timtheenchanteruk Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 I'm just making up a speaker cable loom for my own use, I have a quandary; One of my amps has only XLR, or binding post outputs, currently I have short tails on the binding posts going to jacks, then use a jack-jack connector to connect to the patch-bay in the theatre.I wondered about putting 2 XLRs on the loom to use instead of the pigtails, ( less connections, less to go wrong type thinking) is this a good idea, and what is the pin-out for XLRs in speaker use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 Please consider using genuine Neutrik speakons for speakers, Jacks were never meant to handle the power, and the thought of an open jack plug with speaker power available is not good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Chivers Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 One of my amps has only XLR, or binding post outputs, currently I have short tails on the binding posts going to jacks, then use a jack-jack connector to connect to the patch-bay in the theatre.I wondered about putting 2 XLRs on the loom to use instead of the pigtails, ( less connections, less to go wrong type thinking) is this a good idea, and what is the pin-out for XLRs in speaker use? To pick up your questions:As the amplifier has XLR outputs, then yes it is probably the best approach for simplicity, BUT please label the connectors clearly, it mat be someone else who picks up the cable and you don't want to find he/she has a sudden unexplained problem.The usual pin connection for XLR's used for speaker connections is Pin 2 hot or 'positive' and Pin 1 Cold or 'negative'. Make no connection to pin 3.Although I would generally concur with Jivemaster's recommendation of genuine speakons, as the amplifier does not have speakon sockets, I doubt that would be an option for you. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 Although I would generally concur with Jivemaster's recommendation of genuine speakons, as the amplifier does not have speakon sockets, I doubt that would be an option for you. I have had similar amps with outputs on binding posts and XLRs. I keep the XLR outputs covered with tape - there's too much opportunity for mistakes. I have a couple of short (about 1 foot) lengths of 2.5mm cable which connect to the binding posts, and on the other end is a speakon socket. I've done it with chassis-mounting sockets, fitted into the flight case which holds the amp, and also with non-Neutrik speakon-clone line sockets, which works fairly well. I don't think neutrik do in-line speakon sockets, but you could use a plug and a back-back adaptor if you wanted to stay all-neutrik. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 I was a bit 'casual' about XLRs for speaker connections, having some Turbosound cabs that were originally supplied with XLRs. The 'casualness' stopped the day I plugged a cable into what I thought was a mic cable, emging from behind a flat. The cable I plugged in had pins 3 and 1 linked, as the other end was a jack. Damn big bang and a flash when I plugged it in! At least the amp had decent protection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 Some speakon panel sockets are direct relacements for XLR sockets. If you are competent and authorised and free of waranty restrictions consider removing the XLR outs and refitting speakon in the same hole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timtheenchanteruk Posted March 10, 2007 Author Share Posted March 10, 2007 I have been considering speakons, bringing all the connection from the back of the amp to a connection panel at the back of the rack, As for the jacks though, I have no option, as all 3 theatres I work in have jack patch panels for the installed speakers. Is there any difference between the neutriks and the speakon clones that are now about (noticed them in new studiospares catalogue) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p.k.roberts Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 You might want to have a glance at this thread to get some comments on that .... http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=18271 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoppaDom Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 I don't think neutrik do in-line speakon sockets, but you could use a plug and a back-back adaptor if you wanted to stay all-neutrik. Neutrik do indeed do speakon inline sockets: Not a common item but they do exist! Or are they not made by Neutrik? Hm......either way you can purchase inline speakons - we have a large number of them on tour at the moment on surrounds! Poppadom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 Neutrik do indeed do speakon inline sockets: Not a common item but they do exist! Or are they not made by Neutrik? If it's not made by Neutrik, it's not a Speakon . having just spent some time browsing thru catalogues, it appears that Neutrik do do inline sockets, but only if you move up to the STX range. The ones I used are clones - the AV08551 from CPC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p.k.roberts Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 The ones I used are clones - the AV08551 from CPC. I hope you have more luck than I did with them Bruce. Admittedly I didn't have a huge amount, but had about an 80 percent failure rate with them.For originals, Canford audio do just about all the colours in all the sizes. Their description of males and females, although accurate, is a bit confusing, but as far as I can tell the in-line four pole 'socket' is an NLT4MXBAG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 I have only used 4, but haven't had any problems. Admittedly, I only use them occasionally. The NLT4MX is indeed the STX-range inline 4 pole socket. The NLT4MXBAG is the black version. go to http://www.neutrik.com then products> audio> speakon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rh01bellc Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 I have seen high current XLR leads designed for speaker cables recently - at first glance they look like speakon but when you look they are XLR. I dont know how reliable they are but I noticed them the other day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayselway Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Most of the amps I have feature either binding posts and XLRs, or binding posts and speakon. If the amp is part of a rack that hardly ever changes it's configuration, then all the connections are via binding posts on the amps, and then brought forward to the front panel where they are on Speakon NL4s. Most of the amps which are in flight cases have Speakon outputs anyway, but the odd one that doesn't has a set of adaptor cables in the case, which are labelled A B, always connected, and cable tied to the rack strip so they can't go missing. One amp that has XLR's on it in this fashion has 2 per output, so there is one pair connected, and then a couple of el-cheapo XLR's plugged in to the remaining pair, but with no connection (i.e. just the connector sitting there). Found it to be quite useful in putting people off trying to connect to the wrong ones! ;) Edited for clarity :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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