Speakon chasis poor connection

[Kokkie]

Recently I bought the Eich T1000 (Pride) amp; check the pics below). 

When I try to connect the two cabs (112 XS -8) to it (using the genuine Eich cables), the connection is very poor; sometimes there is no sound at all, and when I twist/move the plug (when it is still in het chassis) the sound comes -crackling though- through. There is also more "play" between the plug and the left socket compared to the other (right) socket on the cabs.  The problem is less persistent using the other (right) socket. Therefor it seems to me that the (left) Speakon socket (all Neutrik) is worn out or something.

 

What do you think I should do here?

 

Thanks in advance for your reply! 

[nekomatic]

Did you buy the amp, cabs and cables together or did you already have the cabs?

[Dan Dare]

Is the plug on your cable genuine Neutrik? There are some truly poor knock-offs about that fit badly. If not, try a real one and see if that improves matters. Those on the amp look genuine. They are good for many thousand insertions (ooer, etc). I've never had one wear out. You might also check the connections in the plugs are good. Just unscrew the locking collar and you'll be able to get inside to check.

Edited Saturday at 12:06 by Dan Dare

[Kokkie]

17 hours ago, nekomatic said:

Did you buy the amp, cabs and cables together or did you already have the cabs?

Thanks for the reply, nekomatic.

I bought the amp and the cables together. The cabs on the other hand, I bought them 2nd hand, so I am not sure of there age. But judging by their condition, they will be at most a few years old. 

[Kokkie]

17 hours ago, Dan Dare said:

Is the plug on your cable genuine Neutrik? There are some truly poor knock-offs about that fit badly. If not, try a real one and see if that improves matters. Those on the amp look genuine. They are good for many thousand insertions (ooer, etc). I've never had one wear out. You might also check the connections in the plugs are good. Just unscrew the locking collar and you'll be able to get inside to check.

Thanks for the reply, Dan!

Yes, Eich uses genuine Neutrik plugs only, both on their amps as well as on their cables. (https://www.eich-amps.com/speaker-cable)

About the connections in the plugs; I asume (I know, assumptions is the mother of all f*ck ups ;-).....) that when both cables (I bought 2, because I have 2 cabs) are brandnew (I bought them 2 weeks ago), it should'nt be possible that the connections inside are bad.

And consider this: There are two chasis connectors at the back of both cabs. The connector on the left is far more worse (and feels more worn out giving the fact that there is so much "space" between the plug and the chasis connector) compared to the one on the right. This counts for both cabs.
Another fact to consider: The chasis connectors can be used for 1/4 inch jack plugs as well, and using there plugs, the connection is perfect (and "tight"). 

[Dan Dare]

4 hours ago, Kokkie said:

Thanks for the reply, Dan!

Yes, Eich uses genuine Neutrik plugs only, both on their amps as well as on their cables. (https://www.eich-amps.com/speaker-cable)

About the connections in the plugs; I asume (I know, assumptions is the mother of all f*ck ups ;-).....) that when both cables (I bought 2, because I have 2 cabs) are brandnew (I bought them 2 weeks ago), it should'nt be possible that the connections inside are bad.

And consider this: There are two chasis connectors at the back of both cabs. The connector on the left is far more worse (and feels more worn out giving the fact that there is so much "space" between the plug and the chasis connector) compared to the one on the right. This counts for both cabs.
Another fact to consider: The chasis connectors can be used for 1/4 inch jack plugs as well, and using there plugs, the connection is perfect (and "tight"). 

 

I'd still have a look inside the plugs to check the connections. Even if they're Eich and genuine Neutrik, mistakes can still happen at the factory. Has to be worth taking a couple of minutes to make sure.

 

Combo jack/Speakon sockets use different connections internally for each type of plug.

 

I'd ask a tech' to check over the amp if nothing solves the issue. We can't really offer anything other than suggestions.

[tauzero]

Is the amp new?

[Kokkie]

18 hours ago, tauzero said:

Is the amp new?

Yes, brandnew 😉

[tauzero]

I would return it as it seems like it's faulty.

[nekomatic]

From the fact that the cabs are secondhand and one socket is worse than the other, I’m very inclined to suspect that it’s those sockets that are bad. Maybe they’ve been repeatedly used with a non-genuine Speakon plug that has damaged them. The obvious thing to test would be whether you see any problem with a different cab. 
 

The good news is that it looks like it should be easy to remove the connector panels and replace the faulty connectors on the cabs. If you don’t fancy doing it yourself it shouldn’t be too expensive to have a tech do it. 

[agedhorse]

10 minutes ago, nekomatic said:

From the fact that the cabs are secondhand and one socket is worse than the other, I’m very inclined to suspect that it’s those sockets that are bad. Maybe they’ve been repeatedly used with a non-genuine Speakon plug that has damaged them. The obvious thing to test would be whether you see any problem with a different cab. 
 

The good news is that it looks like it should be easy to remove the connector panels and replace the faulty connectors on the cabs. If you don’t fancy doing it yourself it shouldn’t be too expensive to have a tech do it. 

Maybe, but if the SpeakOn jacks are PCB mounted it's going to be more difficult and with a greater chance for a more thoroughly damaged speaker.

[Kokkie]

Dear agedhorse, Dan, tauzero and nekomatic,
Thanks for your responses.
This is what happend so far:
I rang the Eich-office. This is what they told me: A few years ago, Neutrik has changed the design of some of their connectors/plugs and therefor the problems that I'm having in my cabs, are somewhat well known to Eich (and they are really pissed about this!). Therefor Eich offered to send me complete new back plates of the cabs (for free!) so that these bad connections belong to the past (for me). I find that very generous of Eich. 

As soon as I have changed the plates, I will notify you all on the outcome.
For now; thanks for your involvement!