Author Topic: Speaker cable? (Read 300 times)

mint_bass · « **on:** November 29, 2004, 02:59:35 AM »

I am a bit confused

I am aware that you are supposed to use a different sort of cable to connect your Amp to your cabinet than you bass/guitar to your amp but what cable do i need to use.

Also do any of you use Speakon connections? what are the benifits? and where can i buy a speaker to amp cable?

any help would be great
thanks
Andrew

andrewknight · « **Reply #1 on:** November 29, 2004, 03:45:29 AM »

Wow...talk about a topic that can get a HUGE array of answers! The bottom line is your ear and what you like the sound of. With good amps and speakers, cables can make a tremendous difference and changing a cable from amp to cab can switch the sound from tinny to smooth. If you have really good gear, then a lot of comparative listning is truly in order. I wouldn't presume to tell you what cables to use because quality of sound is simply too subjective. All I know is that cables can make a huge difference in high fidelity environments.

However, a lot of people spend a lot of money for cables without ever bothering to look in their cabinet. What kind of cheap wire is in there? Is there much point spending big bucks on killer cable if it goes through hairline wire in the cabinet? Yes, we could discuss distance and resistance, but the main point I'm making is that cables are only worth getting picky about if your set up can reproduce accurately enough to allow a listener to discern a difference.

Sorry not to be specific, but these are things that I think are worth thinking about and researching, so I wanted to throw these opinions out there.

Cheers,
The other Andrew

mint_bass · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2004, 04:02:27 AM »

Thanks for your input you have raised some ideas i had never really thought about such as the wire inside a cabinet very interesting.

Unfortunatly i am looking to put together a Stack on a tight budget as i am at university so my gear will be inexpensive i need something loud enough to gig with you see. I will be replacing the equipment when i can afford to but just now it is a case of neccesity.

What i was looking for to be honest was more to do with safty issues than sound i.e if i dont use the right cable will my future cabinet explode. Not to underesimate the difference good cable can make to the over all sound i am a beleiver of you are only as good as your weakest link.

I need more power than my 60 watt combo and have never owned a Stack before so am a bit unsure about it all.

Thanks a lot
Andrew MB

dnburgess · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2004, 04:17:31 AM »

From a safety perspective Speakon connectors are the way to go. Their mechanical design is such that the amplifier outputs aren't shorted if the speaker is connected or disconnected while the amplifier is on. With 1/4 plugs, the amp is shorted momentarily when the plug is inserted / removed. With banana plugs its easy to short the amp at the speaker end of the cable.

mint_bass · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2004, 04:35:32 AM »

Thanks i see

yes i understand what you mean this sounds sensible. So i will be able to walk into a music store and ask for a cable to join my AAMp to my cabinet with Speakon conectors.

I thought i would check here first instead of asking the guy in the music store as i know here i will get a good answer and no one will give me that look of what are you talking about you moron that i am acustomed to when asking things LOL

thanks for your help guys even if i did not have an Alembic i would like this site anyway as you can learn a lot

thanks
Andrew MB

adriaan · « **Reply #5 on:** November 29, 2004, 05:06:18 AM »

Your cab needs to have Speakon connectors as well: it's a plug-and-socket thing.

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 29, 2004, 05:28:14 AM »

Mint Bass
Have the brand names and models of your amp and cabinets with you before you go to buy. Not all models from the same manufacturer will have the same variety of connectors.
Mike

gbarchus · « **Reply #7 on:** November 29, 2004, 06:36:51 AM »

I've always thought that changing the speaker wires inside the cabinet and using similar wire (12 gauge if possible) to connect the speaker box to the amp was a relatively easy/inexpensive way to improve the quality of your sound no matter what type of speakers or amp you are using. When using power amps, I've used banana plugs/jacks whenever possible. I haven't had any new equipment that required Speakon connectors, but they appear to be working on the same principle which is to have the most efficient transmission of the signal as possible.

mint_bass · « **Reply #8 on:** November 29, 2004, 07:09:22 AM »

Thanks

Ok i will check the cabinet first thanks Adriaan and Mike.

Gale is a Banana plug the same as 1/4 inch jack or is this something different.

thanks for all the help
MB

kmh364 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 29, 2004, 07:37:15 AM »

Speakons are the way to go if your amp & speaker cab. have the required female Speakon jacks. They are the first connector specifically designed for high current speaker connections. They also add the short protection previously mentioned. You have to physically break 'em to accidentally disconnect them. I love Speakons so much (I have 'em on my Eden Bass amp rig) that I'm having a custom made guitar head/speaker cab set supplied with Speakons (in addition to 1/4 jacks for use in a pinch) as well.

Bananas are NOT the same as 1/4 phone plugs...they are not compatible. Bananas have more contact area and can handle more current than a phone jack which was originally designed for small-signal switchboard use, not high current music signals.

Bananas are compatible with standard 3-way binding posts common today on all hi-fi speakers. That is to say, the jacks will accomodate banana plugs, lugs (spades) or bare wire. Of all three, lugs offer the tightest connection and the most surface area.

It is most certainly worth rewiring an internal speaker enclosure's wiring with premium materials. BKBASS Barry is in love with Canare wire (he makes his own cables from it), but stuff like MIT, Monster, AudioQuest, Cardus, StraightWire, etc, are all excellent and are available via the WWW. For pre-assembled cables, Monster is hard to beat...they offer a no-questions-asked replacement on the spot for all their premium cables...most music stores carry their stuff so replacement on the road is relatively pain-free.

Cheers,

Kevin

kmh364 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 29, 2004, 07:42:59 AM »

Remember, your audio chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. As a Hi-Fi nut from way back, premium wiring offers improved sonics as well as improved reliability. For maximum fidelity, use the best wiring you can afford..from instrument cable(s) to effects/patch cables to speaker cables and even internal speaker cab wiring.

lbpesq · « **Reply #11 on:** November 29, 2004, 09:21:10 AM »

I seem to remember another difference, and please everyone, correct me if I'm wrong. As I recall the instrument to amp cable needs to be shielded while the amp to speaker cable should not be shielded. Am I right about this?

Bill, tgo

kmh364 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 29, 2004, 10:01:50 AM »

That's correct. Improper usage of shielded cable can/will result in a roasted amplifier output section. Improper usage of unshielded cable in a small-signal unbalanced (single-ended) circuit will result in hum/noise/hash.

You've identified yet another reason to eschew 1/4 phone plugs for high-level/high-current applications: it's too easy to forget and use a shielded instrument cable in place of unshielded speaker cable when connecting an amp to a loudspeaker. At the very least, the sound quality output will suffer, at worst, the amp will be toasted.