Members gogo Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 Hi, my powered p.a. speaker (JBL PRX512M) plays a while, then unpredictably goes silent. If I pull the (audio) speaker cable's 1/4" plug out half an inch, it works. Tried another cable with same result. Does this simply mean the jack is bad? I don't understand why it plays with the plug halfway in. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rezrover Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 You using balanced or unbalanced cables? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 What are you feeding it with? Do both speakers exhibit the same symptom? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gogo Posted September 6, 2011 Author Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 @rexrover - sorry I'm not sure but these are dedicated speaker cables I bought at music store; the cable looks like lamp cable (two separated wires.) Hope that identifies them. @agedhorse - ipod etc into a small stereo mixer, thru the cables to the speakers. The other speaker works fine always. (I can swap cables or channels, with same result on same cabinet. The problem's definitely within this speaker cabinet.)thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rezrover Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 So, you're using speaker cables to connect to a powered speaker? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jwlussow Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 I'm not sure what a dedicated speaker cable is that would look like a lamp cord. Sounds like it is a TRS (tip/ring/sleeve) connector. Does it look like a headphone connector or a guitar connect, in other words, is there just one line between the tip and the shaft of the plug or are there two line (one between the tip and shaft with a second line a little bit farther up the plug)? Sounds to me like you have the second one. Is it 1/4" out from the board? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jwlussow Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 So, you're using speaker cables to connect to a powered speaker? I can't figure out exactly what he is using but I do believe it is wrong. He either has 1/4" TRS to 1/4" TRS or 1/4" TS to 1/4" TS. With his original symptom, I'm guessing 1/4" TRS to 1/4" TRS. That is not what I would consider a regular speaker cable. The fact that he compares it to a lamp cord makes me wonder if it is just TS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rezrover Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 I'm not sure what a dedicated speaker cable is that would look like a lamp cord. Sounds like it is a TRS (tip/ring/sleeve) connector. Does it look like a headphone connector or a guitar connect, in other words, is there just one line between the tip and the shaft of the plug or are there two line (one between the tip and shaft with a second line a little bit farther up the plug)? Sounds to me like you have the second one. Stereo 1/8" from the iPod to stereo 1/4" in the speaker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jwlussow Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 How much do you have to pay Monster for that graphic? The comparison to lamp cord (two side by side conductors) has me confused. I'm hoping he can use XLR outs from the board to make this much easier. PS: I did edit my original post when I noticed he was using a mixer. I missed that fact the first time through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rezrover Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 How much do you have to pay Monster for that graphic? Just "borrowed" a pic that was large enough to make a good visual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaBender Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 There are some very inexpensive speaker cables, probably 16 or 18 ga., that look like "lamp cord". They use TS connectors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gogo Posted September 6, 2011 Author Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 @ rezrover, yes I've been using two speaker cables, going from a small mixer which has l & r mono 1/4" outputs, to two speakers (which could take xlr but the mixer can't.) Am I using the wrong kind of cables? They worked fine for a year till now.Sorry for calling them dedicated. I mean I understand they're speaker cables (not guitar cables.) The plugs are like the monster above -- what I understood are 1/4" mono. The wire has two wires in flat black plastic that would zip into two parts if needed, like a lamp cord.I can take a picture later if needed but not right now.Thanks everyone for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jwlussow Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 Aren't the 1/4" ins on the 512 balanced? The manual just says Balanced XLR / 1/4 inch combo jack with XLR loop through. I've never used anything but XLR on my 512s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaBender Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 Wouldn't he have a problem if he's using "speaker cables" for a powered speaker? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rezrover Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 Yeah, says to use balanced in the manual: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jwlussow Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 ... The wire has two wires in flat black plastic that would zip into two parts if needed, like a lamp cord. I know exactly what you are talking about. Those are speaker cables. Probably not the best choice for your use but I am trying to find out more about the 512s. I think (not sure) that they have a balanced 1/4" input (like rezrover's top picture). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Unalaska Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 Sounds like the OP is using unbalanced zip cable from the mixer to the powered speaker. It will work but the cable should be balanced and shielded. try this instead: http://www.audiopile.net/products/Mic_Instr_Cables/MP_Adaptor_Cbls/MP-106/MP-106_cutsheet.shtml Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jwlussow Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 gogo, what mixer do you have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jwlussow Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 Wouldn't he have a problem if he's using "speaker cables" for a powered speaker? I think only on longer runs. Should be fine for short runs. I am just wondering if the mixer has balanced or unbalanced outs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 Sounds like a dropped (or ungrounded, floating) ring. May be intermittent, possibly the jack on the speaker was damaged by using cheap Chinese plugs. Not an uncommon problem, and if it's damaged the only solution is to send back to JBL (or service center) to replace, and stop using the defective plugs. Not positive however because I can't really figure out what the OP is doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dookietwo Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 Any chance this a powered mixer and they are sending speaker level to the Powered speaker? Then over driving it? Dookietwo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members W. M. Hellinger Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 Sounds like a dropped (or ungrounded, floating) ring. May be intermittent, possibly the jack on the speaker was damaged by using cheap Chinese plugs. Not an uncommon problem, and if it's damaged the only solution is to send back to JBL (or service center) to replace, and stop using the defective plugs.Not positive however because I can't really figure out what the OP is doing. I'd suspect the OP could test / get by utilizing the 1/4" input nestled in the FXLR jack... if not already doing so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jwlussow Posted September 6, 2011 Members Share Posted September 6, 2011 If the 1/4" is damaged, the OP should still be able to use the XLR, right? I'm still hoping to hear what board he is using. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gogo Posted September 7, 2011 Author Members Share Posted September 7, 2011 Gentlemen, sorry for my ignorance. I gather maybe I've been using wrong cables. They worked for a long time with previous unpowered speakers and a year with these. I'm surprised that these mono 1/4" plugs would damage the jack but maybe they did. Thanks for educating me. @jwlussow - it's just a little Behringer 1202fx mixer. Not 'powered' of course. Are you saying I can get a cable that would connect its 1/4" output to xlr so I could use the speaker? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gogo Posted September 7, 2011 Author Members Share Posted September 7, 2011 @unalaska - sorry, now I see such a cable in your link ... however my mixer manual says main outs are unbalanced mono -? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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