cheap speaker cable causing my Markbass problems

[jps]

(all cones moving the same direction at the same time)...

Kind of like.......oh, never mind.

[cjj]

(all cones moving the same direction at the same time)...

Kind of like.......oh, never mind.

[marc61]

Marc, you're good to go with that. Actually, Speakon cable are very easy to make yourself, as there is nothing to solder, it is all screw connections.

So what you're saying is, just take my existing cable an put the speakon connectors on them. Sounds easy enough

[whojamfan]

Play it straight and pony up for the speakons. Peace of mind is worth a lot.

[jps]

Marc, you're good to go with that. Actually, Speakon cable are very easy to make yourself, as there is nothing to solder, it is all screw connections.

So what you're saying is, just take my existing cable an put the speakon connectors on them. Sounds easy enough

Yes!

[marc61]

Thanks Jeff. You saved me a trip to GC, and money buying cables I don't need

[johnallg]

Make sure the gauge of wire is adequate from the old cables. Speaker cables need a heaver wire than instrument cable, and with the quality of the plug that broke, the wire might be suspect.

[johnhall]

I don't know about anyone else, but my experience has been that those IEC AC power cords seem to multiply when left in a drawer alone. The larger gauged cords, i.e. 12, 14, or 16, as marked on the wire, make really good speaker cables, very flxible and well insulated. They're essentially free too- just cut off the ends and screw on the Speakons.

Keeping in mind your cabs total impedance and power capability, you can install dual Speakon sockets on plate mounts, allowing you to hook it up from amp to cabinet to cabinet, which is really convenient. It is possible to do some series-parallel combinations with the Speakons but you have to think a bit how you use the cabinets, either separately or together, so you can always stay within the amp's capability. My Bose cabinets are rated 8 ohms for example, so I can use them together in parallel at 4 ohms @ 500 watts, or singly at 8 ohms at 300 watts. That's probably at the upper limit powerwise for a single cabinet, but perfect for two.

[cjj]

+1 on using power cord cable for speaker cables, that's what I use. A 12 gauge cord will easily handle 20 amps (more for short cables), which going into a 4 ohm cabinet is 1600 watts, probably way beyond what most folks would ever need. 16 GA is good for at least 13 amps, or 676 watts. These cords have 3 wires, you only need to use 2, just leave the 3rd unconnected...

[marc61]

I got the speakon ends. Not sure how to attach to the cable.

Will try to post pics later for help.

[jps]

Unscrew all the parts and slide them onto the cable in the correct orientation and same position relative to each other as they came off the body so they will screw back onto the housing in the proper order. With the speaker cable stripped just slide the positive lead into the +1 connection and the other lead into the -1 connection and lock them down with the scews on the connections, then slide the strain relief on the body and screw the other part down, snugging it up to the cable and body of the Speakon® connector. Quite simple. really (this is all from memory, I have not done one for at least 5 or 6 years!), did I get it right?

[johnallg]

What Jeff said. Just make sure you tighten down the +1 and -1 screws really tight. The wire will compress (migrate) a little after tightening and if not really tight will be loose.

[jdogric12]

(re: picture)

I was just reading some JFK assasination conspiracy theories last night and first thing I thought was - that's the missing bullet!

[marc61]

(re: picture)

I was just reading some JFK assasination conspiracy theories last night and first thing I thought was - that's the missing bullet!

[marc61]

Made my first cable. Works perfect. Thanks Jeff!