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Speaker cable
- Thread starter Jason Anschutz
- Start date
popgadget
Commercial User
- Sep 4, 2005
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- Authorized Greenboy Designs Builder, Scabbey Road
I would try and avoid the 1/4 Inch female, as I’m not aware of a decent one that will accept speaker rather than signal cable. Could you use a longer cable and connect to whatever your 1/4” cable was connected to at its other end?
- Feb 12, 2006
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- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Beware that on 1/4" connectors, the sleeve can become energized with many class D amps that operate internally in BTL mode.
This is why these connectors are not recommended.
This is why these connectors are not recommended.
I suppose one may exist, but even apart from the live case issue AH points out I've never seen a female in line .25 in socket that I would have much confidence in. If you are going to the trouble of getting cables made, are you sure you wouldn't be better off with a full length cable with a male jack? Or better yet getting a parallel whichever isn't there installed in the speaker cabinet so you can run standard cables? The trouble with custom adaptors is when some helpful fool breaks one for you...
- Feb 12, 2006
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- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Reliable in-line 1/4" TS and TRS connectors exist within the Switchcraft line, but not recommended for this use due to the barrel/shell being energized in BTL applications.
The ext. speaker lead from my Fender Rumble 500 combo requires a 1/4" from the Combo to a Speakon for the Fender Rumble 115 cab. It is one of these in the supplied pic. I assume you arent referring to these types as unsafe and are only referring to the female connector that the OP is asking about?
Some degree of care is required to use that cable safely.
The metal sleeve on the 1/4" connector is not is not a ground when the speakON is connected to an amp that operates in BTL mode.
I believe this is a simplified schematic of an amp that is operating in BTL mode.
Note A1 is non-inverting amp, and A2 is an inverting amp.
Here is an additional diagram to explain:
As you can see both outputs develop voltage, so the sleeve of the 1/4" jack will have voltage when the amp is making power.
Therefore, if the sleeve comes in contact with the metal case of the amp, it can cause a short that damages the output section. Also there is a potential shock hazard if you touch both the sleeve and ground.
To mitigate risk, turn the amp off while you are patching the cable. Some people also apply heat shrink around the sleeve, to provide an extra degree of safety in case of an accident or operator error.
Yep thanks Wasnex...always best to cable up any amp speaker combination with power off. Thanks for the input. It does make you wonder though if this is such an important issue why do companies like Fender make their amp jack connection like this. Couldnt they have put a Speakon on the Rumble Combo ext out as well as the Ext cab instead of the 1/4" in use?
popgadget
Commercial User
- Sep 4, 2005
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Neutrik makes nice ones that lock, but they wouldn’t work well with the gauge wire required for speaker use.
Has anyone add a speakon female connection to a combo amp speaker??
That would fix the problem! Speakon from amp to extension cabinet. Speakon from extension cabinet to the new speakon in the combo amp cabinet.
That would fix the problem! Speakon from amp to extension cabinet. Speakon from extension cabinet to the new speakon in the combo amp cabinet.
Try this. Give us some specifics. Even some pics would help. Tell us what you are going from (power), what you are going to (speaker), and why you think this is the best solution. With more specific information, the experts here can guide you down the best path to get where you're going.
I'll join the chorus of folks saying don't do it if it's at all avoidable...female in-line quarter-phones just aren't reliable enough and the hazards outweigh the advantages. As to having custom cables made, check with a local music store that has a repair department. Another option might be a local PA/sound reinforcement company, if there is such a thing in your area, but don't be offended if they're not too interested...it's difficult to charge enough money to make that sort of work worthwhile. Either way, expect to pay at least $20-25 for a well-made custom cable. Even at that seemingly exorbitant cost, no one would be making any money.
Adding a new parallel NL4 to a cab isn't a particularly formidable task, but again, if you can't DIY it would probably be kind of expensive to have it done right.
Adding a new parallel NL4 to a cab isn't a particularly formidable task, but again, if you can't DIY it would probably be kind of expensive to have it done right.
And presented without recommendation, here's what you've described, available at Sweetwater: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...VA9vACh1xfgrtEAQYAyABEgLHgPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Dang! I guess this would this be the case even with the more common speakon to 1/4” male connector speaker cables? Would it be the case if you used the amp’s 1/4” out to the speaker’s speakon input? Thank you for this valuable knowledge @agedhorse .
I have some cabinets that don’t have speakon connections, and some amps that don’t have 1/4” outs.
When you need a custom cable to bridge between Speakon and 1/4", a possible option is to buy a 1/4" speaker cable and a Speakon plug. Cut off the length you want, strip the ends and screw the Speakon on. No soldering required that way.
Since I use some amps with 1/4" and some with Speakon and several different cabs, I usually carry at least one of those Speakon to 1/4" cables with me, which has saved me on numerous occasions.
Since I use some amps with 1/4" and some with Speakon and several different cabs, I usually carry at least one of those Speakon to 1/4" cables with me, which has saved me on numerous occasions.
I looked at that site. They didn't have any speaker cable stuff of any kind in their on-line 'designer' tool, although it seems likely they do offer that kind of thing. What I did see was that the audio connectors they did show are of the very worst quality...not Switchcraft, not Neutrik, not anything but cheap imported knock-offs. That makes me suspicious of anything they do. Labor is typically the most expensive part of fabricating a custom cable; to try to save a dollar or two by using cheap parts is a false economy and a poor business practice, IMO. I would ignore those guys.
Edit: I used the on-line designer tool from that site to spec a 3' XLR-to-TRS quarter-phone, a fairly common adaptor configuration; the onesies price was $22.96. With incredibly cheapass connectors. Stay clear.
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- Apr 18, 2008
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I find these to be pretty handy: "Neutrik NA4LJX Speakon To 1/4" Mono Jack Adapter" from www.parts-express.com!
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