Speaker box wiring.

[Josh 2]

Hi all,

 

I have a multicore (stage box) for my signal level wires (no problems, it works fine). I also use a separate multicore (proper 2.5mm/8 core) to transmit the amp outputs to the speakers. At the moment, both ends of this speaker multicore are terminated with 'flying' Neutrik Speakon connectors, male at the amp end, female at the stage end. I wanted to tidy this up, so I've now made a box with 8 chassis mount female Speakon connectors for the stage end and was wondering if there are any options on how I should wire this box.

 

I only run either one or two amps (usually two channel), hence the 8 core cable. However, I put 8 Speakon's in my termination box with the idea of having extra speaker connections on stage and I was intending to wire the extra connectors in parallel (+ to +, - to -). If I understand correctly, this will allow me to run either one pair of 4Ohm speakers or two pairs of 8Ohm speakers on each of my 4Ohm rated amps. My question is, would there be a better (more useful) way of wiring this speaker box?. I was wondering if I should wire one group of four connectors series or something?... I 'guess' that I would need to use dummy (shorted) plugs when I needed to run one speaker per channel with this configuration... am I correct and would it be worthwhile?

 

I hope I'm explaining properly, paulears told me it's difficult with forum text and I've struggled getting this one across (or not)... will clarify if I can.

 

Thanks for any suggestions.

[MarkPAman]

Would you you ever use series wiring? I can't remember ever doing it in the sort of set up we're talking about here.

 

So if it were me I'd go for the parallel plan.

[Josh 2]

Would you you ever use series wiring? I can't remember ever doing it in the sort of set up we're talking about here.

 

So if it were me I'd go for the parallel plan.

 

Thanks Mark,

 

That makes sense and would be easier. Just wondered if there were practical options... will do parallel.

 

Thanks again.

[Josh 2]

A quick add-on question if I can please:-

 

The 2.5mm cores in my cable will be a little difficult to solder to the chassis mount speakons. Would it be acceptable to use a thinner gauge wire, just within my termination box, or would this be introducing a potential problem?

 

The speaker multicore I'm working with is approx 20mtrs of 2.5/8core.

 

Thanks.

[Andrew C]

Use crimp spade socket? Failing that, yes for a short distance thinner wire will be OK. You introduce another set of terminations, but provided you do a proper job it shouldn't bite you later.

[Josh 2]

Use crimp spade socket? Failing that, yes for a short distance thinner wire will be OK. You introduce another set of terminations, but provided you do a proper job it shouldn't bite you later.

 

Thank you Andrew,

 

It was my intention to use crimped spades, but I've found the 'mini' spades that fit on the speakon connectors are so small that I can't even get a 2.5 core into them (perhaps it's me, or the spades I've bought!). I'm also using Neutrik speakon/jack combo's for half the sockets and they don't have spade connections (designed for PCB mount), so I guess it'll be thinner gauge wire if, as you say, it won't bite later.

 

Thanks again.

[Simon Lewis]

The 2.5mm cores in my cable will be a little difficult to solder to the chassis mount speakons.

 

I have soldered this type of wire onto chassis speakon tabs without too much difficulty. You may need a slightly bigger iron, but I think I did it with a 25W Antex. Just tin both the wire and the tab first.

[themadhippy]

for 2.5mm you want blue crimps,but soldering is fairly painless.

[Brian]

...or the spades I've bought!...

It is. You can certainly get 'blue' crimps for them which go up to 2.6mmsq; you might be able to get 'yellow' ones which will do 6mm.

[jonathanhill]

The NL4MP-ST will accept wire up to 4mm2, so I would use those with uninsulated bootlace ferrules. Simple.

 

e2a: The ST stands for screw terminals. No soldering.

[ChazHS]

The 2.5mm cores in my cable will be a little difficult to solder to the chassis mount speakons.

 

I have soldered this type of wire onto chassis speakon tabs without too much difficulty. You may need a slightly bigger iron, but I think I did it with a 25W Antex. Just tin both the wire and the tab first.

 

Ditto.

 

I'd always go for a good solder joint over a crimp.