4” Connectivity

57pbass

57pbass

Supporting Member
Aug 1, 2004
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Bayside, New York
#1
It seems like there’s a transition taking place in the amp/speaker market with regards to the types of connectors that are being used. It seems like many are moving away from the 1/4” type and using Neutrik types. This is a great thing. Some of the Neutriks I have experienced accept a 1/4” jack and some unfortunately don’t.. which aggravates me.
This should be a standard on amps and cabs with so many mixing old and new gear.
Really frustrating. I know there are adapters available.
 
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#2
The 1/4" Phone plug was originally designed and spec'd for use in Telephone switchboards. It's rating is in the order of 48V DC at a couple of hundred milliamps. With the advent of more and more amplifiers with greater than a couple of hundred Wacts it is way beyond it's capabilities. When withdrawn from the socket the tip and sleeve are momentarily shorted. If accidentally pulled out, we know how clumsy singers and drummers are LOL, this can damage SS amps fairly readily. Especially with amps that are permanently in Bridge mode. When used with such amps the tip AND sleeve are live with respect to ground and twice that to each other. This can become a significant shock hazard. Drape a microphone over the amp so it contacts the sleeve sticking out of your amp or cabinet and goodbye bass amp.

For all these reasons I switched to SpeakOns years ago for all my bass and PA amplifiers. It's just a matter of changing one's mindset. :)

One last thing is that SpeakOns don't allow you to confuse speaker and signal cables.
 
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#3
57pbass said:
It seems like there’s a transition taking place in the amp/speaker market with regards to the types of connectors that are being used. It seems like many are moving away from the 1/4” type and using Neutrik types. Their is a great thing. Some of the Neutriks I have experienced accept a 1/4” jack. This should be a standard on amps and cabs with so many mixing old and new gear.
Really frustrating. I know there are adapters available.
Click to expand...

I have no use for the Speak-On connectors on amps, so if they don't offer a 1/4" option such as the connectors that accommodate both then I simply forgo the amp.

Of course I'm talking regular bass amps here, not 2000w power amp installations for PA or whatever. I realize some will say it's a safety "feature" or that its mandated by law in some jurisdictions. Doesn't matter to me. If I'm worried about disconnections that's why God gave us duct tape.

Locking 1/4" is a good middle-ground solution? I've seen cabs with those. I'm not a fan, but far preferable to Speak-On for me.

Can't stand strap locks either. Have had basses fall due to strap lock failure, but never once with a simple rubber washer over the end of the strap... and I rock out when I perform, even if it's pop or reggae.
 
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#5
StayLow said:
Can't stand strap locks either. Have had basses fall due to strap lock failure, but never once with a simple rubber washer over the end of the strap... and I rock out when I perform, even if it's pop or reggae.
Click to expand...

With strap locks you have to check the tightness of the centre screw every so often. Just like you should with regular strap buttons.
 
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#6
Don't use an adapter, get a proper SpeakON end on your speaker wire.

Those SpeakON/1/4" jacks/sockets are called Combo connectors & they're a different pigment than the non-combo ones:

2065-speakon-combo.png


The combination ones were used for a while, for people transitioning, but I suppose now some manufacturers think that everyone had enough time to transition.
 
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#8
Dude, I did HVAC for a long time (Dad was an HVAC contractor so I grew up in it) and I got no use for duct tape. It's awful stuff, doesn't really work well for duct work and even less well for anything else.

Now real gaffers' tape is different.

Back to the topic. The 1/4" phone jack/plug was a reasonable choice back in the 20th century when this amplification thing started. But the problems clearly detailed above make Speakons simply a better choice,and the electrical safety issues cause the manufacturers to use them. Regulatory rules in some locations demand them, consumer safety rating companies, e. g. Underwriters' Laboratory (UL), CSA, etc. drive the use.
 
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#12
For the Elf it was the best way to fit a connector on that tiny chassis, SpeakON would have gone over the edges.

If people are swerving SpeakON they're just creating a problem for themselves & being far too traditionalist.
It's the same reason we're still not using the Metric System very much in the U.S..

i.e.: there's something better, but people refuse to use it for almost zero reason
 
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#15
This is a normal feeling when transitioning plug connections on any wired system. (ie USB, lightning cable, S-Video, HDMI, etc.)

It’s frustrating for the consumer but eventually the manufacturers need to take the leap instead of half-arsing it, so to speak. I think SpeakONs have been fairly standard for a while now. Maybe 10 years? I would say people have had their chance to make the transition by now.
 
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#17
For those building higher powered amps for the international market, SpeakOn is by far the most universal choice for safety regulation compliance. It's also short circuit proof and locking which reduces the chance of failure when a 1/4" speaker plug gets pulled out, this is of additional concern to companies that offer long warranties.

There's also the issue of the tip or sleeve of a 1/4" plug accidentally contacting any grounded object, since neither the tip or sleeve are at ground potential in a bridged topology amp (most class D amps are internally bridged) and this could damage the amp. Also, on the higher powered amps, you can get a good jolt when holding the plug when there's a signal present. I have designed amps that swing over 150 volts peak which most folks would find very objectionable.

Then there's the current... at 2 ohms especially, it's not uncommon to find peak currents (at least in the amps I have designed) of 25 amps. This is enough current to exceed the allowable current density at a 1/4" connector. This comes up in safety compliance because this can result in heating of the contacts and arcing with the potential for fire. Not a big issue in smaller amps, but becomes significant as the power of the amp grows. This is the specific reason why I don't use the combination connectors.

If somebody won't consider an amp without SpeakOns, than there are many amps that must be crossed off their list... and the list will grow more once the new global safety regulations come into effect at the end of this year. Since I won't consider designing an amp without SpeakOns, they might as well cross the Subway line off the list and I won't be offended in the slightest.
 
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