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Speakon issues...

1bassplayinfool

1bassplayinfool

-Nowhere Man-
Feb 16, 2003
3,206
6,051
Land of fruits and nuts
#1
I recently purchased a new GK Fusion S 800 amp and had to get a Neutrik NL2 cable to hook it it up to my Subway 215 cab. My TT-800 works fine with a Neutrik NL4 and hooks right up to the Mesa cab.
The NL2 will not lock into the cab for some reason. Should I just make new cables, or get compatible chassis mount speakons for the cab? Thanks in advance...
 
#2
AFAIK NL2 plugs should work fine in NL4 jacks. But I believe you can't use NL4 plugs with NL2 jacks. If I understand your problem, you should fine as long as all of your connectors are genuine Neutrik.

Non-Neutrik connectors tends to have a lot of problems. Does you NL2 cable have cable have genuine Neutrik connectors?

I believe both the amp and cab have NL4 jacks but only two conductors are used. So an NL4 or NL2 cable should work.

Actually I believe the cab uses the speakON Combo connector which is only wired for pins 1+, 1- but accepts NL4, NL2, and 1/4". https://www.neutrik.com/en/neutrik/...tors/speakon-chassis-connectors/speakon-combo
 
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#3
The cabinet uses SpeakOn Combi-con style jacks.

They are fully compatible with SpeakOn plugs (either NL-3m2 or NL-4) wired 1+/1- which is standard wiring.

We have seen a fair number of non-Neutrik plugs with reliability problems. They can be non-branded, knock-offs or counterfeit plugs but in general they are problematic. We see very few problems with the genuine Neutrik SpeakOn plugs.

Do not change the jacks on your cabinet, they are fine.
 
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#6
1bassplayinfool said:
I recently purchased a new GK Fusion S 800 amp and had to get a Neutrik NL2 cable to hook it it up to my Subway 215 cab. My TT-800 works fine with a Neutrik NL4 and hooks right up to the Mesa cab.
The NL2 will not lock into the cab for some reason. Should I just make new cables, or get compatible chassis mount speakons for the cab? Thanks in advance...
Click to expand...

Where did you buy your Neutrik NL2 cable from? can you just return it for a replacement?
 
#9
1bassplayinfool said:
I'm sure they are genuine Neutrik connectors.
Click to expand...
Not to cast aspersions, but how are you sure of this? I haven't seen them in person, but I have seen photographic evidence of some pretty convincing counterfeits -- not cheap knockoffs, but actual counterfeits, with authentic-looking Neutrik branding.

Since you know how to disassemble and reassemble NL4s, maybe check that all the terminal set screws are fully tightened. (Posi-drive screw heads!) While you're there, it would be easy enough to make a visual confirmation that both ends are properly wired to the Pair-1 terminals. And building your own cables is always a good way to go, IMHO.
 
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#14
Kendescending said:
It could be a defective jack(s) on the GK. Are they Neutrik brand? I've seen issues with off brand name Neutrik speakon cables and receptacles.
Click to expand...

Brand new amp... NL2 cable works fine on this end. NL2 just won't lock into my speaker cabinet. NL4 works fine on the cab.

20210321_222043.jpg
 
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#18
1bassplayinfool said:
Brand new amp... NL2 cable works fine on this end. NL2 just won't lock into my speaker cabinet. NL4 works fine on the cab.

View attachment 4223156
Click to expand...

AFAIK there is no need to use an NL2 with either piece of gear, although I believe the NL2 should work.

The page I linked for you above says, "The speakON Combo mates with all 2- and 4-pole speakON cable connectors and 1/4" jack plugs utilizing 2 contacts." So unless Mesa is using a different jack, it should work fine as as all of the cables are using authentic Neutrik parts that are in good condition.

From what I understand, a big problem with the knockoff cables is manufacturing tolerances are often not tight enough, and the metal parts are prone to deforming because the materials are not the same as genuine parts. Buying a known brand is not necessarily a guarantee that you do not have a knockoff.
 
#20
Wasnex said:
AFAIK there is no need to use an NL2 with either piece of gear, although I believe the NL2 should work.

The page I linked for you above says, "The speakON Combo mates with all 2- and 4-pole speakON cable connectors and 1/4" jack plugs utilizing 2 contacts." So unless Mesa is using a different jack, it should work fine as as all of the cables are using authentic Neutrik parts that are in good condition.

From what I understand, a big problem with the knockoff cables is manufacturing tolerances are often not tight enough, and the metal parts are prone to deforming because the materials are not the same as genuine parts. Buying a known brand is not necessarily a guarantee that you do not have a knockoff.
Click to expand...

The GK will not accept a NL4, only NL2. They are "keyed" differently.

nl2.png nl4.png
 

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