Members StratGuy22 Posted January 4, 2011 Members Share Posted January 4, 2011 I have always bought 16ga "speaker wire" complete with 1/4" ends on it, for my monitors. Since I always switch the ends to 90 degree Neutrik ends, I have no need for the included 1/4" ends. This being said, can I buy any 16ga AWG wire and use that for speaker wire? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author Craig Vecchione Posted January 4, 2011 CMS Author Share Posted January 4, 2011 Well, not "any" 16ga. You probably want something that's got black outer jacket, is durable and handles well (doesn't kink, figure-8's nicely, etc.). I would recommend 16/2 SJOOW rubber-jacketed cable, which can usually be found at the big-box home improvement stores, and of course at your local electrical supply. Carol is a very well known brand that works well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted January 4, 2011 Members Share Posted January 4, 2011 Any 16 ga wire that has the proper mechanical properties for the application. ALWAYS be careful with 90 degree connectors, often they are less robust and I have found significant problems with many. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StratGuy22 Posted January 4, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 4, 2011 Ah ok. I always use these... After an over enthusiastic performer made a monitor rock back and snap off a straight plug, I've switched to those. I've had good luck with them, but will keep a few extras handy to change in the heat of battle... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author Craig Vecchione Posted January 4, 2011 CMS Author Share Posted January 4, 2011 Extra complete cable(s), right? I'd not want to have to solder up a cable mid-show... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StratGuy22 Posted January 4, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 4, 2011 Extra complete cable(s), right? I'd not want to have to solder up a cable mid-show... Lol ya, extra complete cables. I'd hate to be sitting there soldering a cable while the whole venue is watching, and waiting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dasani19320 Posted January 4, 2011 Members Share Posted January 4, 2011 What? Are you guys saying I wasted my $21,000 on 10' of Audioquest Everest speaker cable? Isn't Counter Spiralling Geometry, and Spread Spetrum Technology important? :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StratGuy22 Posted January 4, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 4, 2011 Haha cork sniffing "audiophiles" Make sure they aren't hooked up backwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted January 4, 2011 Members Share Posted January 4, 2011 At least that Neutrik connector is one of the better ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StratGuy22 Posted January 5, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 5, 2011 Well, not "any" 16ga. You probably want something that's got black outer jacket, is durable and handles well (doesn't kink, figure-8's nicely, etc.). I would recommend 16/2 SJOOW rubber-jacketed cable, which can usually be found at the big-box home improvement stores, and of course at your local electrical supply. Carol is a very well known brand that works well. Thanks!! I found 100' of this by Carol for $45.00 Perfect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members monkeyland Posted January 5, 2011 Members Share Posted January 5, 2011 it really would be better to use speakons for the connectors. It's not hard to switch them over. My general rule is that anything over 100 watts gets a speakon if possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author Craig Vecchione Posted January 5, 2011 CMS Author Share Posted January 5, 2011 it really would be better to use speakons for the connectors. It's not hard to switch them over. My general rule is that anything over 100 watts gets a speakon if possible. Agreed. Especially with floor wedges, where a 1/4" plug can be partially pulled out by a band or audience mamber, which will test your amp's short-circuit protection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StratGuy22 Posted January 5, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 5, 2011 How robust are the 90 degree speakons? With the straight ones I would run into the same problem, with them being broken if the monitor was accidently rocked back onto it. Monitors are yorkville YX12's, and the input jacks are not recessed into the cabinet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted January 6, 2011 Members Share Posted January 6, 2011 Straight speakons are going to be way more robust than 90 degree 1/4" and 90 degree speakons suck because they are really hard to use on many speakers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StratGuy22 Posted January 6, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 6, 2011 I understand what you mean about the 90 degree ones. If both jacks are facing the same way, you are screwed. Hmmmm I'm going to have to give this some serious thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members oldschooler Posted January 6, 2011 Members Share Posted January 6, 2011 Another thought would be, going one size up to 14 awg so the cables can be used for FOH in the future also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Unalaska Posted January 7, 2011 Members Share Posted January 7, 2011 Yes, buy 14ga minimum for mon and FOH, then it doesn't matter what is for what. And install NL4MPR's on your speakers. Even if the connector sticks out, who cares. Loop it under one of the feet and it'll keep it out of harms way. 1/4 connectors can come loose and dead short and amp, much more likely to happen on a wedge than FOH speaker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members boomerweps Posted January 7, 2011 Members Share Posted January 7, 2011 90 degree speakons are a great idea that does indeed suck in practice, at least for me. ANY inset of the speaker Input Plate makes them hard if not impossible to use. They would NOT work on Yorkville U15s and it was a major PITA to use them on the aftermarket replacement panel I put in my Yammy SM12IVs. Great design from Neutrik though in that an NL4FX can be switched form straight to 90 degree and back without removing the wire from the contacts. Unfortunately, expecting the speaker makers to change over in any way to accomodate these, like they did for the original speakons, was asking a bit much. I swapped all my NL4FX-RA back to straights long ago. Boomerweps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StratGuy22 Posted January 7, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 7, 2011 I have 2 sets of FOH cables. Each pair is 14ga, and has a 25' and a 50' cable. One pair have NL4FX on both ends, for when I run from my mixer, and the other pair (also a 25' and a 50') have a NL4FX on one end for the U15's and a 1/4" on the other end for my snake. I use a Neutrik 90degree 1/4" on the one end, since my snake has 1/4" outputs at the box. I like the 90degree ends at the snake so there's less chance of something getting kicked over by accident. I think I will bring back that 16ga wire I bought and get 14ga return the ends and go full speakon with NL4FX for my monitors as well. Thanks for the advice! Luckily, I haven't had the chance to sit down and tear anything open yet, so it's all ready to be returned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author Craig Vecchione Posted January 7, 2011 CMS Author Share Posted January 7, 2011 When you get that new cable home, unreel it with the spool on an axle, and try to get it untwisted. Some of that cable really takes a twisty set and has to be wrestled a bit to lay nicely. Sometimes figure-8ing it a few times will do it. I've had some that I draped out on the driveway in the sun to help along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Unalaska Posted January 7, 2011 Members Share Posted January 7, 2011 I have 2 sets of FOH cables. Each pair is 14ga, and has a 25' and a 50' cable. One pair have NL4FX on both ends, for when I run from my mixer, and the other pair (also a 25' and a 50') have a NL4FX on one end for the U15's and a 1/4" on the other end for my snake. I use a Neutrik 90degree 1/4" on the one end, since my snake has 1/4" outputs at the box. I like the 90degree ends at the snake so there's less chance of something getting kicked over by accident. ??????????????!!!!!! 1/4 speaker cables to be used with your snake??? (see other thread about this) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StratGuy22 Posted January 7, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 7, 2011 ??????????????!!!!!! 1/4 speaker cables to be used with your snake??? (see other thread about this) It's all good, I have the proper snake: I use 2 of the 14AWG lines for FOH, 2 for monitors, and I use the line level returns to send a line level signal to my two LS800p's. When I upgrade to a StudioLive 24.4.2 I'll get a 24 x 8 snake and leave the amps on the stage. Yorkville "Power Snakes" allow the flexibility of running not only line level inputs and returns, but also speaker level signals. These snakes have 14 AWG speaker cable built into the snake allowing easier setup and cleaner cable runs. These are especially handy when used with powered mixers. 100ft length 16 XLR female inputs on the box, running to 8 XLR male on the fanout 2 1/4" TRS returns, female on the box, male on the fanout 4 1/4", 14 AWG speaker level channels, with female on the box, and male on the fanout Sturdy metal stage box built for years of use and abuse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Unalaska Posted January 8, 2011 Members Share Posted January 8, 2011 The thing that scares me about the powered snake lines is that all your amps - terminals are now connected. Maybe it's cool but scares me a bit. Neutrik makes a lockin 1/4 D sized terminal (same as XLR) I've used as speaker outputs on a patch panel. I always check that the sleeve isn't shorting to the panel at all, it's isolated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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