Speakon Wiring

[aquamusic]

I just received my Speakon NL4MP jacks which came with crimp-on spade terminals. I prefer to solder the speaker wires to the jacks, but the holes in the Speakon lugs are very tiny.

Do folks usually drill these holes out, or am I missing something? Thanks!

[Bruce Weldy]

I just received my Speakon NL4MP jacks which came with crimp-on spade terminals. I prefer to solder the speaker wires to the jacks, but the holes in the Speakon lugs are very tiny.

Do folks usually drill these holes out, or am I missing something? Thanks!

Don't put the wires in the holes. Just solder the wires to the outside of the spade. Tin the spades and the wires first with solder, then put the two together.

[Steve Regier]

I prefer to use the panel mount NL4s with screwdown connections. I tin the leads and then screw them down. I can lookup the part number if you're interested. Since you already have these I pull as many strands from the stripped wire as will fit through the hole. I then take the remaining strands and braid them arround the terminal. I then put a good amount of heat to the braid and feed solder from the non-iron side using the hot braid not the hot iron to melt the solder. This will ensure. A strong joint and prevent a cold joint failure. I have used this technique very successfully on both speaker and connector terminals.

[Rune Bivrin]

I prefer to use the panel mount NL4s with screwdown connections. I tin the leads and then screw them down. I can lookup the part number if you're interested. Since you already have these I pull as many strands from the stripped wire as will fit through the hole. I then take the remaining strands and braid them arround the terminal. I then put a good amount of heat to the braid and feed solder from the non-iron side using the hot braid not the hot iron to melt the solder. This will ensure. A strong joint and prevent a cold joint failure. I have used this technique very successfully on both speaker and connector terminals.

Looked at the Neutrik site, and as far as I can tell there is only one chassis mounted Speakon with screw terminals: NL4MP-ST, and that isn't air tight. Just a heads up.

[ewetho]

Looked at the Neutrik site, and as far as I can tell there is only one chassis mounted Speakon with screw terminals: NL4MP-ST, and that isn't air tight. Just a heads up.

Interesting I just downloaded their product guide and it suggested, as far as I read it, that it is supposed to be.

[Rune Bivrin]

Looked at the Neutrik site, and as far as I can tell there is only one chassis mounted Speakon with screw terminals: NL4MP-ST, and that isn't air tight. Just a heads up.

Interesting I just downloaded their product guide and it suggested, as far as I read it, that it is supposed to be.

Well, I see what you mean. The overview states "Air tight design" as a feature of the "speakON Chassis Connector" section. But the NL4MP-ST isn't among the connectors shown on that page, so maybe the airtight feature only applies to the shown connectors.

The product page clearly states "This product is not airtight". A bit dodgy, I'd say. How far removed from airtight it really is I don't know.

[LelandCrooks]

Use the crimpons, solder them to the posts. That's what I do. Soldering the wires right to the posts always looks horrible, I think.

If they're not airtight they're pretty damn close. I've never heard nor felt anything coming out of one.

[aquamusic]

Thanks much everyone for your replies. Think I got it.

Have the tops glued/screwed to the sides on my first BFM build: a pair of Titan 39s.

[Steve Regier]

Looked at the Neutrik site, and as far as I can tell there is only one chassis mounted Speakon with screw terminals: NL4MP-ST, and that isn't air tight. Just a heads up.

Interesting I just downloaded their product guide and it suggested, as far as I read it, that it is supposed to be.

Part #NL4MP-ST PE#092-053 is NOT airtight at the wire fastening holes. We always put connectors and plates in pockets so this has never been an issue. Good catch! I would imagine if one was to use these without a pocket a dab of silicone at each wiring connector hoole would do the job or of course you the crimp style. I like Leland's suggestion.
Once again THE FORUM RULES!

[LelandCrooks]

Neutrik NL4MP is the model I use and sell. I did not care for the screw type very much.

[DJ Nada]

I'm going to thread necro for a n00b question. Normally, the 1+ and 1- are for subs, 2+ and 2- are for tops, correct? What's a little confusing is that some amps put out channel 1 into the 1+/- and channel 2 into the 2+/- on the same jack. That's great if I'm bi-amping, but what if I'm only using the amp for tops, and both tops are wired to the 2+/-? Will this work properly? Does this question make any sense?

[Grant Bunter]

Using a NL4 with +1, -1, +2, -2 can be for any mix you can think of to implement it.
So some possible options:
Biamped tops, where +1 and -1 power the mids and +2 -2 the HF.
Subs and tops as you said.
Sub stack 1 and sub stack 2
Monitors (group) 1 and (group) 2 with 1 cable
Tops (group) 1 and 2 or left and right

etc etc etc

The amount of cabs that each +1 -1 and +2 -2 can drive is determined by driver choice in ohms and amplifier output capability in terms of load...

[Charles Jenkinson]

Have been looking into this myself, being a noob to speakons. I found comfort in the following article. http://www.audiopile.net/Technical_Libr ... lained.htm

For me, that means: know the pinouts of my equipment and make cables to suit. There's loads of options; 2 core cable; 4 core cable; use lighter gauge 4 core and join 2 cores together if only one signal is required; monster 4 core: run subs down it as well and use break out boxes at the amp and speaker ends. 'Speaker cable' on wikipedia has useful data on cable gauge, loading and permissible length.

[AntonZ]

There's loads of options; 2 core cable; 4 core cable; use lighter gauge 4 core and join 2 cores together if only one signal is required; monster 4 core: run subs down it as well and use break out boxes at the amp and speaker ends.

The only practical thing to be aware of is that it makes sense to mount 4 pole speakon sockets in your cabs, since they accept both 2 pole and 4 pole plugs. Not the other way around. Still use only 1+ and 1-. The rest is only relevant if you do more advanced stuff, in my humble opinion. For most of us KISS applies: keep it simple, stupid I only use 1+ and 1- on all my gear. All cables can be applied to all cabs and all amps, pick the length that works best for the situation at hand. If you know not what the other options are for and how they are wired, they are not for you (mostly, nothing wrong with curiosity of course).

And yet another reason to stay away from bridging amps: no weird wiring or adapters needed on the amp end.

[Bruce Weldy]

And yet another reason to stay away from bridging amps: no weird wiring or adapters needed on the amp end.

Only on old amps do you have to tie the + from both channels in order to bridge......

Folks, Speakon are just connectors....they aren't magical. They just pass current/signal/etc.....

For the noobs, less experienced, and for the most part 99% of the people on this forum:

If you are using BFM cabs built to the plans and you are placing your subs in the agreed-upon method - you will never need to consider a 4-wire speaker cable.

BFM tops (all but one) have passive crossovers - so no need to run 4 wire cable to them. And since we know not to split subs, running tops and subs together in a 4 wire cable doesn't work either.

For those building bi-amped tops, multiple pairs of subs, etc:

You already know how to utilize speakon connectors in other ways to facilitate your set up - so no need in confusing the other 99%.


Everyone:

Always use 4 pole speakons on your chassis-mount connections (panels, speaker cabinets, etc.). That way you can use either NL2s or NL4s on your cables.

Use either NL2 or NL4 for cable mounts. Your choice. I prefer the NL4s even if only using two-wire cable because they are easier to install and easier to trouble-shoot - plus I like the way they connect better. But, that's just personal choice.