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Speakon cables and connectors

Discussion in 'Amps, Mics & Pickups [DB]' started by Bob Gollihur, Oct 1, 2001.

  1. Oct 1, 2001 #1
    Bob Gollihur

    Bob Gollihur GollihurMusic.com In Memoriam

    Mar 22, 2000
    Cape of New Jersey
    Big Cheese Emeritus: Gollihur Music (retired)
    Just a quick note to fellow AI and other amp/cab owners that use Speakon connectors. I had a hard time finding them a while back, especially for bridged connections, and so made my own. While they are more readily available now, they all seem to be mega-long and mega-expensive, and I've yet to see a commercially produced bridged amp cable.

    Recently I got some heavy speaker cable and connectors so I can build them for clients and others (recently sent ChrisF one for his Clarus), so if you need connectors, cable, or a custom made cable of a specific length, let me know.

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Oct 1, 2001 #2
    HeavyDuty

    HeavyDuty Supporting Curmudgeon Staff Member Gold Supporting Member

    Jun 26, 2000
    Central Texas
    Bob -

    You wouldn't have any Speakon chassis jacks around to measure, would you? I'd like to convert my G-K 400RB to speakons, but the back panel is kind of crowded, and I'm not sure if they'll fit where the 1/4" jacks were located. I don't have any other space to mount them that I can find.

    Also, someone mentioned to me that they've seen Speakons that still take a 1/4 plug in the center, which I can't see as being possible.

    Comments?
     
  3. Oct 1, 2001 #3
    Bob Gollihur

    Bob Gollihur GollihurMusic.com In Memoriam

    Mar 22, 2000
    Cape of New Jersey
    Big Cheese Emeritus: Gollihur Music (retired)
    There is no physical way I can think of to combine a Speakon and 1/4" - maybe they were thinking of the 1/4"/XLR combination jacks.

    Visit www.switchcraft.com and search on HPC, the line of Speakon connectors they have. There is a 5 page document in PDF format you can download and view/print, with technical drawings of the connectors so you can check the physical requirements.
     
  4. Oct 1, 2001 #4
    HeavyDuty

    HeavyDuty Supporting Curmudgeon Staff Member Gold Supporting Member

    Jun 26, 2000
    Central Texas
    Thanks, Bob.

    I had a feeling that he was wrong - the few times I've glanced at them, there seemed to be no way a 1/4" could be integrated into a Speakon.

    Unfortunately, Switchcraft's site seems to be down right now. And, I had a thought (I know, I should keep it because I may never have another) - if I mount one Speakon and leave one 1/4" jack on my G-K, I'll increase the versatility, and can still daisy-chain two 8 ohm cabs. I'm pretty sure I can cram one Speakon into my GK, put a pair would be a v-e-r-y tight fit.

    I'll wait until my new Bag End S15-D shows up, since I'm not 100% sure it has parallel Speakon input jacks. I could swear the one I tested did, but their website makes no mention of Speakons in this cab.
     
  5. Oct 22, 2001 #5
    Mike Goodbar

    Mike Goodbar

    Jun 6, 2001
    Charlotte, NC
    Why does AI use Speakon connectors? Do they provide better sound than the standard 1/4"?

    Bob, can you make Speakon-to-1/4 cables (for future reference, when I finally buy my Contra)?

    Thanks.
     
  6. Oct 22, 2001 #6
    Bob Gollihur

    Bob Gollihur GollihurMusic.com In Memoriam

    Mar 22, 2000
    Cape of New Jersey
    Big Cheese Emeritus: Gollihur Music (retired)
    Speakon connectors are the wave of the future for speaker connections. They have a laundry list of advantages over 1/4" jacks/plugs, and are becoming a requirement in European countries. I have been making custom cables for my Contra/Clarus customers and others, no problem.