DIY cables

[steve-bbb]

Does anybody have any tips at all for making up speaker cables? or suitable cable supplies for the power/impedance handling etc and jacks and plugs etc do they have any bearing on sound or just physical ruggedness/durability etc
Have made up quite a few instrument/effect patch cables but was just wondering about the pros and cons of trying to do same with speaker cables

[Bottle]

Couple of questions first - are you planning on using Speakons (recommended) or do you require jack-plugs (not really ideal now). The main reason is the large amount of power available in Bass amplifiers these days (1/4" jack plugs just aren't up to the job for several reasons), so for safety and reliability, I would tend to want to use the Speakon option if available. Also, you would need somewhere in the region of 4mm[sup]2[/sup] twin-core cable to make up a speaker cable capable of high power handling. Keep the cable as short as necessary - maybe a metre maximum.

If you feel up to it, Speakon <> Speakon leads can be easy enough to make yourself if you have a few basic tools - wire strippers, sharp knife, small Pozidrive screwdriver - no soldering required. I've always made my own cables up - that way I get exactly the cable I'm after - I go to Canford Audio for the Speakons and cable, all very reasonable in quantity.

If not, you could always drop member 'OBBM' here on BC a PM outlining your requirements - he comes highly recommended by the BC community.


HTH
Ian

[steve-bbb]

thanks for reply

I got Hartke Hydrive 410 and Hartke 2500 - both are 1/4 jacks only - although with some modification i guess that is something that could be adapted on both the amp and the cab

used to have a trace rig so this was never a problem in past but but got the oe cab at moment soon to get a second and maybe amp upgrade too

[quote name='Bottle' post='1199088' date='Apr 14 2011, 09:53 AM']Couple of questions first - are you planning on using Speakons (recommended) or do you require jack-plugs (not really ideal now). The main reason is the large amount of power available in Bass amplifiers these days (1/4" jack plugs just aren't up to the job for several reasons), so for safety and reliability, I would tend to want to use the Speakon option if available. Also, you would need somewhere in the region of 4mm[sup]2[/sup] twin-core cable to make up a speaker cable capable of high power handling. Keep the cable as short as necessary - maybe a metre maximum.

If you feel up to it, Speakon <> Speakon leads can be easy enough to make yourself if you have a few basic tools - wire strippers, sharp knife, small Pozidrive screwdriver - no soldering required. I've always made my own cables up - that way I get exactly the cable I'm after - I go to Canford Audio for the Speakons and cable, all very reasonable in quantity.

If not, you could always drop member 'OBBM' here on BC a PM outlining your requirements - he comes highly recommended by the BC community.


HTH
Ian[/quote]

[steve-bbb]

...also when you say jacks not recommended... what reasons? sound quality, safety, or reliability etc - if speakons are much preferred then i guess the amp output could be mod'd by an electronics pro to change them from jacks if there was significant benefit i would consider the outlay

ta






[quote name='steve-bbb' post='1199127' date='Apr 14 2011, 10:23 AM']thanks for reply

I got Hartke Hydrive 410 and Hartke 2500 - both are 1/4 jacks only - although with some modification i guess that is something that could be adapted on both the amp and the cab

used to have a trace rig so this was never a problem in past but but got the oe cab at moment soon to get a second and maybe amp upgrade too[/quote]

[BigRedX]

The problem with jacks is that there is a possibility of the output from the amp being shorted when plugging/unplugging, and they are held in place simply by the spring clip on the contacts. On low-powered guitar amps this isn't too much of an issue, but on bass amps where a 200W amp is considered to be low-powered. It can be quite serious.

Speakons are designed so there is no possibility of shorting out the amp while connecting the cables and they lock into place to avoid accidental disconnection. They are also designed to handle the higher currents of more powerful amps.

If you are careful about how you plug in your speaker connections on both the cab and your cabs and make sure that you use good quality plugs and cables then jacks shouldn't be a problem, but Speakons are always better.

Unless you have access to cables and connectors at bulk-buy prices and are used to wiring them up, it's far easier (and in many cases cheaper) to get [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showuser=12"]OBBM[/url] to make them for you.

[steve-bbb]

thanks for that!

'IF' i were to mod the amp is ti a straightforward rewire to change over the 1/4 jack chassis to a speakon socket - obviously with some modification of the casing panel etc - likewise for the speaker cab

sounds like it would be a much better option


ps like the 'without urgency'


[quote name='BigRedX' post='1199366' date='Apr 14 2011, 01:29 PM']The problem with jacks is that there is a possibility of the output from the amp being shorted when plugging/unplugging, and they are held in place simply by the spring clip on the contacts. On low-powered guitar amps this isn't too much of an issue, but on bass amps where a 200W amp is considered to be low-powered. It can be quite serious.

Speakons are designed so there is no possibility of shorting out the amp while connecting the cables and they lock into place to avoid accidental disconnection. They are also designed to handle the higher currents of more powerful amps.

If you are careful about how you plug in your speaker connections on both the cab and your cabs and make sure that you use good quality plugs and cables then jacks shouldn't be a problem, but Speakons are always better.

Unless you have access to cables and connectors at bulk-buy prices and are used to wiring them up, it's far easier (and in many cases cheaper) to get [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showuser=12"]OBBM[/url] to make them for you.[/quote]

[BigRedX]

Speakon chassis connectors are considerably bigger than jack sockets. They will require a 24mm diameter hole which will make the modification non-reversible. You'll also need to check that the jack sockets on the amp aren't directly attached to one of the circuit boards and that there is sufficient clear depth available to fit a Speakon instead.

[steve-bbb]

thanks for all that will give me plenty to look into

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1199506' date='Apr 14 2011, 03:17 PM']Speakon chassis connectors are considerably bigger than jack sockets. They will require a 24mm diameter hole which will make the modification non-reversible. You'll also need to check that the jack sockets on the amp aren't directly attached to one of the circuit boards and that there is sufficient clear depth available to fit a Speakon instead.[/quote]

[Bottle]

^ Wot BigRedX said

Ian

[Protium]

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1199506' date='Apr 14 2011, 03:17 PM']Speakon chassis connectors are considerably bigger than jack sockets. They will require a 24mm diameter hole which will make the modification non-reversible. You'll also need to check that the jack sockets on the amp aren't directly attached to one of the circuit boards and that there is sufficient clear depth available to fit a Speakon instead.[/quote]

You can get Neutrik jack sockets that fit the same sized hole as a speakon. They are locking too

[plankspanker]

I've just replaced the xlr speaker socket of my old TE AH350X with a Speakon socket. As mentioned above you need a 24mm (metal) hole cutter also a 3mm drill to make holes for the nuts and bolts that secure the Speakon socket. I fitted a jack socket in parallel at the same time (in the old xlr hole using a spacer plate) as I don't have a spare Speakon cable. I have always made my own cables but had Dave at OBBM (aka bassic-bits) make the Speakon cable and supply the new socket. His reputation is well deserved - prompt delivery and the best of materials and workmanship. With shipping this cost a few quid more than if i just bought the bits and did it myself but so what? Functionally and visually Speakon is definitely a cut above jacks - I won't be going back to them!