Speakon Vs. 1/4" Pros & Cons

[Zooberwerx]

Let's put this motion on the floor.

I move we be done here.
Is there a second?

I second the motion....and with a tip of the hat to Bob Lee and agedhorse for, once again, lending their collective expertise.

Riis

 

[cyclopathic]

No. As in "solid conductor 12g would have 4.1kHz, 14g would have 6.7kHz and 16g 11kHz limits."

at 100% skin depth for solid copper conductor

would you also like to discuss the hydrodynamic efficiency of the turtle carapace? of african or european tortoise?

 

[agedhorse]

I think Bob, Bill and I were trying to illustrate accuracy of the concept of "skin effect" for other folks who may have heard of it (in some marketing literature perhaps?) and might have been interested in what it is and especially what it isn't. From the number of PM's and e-mails I get from TB folks, there's plenty of guys here who really do want to learn and accurate information is indeed important to them.

 

[WalterBush]

they about load. In 14g are rated at 15amp, so in 4om load you can put 15x15x4=900w w/o heating/melting wires, ~1/2 over 16g..

Also at 900w load you also have losses about ~.8% over 6ft 14g, and ~.6% over 3ft 16g..

Uh, how are you getting these numbers? The math you're using doesn't make a lick of sense; 14 AWG wire is restricted to use in 15 amp circuits maximum by the NEC, and can legally handle 1800 watts (15a, 120v, 60 Hz) for the first 100'.

In practical terms, it can handle much higher loads (over 20a, provided there's space around it to allow it to cool); the limits placed on its use by the NEC are to prevent heat buildup in Romex, EMT, and other conduits. In a speaker cable, not bundled with other wires, and carrying less than 120v, you're going to be plugging your amp into a 30a outlet before you have to worry about melting a 14ga wire.

 

[tubesycl]

Does anybody know the difference between VTG speakons and Neutrik speakons? Is one better than the other?

 

[billfitzmaurice]

Does anybody know the difference between VTG speakons and Neutrik speakons? Is one better than the other?

Neutrik invented the Speakon, and it's of the highest quality. They're all I'll use, it's not like they're expensive.

 

[mrkreuzschlitz]

Speakons are far superior to a 1/4" any day, for any reason. It takes almost NO getting used to unplugging/plugging them in, and they're more secure. If you're worried about people knocking the cable out of your head going into your cab, make it shorter so it doesn't hit the ground.

For my power amp, I've got banana running to speakon (instead of 1/4"), and I'm a lot happier with the ease of use it has. It just feels beefier using the speakon. Not to mention, its so much easier making a speakon cable, especially on the fly. I had to repair a 1/4" speaker cable at a show, and its a pain to set up a soldering iron and solder in a dark venue.

 

[JimmyM]

the oinly skin effect i care about is the aging process and how my once pretty skin now looks like a sharpei

 

[xbrandonx]

Best part about speakon is telling the guitarist to stop being a cheapie and buy their own cables since yours won't work for them anymore.

 

[Jim C]

http://consumerist.com/2008/03/do-coat-hangers-sound-as-good-monster-cables.html
http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

Nice find Bill; that's the kind of audophile articles that kill the cable industry; the ones that are based in fact and real testing!

 

[Beefbass]

Let's put this motion on the floor.

I move we be done here.
Is there a second?

Here's a third.

 

[Thor]

Motion seconded and thirded and we are done before we
start another Tara Labs Cable Challenge Mega Thread.