What are the advantages to using speakon versus typical speaker cable?

[agedhorse]

That’s low current stuff. You should see the 30 odd KV breakers in the power stations I used to work on.

To be fair I didn’t have to touch them but they were huge!

(That sort of) High voltage stuff is kind of like RF... it doesn't follow the "normal" rules.

 

[TomB]

(That sort of) High voltage stuff is kind of like RF... it doesn't follow the "normal" rules.

There's a term utilities use for the non-certified who visit a power plant - "prudent avoidance" .

 

[Deezer Butler]

I switched to Speakon connectors after someone grabbed my amp head and accidentally bumped a wall in a turning fashion with the 1/4 inch still plugged in the output jack.... Needless to say it broke both the output jack and the plug. Never again, if I can help it.

 

[BassmanPaul]

There's a term utilities use for the non-certified who visit a power plant - "prudent avoidance" .

Personally I feel that you are certifiable if you do work on that stuff!

 

[agedhorse]

Personally I feel that you are certifiable if you do work on that stuff!

You sure can't make any mistakes, careless technicians rarely exist past their first accident

 

[StatesideRambler]

"Keep a distance of at least one centimeter per thousand volts." Yup! Shore will, boss!

 

[pcake]

the only time i used speakons was at a reheasal. one of the guys who worked at the rehearsal studio tripped over the cable and flung my head on the floor

 

[agedhorse]

"Keep a distance of at least one centimeter per thousand volts." Yup! Shore will, boss!

1centimeter is pretty skinny at high voltages. I worked a lot with 15kV (7.5kV from ground) GTO transformers in a past life, it's amazing how far apart an arc can be started and then maintained in a humid environment. All it took was getting bit once and I was a believer in safety first!

 

[Kedingerp]

Speakon cables have a very satisfying rotate click function. Feels like your plugging into something dangerous

 

[bobyoung53]

I had no idea that high wattage bass heads could give you a shock in that way. I'm glad I made this thread.

But unless you're standing in a puddle of water or something like that you won't get a shock unless someone is actually playing otherwise the amp isn't putting out much or any power.

 

[JimmyM]

But unless you're standing in a puddle of water or something like that you won't get a shock unless someone is actually playing otherwise the amp isn't putting out much or any power.

According to Andy's friend and former colleague Roger (hasbeen), you don't have to be standing in water or have someone playing. He was ABing cabs one day and swapped out his 1/4" speaker cable while his high wattage amp was on, touched the barrel while he was switching it, and got a jolt. I seem to remember him saying it was a mild jolt, but it's still no fun unless you're Uncle Fester:

 

[bobyoung53]

According to Andy's friend and former colleague Roger (hasbeen), you don't have to be standing in water or have someone playing. He was ABing cabs one day and swapped out his 1/4" speaker cable while his high wattage amp was on, touched the barrel while he was switching it, and got a jolt. I seem to remember him saying it was a mild jolt, but it's still no fun unless you're Uncle Fester:

He must have been grounded somehow or other though but I'm no expert and don't own a high wattage amp so what do I know except that The Addams Family Show was great!

 

[quickfix]

Someone please explain the ergonomics behind electrically shocking yourself with the 1/4" inch speaker cable jacks.

Never mind. I see bobyoung53 has already mentioned the improbability.

 

[agedhorse]

There are three ways to get shocked, the first does not involve playing. With some amps, the output is biased at 1/2Vcc so with a 150V supply that would put 75 volts D.C. on the output (both tip and sleeve) with respect to any ground.

The second way is on bridged outputs, where voltage exists beteeen tip and ground, sleeve and ground as well as between tip and sleeve.

The third way is on any amp, while playing there will be a voltage between tip and sleeve... and on a big amp this voltage can reach over 150 volts peak.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Beyond the modern standards, some older amps are pretty dangerous because of their design. They can have the line voltage on the chassis. Touch your strings, which are grounded via the instrument cable to the chassis while you are grounded and zap! .

Thankfully, there aren't a lot of those in use.

 

[JRA]

The biggest advantage though is not pulling out cables accidentally, as used to happen regularly with floor monitors and 1/4" connectors.

I just like the fact that once it's in the cab it ain't coming out.

Speakons lock. That's the upside I can see. The downside is I'd rather someone trip and pull a speaker cable out than yank the head to the ground.

the only time i used speakons was at a reheasal. one of the guys who worked at the rehearsal studio tripped over the cable and flung my head on the floor

what makes them good/better = what makes them bad/worse, IMO. i use 1/4" switchcraft when i can.

 

[seamonkey]

"What are the advantages to using speakon versus typical speaker cable?"

Speakon's are your typical speaker cable these days.

 

[JimmyM]

Sorry, made a late night faux pas...Roger didn't touch the barrel when he got shocked. He touched the sleeve on the plug itself.

 

[agedhorse]

Once you get bit by the output of a large amp, you begin to appreciate why the low voltage directive came into being.

 

[BassmanPaul]

Beyond the modern standards, some older amps are pretty dangerous because of their design. They can have the line voltage on the chassis. Touch your strings, which are grounded via the instrument cable to the chassis while you are grounded and zap! .

Thankfully, there aren't a lot of those in use.

Absolutely! All to save the installation of a power transformer! These amps have been obsolete for many years but still can be found on the “vintage” market.