Jakester Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 I'm having to return a borrowed PA, so have had to acquire my own. I realised I'd have to buy speaker cables - just XLR - XLR, none of your fancy speakons here! What's the optimum speaker cable length? I only ask as 10m cables are easy to get for a not-hideous price, but any longer and the prices start to rocket from places like Designacable and Studiospares. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 (edited) - Edited March 15, 2022 by Jus Lukin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilebodgers Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 (edited) Hard to answer without knowing the size of venues you play and where you locate the power amps etc. Having said that, I would have thought that a couple of 10m and a couple of 5m would give you enough options for most smaller venues provided you can chain the cables. I'd also advise marking the cables or connectors in some highly visible way to prevent them being mistaken for XLR mic cables. You would know the difference, but helpers might not be as clued up. *** Ignore this re. marking - active speakers, so normal signal cables not speaker cables. Edited October 11, 2021 by nilebodgers 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 Experience suggests they are always too long, except when they are too short. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted October 11, 2021 Author Share Posted October 11, 2021 (edited) Quote I'd also advise marking the cables or connectors in some highly visible way to prevent them being mistaken for XLR mic cables. You would know the difference, but helpers might not be as clued up. Er, at the risk of sounding dense, what is the difference? I know there's a difference between instrument and speaker cables which are 1/4" plugs, but I thought XLR cables were broadly interchangeable as they're all balanced? Edited October 11, 2021 by Jakester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuddBass Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 Is this for passive or active speakers?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted October 11, 2021 Author Share Posted October 11, 2021 Active speakers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuddBass Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 2 minutes ago, Jakester said: Active speakers. Then mic type XLRs should be fine in this instance. Powered amps going to passive speakers would need suitable cables for carrying such 'powered' signal - usually Speakons etc too. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted October 11, 2021 Author Share Posted October 11, 2021 Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 The optimal size is long as they need to be and as short as you can get away with. Luckily with XLRs you can chain them anyway - I have some 20M speaker ones, but a whole load of other cables that are shorter, and if I am closer to the speakers, I will use the shortest that I can. Not necessarily for electrical reasons, although that helps, more for lack of trip hazzard reasons! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 Think about the routing of the cables and the positioning of the mixer vs the speakers. If the mixer is self operated at the back corner of the stage, the cable has to go from the mixer to the floor, along the back of the stage, up the side then up to the speaker. The other one doesn't need to do the back run. If its self operated from the front you can run the cables straight across the front of the stage and doesn't need to do the sides. If you bought 3 10m cables you've probably got it covered. And you should always have a spare XLR or two hanging around in case of failures and/or extra mics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 I usually find three foot six, plus fifteen spans and the length of a six year old female zebra is optimal. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 22 minutes ago, Newfoundfreedom said: I usually find three foot six, plus fifteen spans and the length of a six year old female zebra is optimal. That's all very well but where do you buy calibrated Zebras? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 13 minutes ago, TimR said: That's all very well but where do you buy calibrated Zebras? I got mine second hand from an ex Toto roadie. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 Was it wet? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 On 11/10/2021 at 09:33, Jakester said: I realised I'd have to buy speaker cables - just XLR - XLR, none of your fancy speakons here! You say you have active speakers, so Speakons would be no use to you anyway. You need connectors that allow you to use shielded cables. Speakons won't do that and are intended to carry high current. XLRs are for mic or line level signals and your mixer will put out a line level signal. As others say, mic cables will be fine, although you might want to look at heavy duty versions as they may get trodden on, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boodang Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 I would say they should be long enough to reach the speakers! 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted October 21, 2021 Author Share Posted October 21, 2021 Managed pretty well last weekend with two 10m cables. I have some spares so at worst could chain a couple. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted October 22, 2021 Share Posted October 22, 2021 I mean, how big are your stages? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted October 23, 2021 Author Share Posted October 23, 2021 10 hours ago, Jack said: I mean, how big are your stages? Well, it depends on the venue, but it could be a tiny pub stage, to a larger function room, to my recent fave, the bed of a curtain side lorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.