Airtight "enough"?

[drum365]

I get the impression that there is a sort of sliding scale of "airtight-ness."

I understand, for instance, that you want to be damn sure the driver chamber on a Tuba is absolutely airtight, or you're likely to end up with a blown driver. But I have the impression that as you move farther out the horn, the need to be perfectly sealed diminishes.

I'm asking specifically because I would like to include a 1/4" jack on the Tuba24s I'm building. On one hand, I read posts warning that the combined 1/4"-Speakon jacks aren't airtight and on the other hand, I read posts that say you can put a plastic plug (or maybe just an unconnected 1/4" plug? Got enough of those lying around!) in a 1/4" jack and call it airtight.

So I'm wondering... Is it that the combined 1/4-Speakon jack isn't airtight enough (even with a plug) to use on a panel that's part of a driver chamber, but it is airtight enough for Panel 9 of a T24?

Or maybe there are some airtight 1/4" jacks out there that I haven't found yet?

[Tim A]

MCM sells a 1/4"/Speakon combo. I use them in subs, they seem fine to me. It is true though, the closer you get to the mouth the less pressure in the cab, so the less chance for air leaks. Case in point, this is my favorite place to put jacks for Titans, just above the lower reflector. Those are combo jacks in the dish. There's speaker gasketing tape around the dish, no special treatment for the jacks, no leaks.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I'm asking specifically because I would like to include a 1/4" jack on the Tuba24s I'm building.

Install them on the rear panel behind the lower reflector and you don't need airtight jacks.

[wallywally]

http://www.westlake-electronic.com/stor ... /index.htm

These neutrik jacks are airtite. I use them in all of my speakers. They are a bit of a PITA to solder wire to but they work quite well.

[Tim A]

That's the same one I use, but....DAYUM that's a good price!

[drum365]

Install them on the rear panel behind the lower reflector and you don't need airtight jacks.

You mean down where the plans show the cutouts for the hand grip and the casters? But that's much too obvious! I never would have thought of that!

Thanks to everyone who replied so quickly. This was my first post to this board, and I'm amazed that I got three helpful replies (and no flames!) in such a short time. Thanks again!

[wallywally]

Yea Westlake has the best prices I could find. Shipping is reasonable also. I only use neutrik connectors. If you build your own mic and instrument cables check out their prices on canare cable. Extremely flexible, small diameter, no noise. PITA to unbraid the shielding but well worth it. Sorry to jack this thread.

[Frankenspeakers]

Install them on the rear panel behind the lower reflector and you don't need airtight jacks.

You mean down where the plans show the cutouts for the hand grip and the casters? But that's much too obvious! I never would have thought of that!

Thanks to everyone who replied so quickly. This was my first post to this board, and I'm amazed that I got three helpful replies (and no flames!) in such a short time. Thanks again!

welcome aboard! (you seem to have caught us on one of our better days...) Seriously, this is one of the best places to learn about all things pro-audio... and other things too. except when Bill aint lookin'.