lxxwj Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Sorry, newbie question: what kind of cable do I use to hook up an amplifier head to a speaker cabinet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rOB Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I hope this doesn't come as sarcastic but you should use speaker cable, [b]not [/b]instrument cable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Basically, if you unscrew the jack and see two equal cables in different colored sleeves, thats a speaker cable, if its a middle one in a sleeve and a bunched up one that spreads to surround the one going into the cable proper, that's an instrument one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PURPOLARIS Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 OBBM made mine up for me, they're around 1cm thick and comes with heavy duty Neutrik Jacks. You can also get them made up with Speakons depending on your requirements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxxwj Posted June 10, 2012 Author Share Posted June 10, 2012 (edited) [quote name='rOB' timestamp='1339330309' post='1686867'] I hope this doesn't come as sarcastic but you should use speaker cable, [b]not [/b]instrument cable. [/quote] Not sarcastic! I'm glad you told me, because I was gonna try instrument cable.. [quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1339330394' post='1686869'] Basically, if you unscrew the jack and see two equal cables in different colored sleeves, thats a speaker cable, if its a middle one in a sleeve and a bunched up one that spreads to surround the one going into the cable proper, that's an instrument one. [/quote] I can't seem to get to the actual wires because of the covering under the jack, but thanks anyway. [quote name='PURPOLARIS' timestamp='1339330522' post='1686872'] OBBM made mine up for me, they're around 1cm thick and comes with heavy duty Neutrik Jacks. You can also get them made up with Speakons depending on your requirements. [/quote] Is it possible to just buy premade speaker cables without having to get customs? I'll do a quick search.. EDIT: What are the specifics exactly for the cables? I'm guessing it's a 1/4 inch for the amplifier side, but what about the side that goes into the cab? and would something like this work? http://www.guitarcenter.com/Monster-Cable-Performer-500-Speaker-Cable-1-4--102584653-i1128650.gc Edited June 10, 2012 by lxxwj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PURPOLARIS Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 It is possible but OBBM makes them for a good price anyway. Good luck on finding anything better for the same money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 (edited) OBBM cables for the win definitely - but the OP is in North Carolina - it's got to be easier to go local That's the one for the job - http://www.guitarcenter.com/Monster-Cable-Performer-500-Speaker-Cable-1-4--102584653-i1128650.gc Edited June 10, 2012 by KiOgon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PURPOLARIS Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Aah right, didn't look at location Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Don't get sold Monster cable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxxwj Posted June 10, 2012 Author Share Posted June 10, 2012 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1339334435' post='1686936'] Don't get sold Monster cable. [/quote] Bad quality? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Bad company. Also use oversized jacks that knacker up sockets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodge Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Also, don't trust staff in music shops, make sure for yourself. I've had experiences where ill-informed staff have tried to tell me that there's no difference, or that the instrument cable they're trying to sell me is a speaker cable. Considering that, in the most extreme situations, you can end up burning your house down and everyone in it, it's not a matter on which to trust a piano playing salesman, who may have never used an amp in his life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxxwj Posted June 10, 2012 Author Share Posted June 10, 2012 So no monster cables.. aw, my local music shop will probably have them. Thanks anyway guys. And I'll be sure to check the cable to make sure it's a speaker cable.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire5 Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Whats the worst that can happen if you do use instrument cable?As in a stop-gap measure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 [quote name='squire5' timestamp='1339350785' post='1687276'] Whats the worst that can happen if you do use instrument cable?As in a stop-gap measure? [/quote] Insulation melts, shorts, catches fire, sets other stuff on fire and burns down your house, the short kills your output devices, shorting them putting full rail voltage into your speakers, melting them and setting them on fire too. That's probably the worst directly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bremen Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1339351785' post='1687306'] Insulation melts, shorts, catches fire, sets other stuff on fire and burns down your house, the short kills your output devices, shorting them putting full rail voltage into your speakers, melting them and setting them on fire too. That's probably the worst directly. [/quote] Nobody panic! He's talking about using instrument cables for speaker outputs, not for connecting his amp to the mains. Worst that's likely to happen is that he'd pop the fuses and/or damage the amp, and that's pretty unlikely unless he's running a kilowatt or two into a low impedance load. If the worst doesn't happen, all he'll lose is a bit of power and reliability. Not that I'm suggesting using the wrong cable, but if I forgot to pack my speaker cable at a gig I wouldn't be too concerned at using an offered instrument lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 [quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1339333332' post='1686922'] OBBM cables for the win definitely - but the OP is in North Carolina - it's got to be easier to go local That's the one for the job - [url="http://www.guitarcenter.com/Monster-Cable-Performer-500-Speaker-Cable-1-4--102584653-i1128650.gc"]http://www.guitarcen...653-i1128650.gc[/url] [/quote] Considering the quality, and prices of OBBMs cables, it has to be worth the postage costs to get a couple of his. Probably an extra £10 ($15) to post, but in my view, worth every penny/cent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire5 Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 (edited) [quote name='bremen' timestamp='1339355585' post='1687364'] Nobody panic! He's talking about using instrument cables for speaker outputs, not for connecting his amp to the mains. Worst that's likely to happen is that he'd pop the fuses and/or damage the amp, and that's pretty unlikely unless he's running a kilowatt or two into a low impedance load. If the worst doesn't happen, all he'll lose is a bit of power and reliability. Not that I'm suggesting using the wrong cable, but if I forgot to pack my speaker cable at a gig I wouldn't be too concerned at using an offered instrument lead. [/quote] Jeez,worried for a minute there guys.It's just that I regularly use a short instrument cable to connect my 1x15 cab.I'll look into getting a proper speaker cable.I suppose a length of stout 2 core mains cable would do,wouldn't it? PS Sorry for hijacking thread. Edited June 10, 2012 by squire5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 [quote name='lxxwj' timestamp='1339330158' post='1686862'] Sorry, newbie question: what kind of cable do I use to hook up an amplifier head to a speaker cabinet? [/quote] All apart from one of my speakers cables are Klotz cable - it's excellent. The plugs I use are Neutrik. But this [url="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Klotz-Jack-Guitar-Amp-Cab-Cabinet-Speaker-Cable-1m-/250776714649?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL&hash=item3a6374fd99#ht_900wt_1140"]http://www.ebay.com/itm/Klotz-Jack-Guitar-Amp-Cab-Cabinet-Speaker-Cable-1m-/250776714649?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL&hash=item3a6374fd99#ht_900wt_1140[/url] is the kind of thing you're looking for; check out the guys notes in his description too - you may well find some music shop staff who will BS you that an instrument cable is fine. Maplins & Radioshack/Tandy used to sell Klotz cable off the reel & Neutriks, you shouldn't have any problem finding them Stateside. If you're handy with a soldering iron - or know someone who is - you could make your own for about half the cost of this Ebay item (no relation to this seller - I just picked it out) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 [quote name='bremen' timestamp='1339355585' post='1687364'] Nobody panic! He's talking about using instrument cables for speaker outputs, not for connecting his amp to the mains. Worst that's likely to happen is that he'd pop the fuses and/or damage the amp, and that's pretty unlikely unless he's running a kilowatt or two into a low impedance load. If the worst doesn't happen, all he'll lose is a bit of power and reliability. [/quote] I was aware of thaat. Worst case scenario I described was for using an instrument lead instead of a spekaer lead. Shorted is low impednace, so low its nearly one, lots of hot, fire etc. is a potential, once the insulation melts through. [quote name='squire5' timestamp='1339358517' post='1687440'] Jeez,worried for a minute there guys.It's just that I regularly use a short instrument cable to connect my 1x15 cab.I'll look into getting a proper speaker cable.I suppose a length of stout 2 core mains cable would do,wouldn't it? PS Sorry for hijacking thread. [/quote] Mains flex makes excellent speaker cable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandomProddy Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1339359875' post='1687487'] Mains flex makes excellent speaker cable. [/quote] Yep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1339359875' post='1687487'] Mains flex makes excellent speaker cable. [/quote] For musical instrument applications and half decent for home hi-fi! Did a blind (should that be 'deaf') test at one of my former jobs (we duplicated cassettes commercially and had to have a good reference system) with expensive hi-fi speaker cable, normal £1.99 per meter stuff, bell-wire and 2 core (solid) mains cable and there was nothing in it between the 2 core solid and the stuff that cost tens of £ per m! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goingdownslow Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1339330394' post='1686869'] Basically, if you unscrew the jack and see two equal cables in different colored sleeves, thats a speaker cable, if its a middle one in a sleeve and a bunched up one that spreads to surround the one going into the cable proper, that's an instrument one. [/quote] So what is [url="http://www.canford.co.uk/Products/20401/33-250_CANFORD-HPS-CABLE"]this[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Cable for studio monitors and such, XLR connectors suggested, and 2.5 sq mm, OBBM bass speaker cable uses 4mm for power handling. Dab of snake oil for the damping factor too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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