speakon outputs

[jpbarthe]

bought a pv 1500 which comes with speakon outputs and no 1/4" jack outputs, which I was used to. What are the advantages of speakon? for now i have to adapt my cables to use the binding post outputs instead.
thanks for your help.

 

[mattr]

Speaking from a live-sound point of view there are a number of advantages (I assume you are powering your studio monitors with this amp, though really that amp is intended more for sound reinforcement stuff than studio work!)...

Easy to connect and lock in place.
Good, solid connections. Not likely to pull out.
The conductors are hidden, making them safer to use when dealing with high-powered amps!
IIRC, the way in which the contacts meet when you connect a speakon cable means you can safely hot-plug speakers without risking damage to the speakers or amp (something which you can't do with jacks).
Multi-pin versions can be used for bi-amping, etc.

I also like how the connectors (the official Neutrik ones at least) don't need soldering; one time before a gig I stripped the ends off some old speaker cables and added speakon connectors in a matter of minutes, no probs .

 

[xstatic]

matt seems to have covered the bases pretty well on that one One last advantage is that they are not metal shelled and help to block shorts leaving you with a "hot" plug.

 

[sink]

The other advantage to Speak-On's is that they are not easily confused with guitar 1/4" cables as speaker cables often are. Granted, this is still more so with live sound but a benefit nevertheless.

You can buy 1/4" to Speak-On adapters as well; I bought 4 about a month and a half ago from my local (overpriced) music store for about $15.00 a pop. They can be found online for about a third less than that.

If you have already stripped your 1/4" adapters off you should attach the Speak-On adapters, it is pretty easy (as reported earlier) and a tutorial should be easy to find online.

 

[kathleen]

bought a pv 1500 which comes with speakon outputs and no 1/4" jack outputs, which I was used to. What are the advantages of speakon? for now i have to adapt my cables to use the binding post outputs instead.
thanks for your help.

a little different question...
but do you know how to use my active speakers with speakon cables with my Behringer Xenyx 802 non-activemixing desk...it does not have speakon connection.
Or maby you know who can help. This is for live performances.
Thanks

 

[dintymoore]

You can make Speakon cables pretty easy. Just buy the ends and get lamp cable at the hardware store. Should be cheap, way less than 1/2 what they sell them for. I made some plus some Speakom to 1/4" cables.

Active speakers need to use shielded cables, because since the signal is going to be amplified, any RF that it picks up as an antenna will be amplified too. So for them you could make up some cables or it might be simpler to buy those adapters like others have mentioned.

What I don't like about the adapters is that they always seem to stick out in the worst places on stage and are real easy to run into.

My JBL speakers have Speakon and 1/4" jacks, I don't see what the problem is and why more companies don't do that. I've thought about adding 1/4" jacks to a Behringer pa I have that only has Speakon. What's nice about 1/4" plugs is that you can use a right angle one and put your amp right against the wall.

 

[gecko zzed]

a little different question...
but do you know how to use my active speakers with speakon cables with my Behringer Xenyx 802 non-activemixing desk...it does not have speakon connection.
Or maby you know who can help. This is for live performances.
Thanks

This is puzzling. I'm not sure why an active speaker has a speakon connection, unless it is for an extension speaker.

If you are connecting a desk to active speakers, standard XLR to XLR cables are all you need. The active speakers should have XLR inputs.

You should have no need for Speakons.

 

[gecko zzed]

You can make Speakon cables pretty easy. Just buy the ends and get lamp cable at the hardware store. Should be cheap, way less than 1/2 what they sell them for. I made some plus some Speakom to 1/4" cables.

Yep. Speakon connectors are way over-priced.

Active speakers need to use shielded cables, because since the signal is going to be amplified, any RF that it picks up as an antenna will be amplified too. So for them you could make up some cables or it might be simpler to buy those adapters like others have mentioned.

Adaptors should not be needed. Others have mentioned speakon to 1/4 adaptors for high-level amp outputs, which is fine. But speakon is not used for shielded cable.

What I don't like about the adapters is that they always seem to stick out in the worst places on stage and are real easy to run into.

My JBL speakers have Speakon and 1/4" jacks, I don't see what the problem is and why more companies don't do that. I've thought about adding 1/4" jacks to a Behringer pa I have that only has Speakon. What's nice about 1/4" plugs is that you can use a right angle one and put your amp right against the wall.

I like the concept (though not the price) of Speakons. It is a safer, more durable option, specially with the wattage being delivered by power amps these days.

I agree that they protrude. But think of the positives: they enforce airspace behind the amp which helps with cooling.