help! stuck neutrik speakon jack

[LI_Slim]

I have a powered mixer that takes the neutrik speakon jacks. A wonderful modern improvement to be sure. Unfortunately, the third or fourth time I plugged one in it got stuck. It still twists but then it won't come off. Any advice? Should I hit it? Spit on it? Ask it nicely?

 

[dintymoore]

That's nasty - never had that happen.

Maybe spray some sort of lubricant (ideally Deoxit D5 but WD40 in a pinch) and see if that does anything.

You do know (hopefully) that you don't push the metal button on the plug "down" but "in" towards the pa head... I imagine you knew that.

I guess if it might come down to using a Dremel on it but man does that sound extreme.

My favorite is when you take it back to the store and they say "oh, that shouldn't happen".

 

[LI_Slim]

Thanks. Yes, I do know how to work the thing. It was fine the first few times. I suppose the problem is almost definitely with the connector and not the mixer, so eventually I can try cracking the casing open. These fucking things are expensive though.

Y'know, I never once had a problem with speaker cables' 1/4" jacks falling out. Another example of useless advances in technology.

 

[dintymoore]

Ya, the whole Speakon thing is questionable. You can fix them at gigs without a soldering gun so I guess that's a plus, and they don't fall out... like that was really a problem (as you noted).

I have a Behringer all-in-one pa and I'm tempted to install 1/4" jacks as well in it. It was all out nasty they didn't do that. I really wonder how many gigs have been fucked up by that.

I bought a pair of JBL speakers and they have both Speakon and 1/4" jacks - thank you JBL.

They do make 1/4" to Speakon adapters and it's good to have a few at gigs for safety.

Also, you can make Speakon speaker cables with lamp wire from the hardware store for dirt cheap - I've been using them for a few years.

I'd be leery of just snapping off your stuck plug - it might break the jack. At the very least if you don't have a Dremel I'd cut it up into chunks with maybe diagonal pliers to try and limit the damage.

I've been using Deoxit D5 since the 80's - there really is no other product that even comes close. When you do get the jack out I'd make sure it was lubricated with D5 before I'd use it again.

 

[Lt. Bob]

sounds like maybe the outer casing is turning but not making the inside turn. So you'll possibly have to break open that neutrik.

 

[dementedchord]

LB may be on to something here... make sure the outter "sheild"section is tight... i would think about using a vice grip to turn it slowly... glad to say i've never had an issue with them... i have had issues with jumbo1/4" .... i've seen cabs fall and hang by the nl4...