using speakon and 1/4" at the same time?

[rhombass]

so, after reading up on speakon, i decided to make the switch. however, the music store i went to only had one cable left so i bought that one and ordered another through them, which should be arriving in a few days. so i run two cabs and my plan is to daisy chain them with the new speakons once the second one arrives, untill then i thought it would be ok to run one speakon and one 1/4" from the back of my head into each cab, but when i set this up, the amp made no noise whatsoever. so this probably isn't a good thing and i'm not planning on doing it again, i just want to know why i can't use both a speakon and a 1/4" speaker cable at the same time, and i'd also like to know if i may have done any damage to my equipment by trying this in the first place. any ideas?

 

[bongomania]

I don't think you'll have done any damage. To clarify, did you plug each of the cables into separate jacks on the amp, or did you run one cable from the amp to cab A and then a cable from cab A to cab B?

And have you tested the amp with each cable separately, into one cab?

 

[rhombass]

i ran both cables from the head, speakon to cab A and 1/4" to cab B. I have tested each cable independently and they work fine on their own. would it make a difference to run in this order? head, speakon, cab A, 1/4", cab B.

 

[bongomania]

Do you have a link to the user manual of the amp?

 

[traynorbassmate]

Have you tried daisy chaining them? that will work fine...i do it all the time. We're talking different interfaces; it all boils down two separate 2-conductor cables. My cabinets each have 2x 1/4" and 2x speakon. I don't own heads that have speakon outputs so I use the 1/4" from head to Cab A, and speakon from Cab A to Cab B. That said, it will also work the same if you swap the cables.

I'm not sure what head you're using and why the signal is defeated with both cables plugged into the head. For most cabs, when you daisy chain treat them as being wired in parallel (ie. 2x 8ohm cabs = 4 ohm)...so if its a tube head use the selectable impedance to match the total load (if applicable). If unsure, omit the head, find a digital multimeter set for the lowest decimal place impedance value, connect the cabs together via speakon, plug a 1/4" into one cab, the other end to the probes of the meter.

 

[rhombass]

yeah, i just read through it and it didn't seem to specify anything about using both speakon and 1/4" out at the same time. if you can make any sense of the wiring diagram, that would be infinitely helpful. here's the manual http://www.ampeg.com/pdf/SVT450H.pdf

*edit*it's an svt 450h and i'm not sure why running both cables from the head would affect the signal either... i tried daisy chaining them and it worked out fine.

 

[dave2]

i ran both cables from the head, speakon to cab A and 1/4" to cab B. I have tested each cable independently and they work fine on their own. would it make a difference to run in this order? head, speakon, cab A, 1/4", cab B.

I've done this exact setup with my Eden head/cabs many times with no problems.

Dave

 

[rhombass]

I've done this exact setup with my Eden head/cabs many times with no problems.

Dave

which setup have you used? head, speakon, cab, 1/4", cab or both cables running from the head to each cab?

 

[fourstringburn]

There could be a possibility that your speakon connector was wired for a bridged mono app that could account for the amp not sounding.


A speakon is just a connector just like a 1/4 inch. Speakons are better mainly because the locking feature. I only use speakon connectors these days on my cabs. You can use a combination of speakon/ 1/4 inch but there is one thing you must be sure of.



Speakon connectors have different user changeable internal hookup configurations. Some have 2 pole or a 4 pole ( used for bridged mono or stereo apps) and even 8 pole for dual stereo hookups.

On the speakon connector, look for the model number. it will say NL2, NL4,NL8. Obviously that refers too how many poles each connector has.


Typically 2 pole (NL2FC) are factory made and not modifiable and are setup for full range mono apps. However, the NL4 connector can be opened up and rewired for bridged mono. Each NL4 connector has a +1 /-1 and a +2 /-2 post.

Standard MONO full range speakon wiring is wired with 2 conductor wire on post +1 /-1 usually on a NL2 speakon connector, If your speakon connector happens to be a NL4,the same wiring applies except +2 and -2 poles are unconnected (these are for 4 conductor wire used for stereo apps), these must match up to the 1/4 inch connectors positive and negative terminals as well. (1/4 in. short terminal tip (+) long terminal sleeve (-)

Note: You can use any 2 or 4 pole speakon connector as long if it is wired on the right polarity poles for the right application.

Bridge mono wiring refers to opening up a NL4 speakon connector and moving only one wire. Just move the wire on post -1 and hook it up to post +2 GIVING YOU A +1/+2 CONNECTION. THIS ONLY APPLIES TO THE AMP SIDE SPEAKON CONNECTION, THE SPEAKER SIDE SPEAKON CONNECTION IS WIRED +1/-2 OR IF USING 1/4 IN JACK TIP (+) SLEEVE (-) If your amp has bridged mono capability you will see the speakon wiring diagram on the amp by the speakon connection to verify this.

Tip: when using bridged mono speakon connectors, be sure to label the speakon connector with the +1/+2 bridged mono wiring. this is the one that plugs into the amp. You don't want to plug the wrong end into the amp.

Check your speakon connector(s) to see if it is a NL4 4 pole connector. If it is, unscrew the base and look at the wire connections. They are a little hard to see, but you will see each pole marked +1/-1 and +2 -2. These are terminal ends with Phillips screws so be sure you use the right configuration for your setup or you could do damage to your amp.

If everything is correct for your setup, then open up the 1/4 inch jack and see if the solder ends are solid. Barring that, you have a defective cable or an serious amp/speaker problem.

 

[Bassmec]

Have you tried daisy chaining them? that will work fine...i do it all the time. We're talking different interfaces; it all boils down two separate 2-conductor cables. My cabinets each have 2x 1/4" and 2x speakon. I don't own heads that have speakon outputs so I use the 1/4" from head to Cab A, and speakon from Cab A to Cab B. That said, it will also work the same if you swap the cables.

I'm not sure what head you're using and why the signal is defeated with both cables plugged into the head. For most cabs, when you daisy chain treat them as being wired in parallel (ie. 2x 8ohm cabs = 4 ohm)...so if its a tube head use the selectable impedance to match the total load (if applicable). If unsure, omit the head, find a digital multimeter set for the lowest decimal place impedance value, connect the cabs together via speakon, plug a 1/4" into one cab, the other end to the probes of the meter.

I have looked at this and enquired among experts and it appears the approved method for linking daisy chains is to press your thumb nail longitudinally through the stalk of one forming a slit to pass the stalk of another, cool being a hippy wasn't it.

 

[rhombass]

I have looked at this and enquired among experts and it appears the approved method for linking daisy chains is to press your thumb nail longitudinally through the stalk of one forming a slit to pass the stalk of another, cool being a hippy wasn't it.

*facepalm*
i think chaining cab to cab is working out fine for me for now. besides, once i get my second speakon cable, that's my only option so i think i should be all set. thanks.