Rant.. Neutrik Connectors Without 1/4” Connectivity

[seamonkey]

Also, I much prefer Powercon connectors for power. Works like a Speakon, can't be used interchangeably with speakon etc. I carry an IEC/Powercon adapter as well.

I cut all the cords off my power-tools and installed PowerCons
like: Neutrik PowerCON True1 Connectors and Quick-Change Power Tool Cords
(several other vids on youtube where people do this)
Tools fit in a drawer, box, or on the wall without all the cables hanging off them. Twist click and the power is connected and doesn't pull out.

 

[BurningSkies]

I cut all the cords off my power-tools and installed PowerCons
like: Neutrik PowerCON True1 Connectors and Quick-Change Power Tool Cords
(several other vids on youtube where people do this)
Tools fit in a drawer, box, or on the wall without all the cables hanging off them. Twist click and the power is connected and doesn't pull out.

Added benefit in our world and age: No one in another band will want to steal your power cord or mistake it for theirs.

***Bonus benefit: Sound engineers and stage hands recognize you're a gear nerd/on top of tech...lots of interesting conversations once people recognize stuff like that.

 

[Jefenator]

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.

Seems like this became a discussion on the merits of Speakon vs 1/4".
The OP does "get" that Speakon is technically preferable - almost everyone does.
This is not about wanting to avoid using Speakon - it is about wanting the courtesy of having options.
In that regard, I am with the OP. Maybe not enough to do a rant, not enough to boycott a unit that only has one type. But I do appreciate it when a unit offers both (and frown a little sometimes when it doesn't).
Just to be clear, 1/4" is my least favorite of the current common plug types, after Speakon and "banana". But not by a huge margin; it is quick and handy and I've had some of my most rapturous, large room filling tone nights with it. Since some of my favorite amps and cabs (and DIs) require 1/4", I will not be phasing it out in the foreseeable future.
(Actually the banana system is what's on its way out. As much as I enjoyed certain aspects of it, too little of my gear has it anymore, and two types of connector in my cable bag is plenty.)
If there were a poll, I would vote for: Speakon + 1/4".

 

[byacey]

Added benefit in our world and age: No one in another band will want to steal your power cord or mistake it for theirs.

***Bonus benefit: Sound engineers and stage hands recognize you're a gear nerd/on top of tech...lots of interesting conversations once people recognize stuff like that.

Except, if someone does steal your power cord, and you don't notice until 20 minutes before playing at the next job, you're dead in the water, plus it's more expensive to replace. Better have spares on hand.

 

[BurningSkies]

Except, if someone does steal your power cord, and you don't notice until 20 minutes before playing at the next job, you're dead in the water, plus it's more expensive to replace. Better have spares on hand.

-I always have redundancy. Everything from spare tubes to all cabes.
-I make my own cables...and you get what you pay for, so a powercon may be more to make but it's worth it, especially at a rate of 100 shows a year or so.

 

[monkeyland]

Seems like this became a discussion on the merits of Speakon vs 1/4".
The OP does "get" that Speakon is technically preferable - almost everyone does.
This is not about wanting to avoid using Speakon - it is about wanting the courtesy of having options.

and Agedhorse answered the question about why we can't have options as soon as he mentioned the problem about class D amps mostly being bridged and damage caused by the shorting that occurs with a 1/4 cable on those designs. Those designs are most of the market these days. Not really directing that at you specifically but it seems like most in this thread are ignoring that part, presumably because they are too busy yelling at clouds.

 

[seamonkey]

End to the threads about somebody inadvertently using an 1/4" instrument cable when they should have used a speaker cable.
This too can harm an amps.
No choice needed here - just use speakons.

 

[David Jayne]

and Agedhorse answered the question about why we can't have options as soon as he mentioned the problem about class D amps mostly being bridged and damage caused by the shorting that occurs with a 1/4 cable on those designs. Those designs are most of the market these days. Not really directing that at you specifically but it seems like most in this thread are ignoring that part, presumably because they are too busy yelling at clouds.

: D

 

[RJI777]

Man you had good mojo, that sure as hell wasn't my experience.

Good mojo?; perhaps; I certainly wouldn't dismiss it. However, there are another two reasons which might explain why our individual experiences were so different i.e.,

1/ Location: As I have mentioned, I'm a Scot and I live "north of the border". Things are different up here. Okay, it's ****ing cold, it rains a lot, etc., but there's good stuff too. I'm not sure what things are like where you are (South East England, right?) but, I guarantee you a cordial welcome and a pleasurable stay, should you decide to venture north of Carlisle to sample bass playing in Scotland. Perhaps, a change of venue would really make a difference;

2/ Cost: You see, what I didn't mention before was that my trouble free life as a bass player came at a cost. I'll not get into the details but, suffice to say, you will no doubt know the story about Robert Johnson's visit to the crossroads, right? Well, let's just say 1/ it ain't no "story" and 2/ it ain't no isolated case either; if you see what I mean ... at least, I thought it was a fair trade.

Okay, I'm being frivolous but the invitation is genuine.

 

[BassmanPaul]

Neither my old v4b or 810 have speakon connectors because they're from the 70's. I don't plan on modifying either of them, and I don't use one without the other. Easy...

And you shouldn't. Phone plugs are fine with service from a 100W amplifier.

 

[RJI777]

And you shouldn't. Phone plugs are fine with service from a 100W amplifier.

Just as they are for 150W amps, bought back in the day.

 

[BassmanPaul]

Just as they are for 150W amps, bought back in the day.

That's getting close to pushing it in my view.

 

[Bassdirty]

... As I have mentioned, I'm a Scot …..

My stepfather is as well.. although he spells it with two "T's": Scott.

 

[agedhorse]

Amps "back in the day" using simple ground referenced power amp topologies are quite different than amps 5X to 10X the power rating and using non-ground referenced power amp topologies.

Things change, things evolve and so do connectors.

 

[RJI777]

That's getting close to pushing it in my view.

I can't really comment, because I don't know. However, I do remember that the series of amps included a 150W and 300W version. The latter sounded crazy to me; I mean, why would you want a 300W amp? ~ a matter that still baffles me to this day ~ then again, I have long held the view that back lines have had their day. Anyhow, at the time, it was just as well, because I could only afford the 150W model.

 

[BassmanPaul]

Back in the day the 1/4" phone plug was all we had. Some amps had XLR style connectors as an improvement. My Sixties VOX AC50 had a two pin XLR for speaker connections. It's power was also an XLR but designed to carry AC mains. As safety became more of a concern the industry had to adapt and new connectors came into play.

As output power went up the deficiencies in the Phone plug became more and more of a problem. These included such fun stuff as molten plastic sockets.

 

[chupacerveza]

I worked at a major university for 22 years, the fire marshal would always get out the annotated IFC to remind people that every single rule in that book was associated with lives that were lost.

 

[frankie5string]

You could get a pretty nasty buzz from a 15 watt amp through its 1/4" jack. There are a few ways that very high current can "appear" on that plug/jack on older amps.

 

[walterw]

on my two LDS single 15 bass cabs i converted the jacks to two of the green combo jacks each, that way i could always have a way of connecting them if something went sideways.

that said they only ever get speakon cables in normal use