speaker jacks

trai1824 · 28th February 2008, 03:10 AM

ok....so for my 4x12 cab i have 4 celestions 80 watts each, and i have 12 guage wire connecting them. can any one tell me what jack i should use... if i can use a regular 1/4 jack mono that i picked up at radioshack, or what other i should us.

TheMG · 28th February 2008, 03:28 AM

These are very nice speaker/amplifier binding posts:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/4-GOLD-PLATED-SPE...QQcmdZViewItem

Just received mine today, very nice quality. Fits 12 gauge wire just fine.

Mount the binding posts on a piece of aluminum and that'll make a very nice connection plate for your speakers.

Personally I like to stay away from using 1/4 mono jacks for speakers. Two reason, first of all they become undone easily, all it takes is a slight tug on the wire. I guess that's not much of a concern in a home setting (unless you have kids). Secondly they are easy to short out especially if the jack gets pulled part of the way out.

You could also get some Speakon connectors if you're up to it.

Andersonix · 4th March 2008, 06:07 PM

ApexJr has some in that style. He also has dual bananas for $1 each. A bit light weight, but functional. Others too:
http://apexjr.com/Jacks.htm

Pano · 4th March 2008, 08:54 PM

4x12? Is it a Bass Guitar rig?

Guitar rigs traditionally used 1/4" phone jacks, but they aren't the best as noted above. You'd need a beefy one for 12 gauge wire.

Speakon is the way to go, if you can.

What's your usage?

gootee · 4th March 2008, 10:00 PM

Gold plating is probably "OK", as long as it's mated with another gold or gold-plated connector. It would not be a good idea to mate it with any tin-based metals, or solder.

Brett · 6th March 2008, 03:26 PM

Speakon.

ianpengelly · 7th March 2008, 11:58 AM

Having used XLRs, Jacks and Speakons in a gigging environment I would go with Speakon everytime. They really don't cost that much and they will last a lot longer than other solutions.

I am going to use them for the speakers I am building for my stereo, as they allow bi-wiring and are nice and quick to release when I need to do some tweaking!

Hope this helps.

richie00boy · 7th March 2008, 12:19 PM

I wouldn't like to use binding posts for gigging or any other regular undoing/redoing usage. The ends of the wires will get battered very quickly, not to mention the crying out for short circuits to happen.

28th February 2008, 03:10 AM	#1
trai1824 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2008	speaker jacks ok....so for my 4x12 cab i have 4 celestions 80 watts each, and i have 12 guage wire connecting them. can any one tell me what jack i should use... if i can use a regular 1/4 jack mono that i picked up at radioshack, or what other i should us.

4th March 2008, 08:54 PM	#4
Pano diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: North Carolina Blog Entries: 4	4x12? Is it a Bass Guitar rig? Guitar rigs traditionally used 1/4" phone jacks, but they aren't the best as noted above. You'd need a beefy one for 12 gauge wire. Speakon is the way to go, if you can. What's your usage? __________________ Take the Speaker Voltage Test!

7th March 2008, 12:19 PM	#8
richie00boy Did it Himself diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gloucestershire, England, UK	I wouldn't like to use binding posts for gigging or any other regular undoing/redoing usage. The ends of the wires will get battered very quickly, not to mention the crying out for short circuits to happen. __________________ www.readresearch.co.uk my website for UK diy audio people - designs, PCBs, kits and more

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28th February 2008, 03:28 AM	#2
TheMG diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2008	These are very nice speaker/amplifier binding posts: http://cgi.ebay.ca/4-GOLD-PLATED-SPE...QQcmdZViewItem Just received mine today, very nice quality. Fits 12 gauge wire just fine. Mount the binding posts on a piece of aluminum and that'll make a very nice connection plate for your speakers. Personally I like to stay away from using 1/4 mono jacks for speakers. Two reason, first of all they become undone easily, all it takes is a slight tug on the wire. I guess that's not much of a concern in a home setting (unless you have kids). Secondly they are easy to short out especially if the jack gets pulled part of the way out. You could also get some Speakon connectors if you're up to it.

4th March 2008, 06:07 PM	#3
Andersonix diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Silicon Valley	ApexJr has some in that style. He also has dual bananas for $1 each. A bit light weight, but functional. Others too: http://apexjr.com/Jacks.htm

4th March 2008, 10:00 PM	#5
gootee diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Indiana Blog Entries: 1	Gold plating is probably "OK", as long as it's mated with another gold or gold-plated connector. It would not be a good idea to mate it with any tin-based metals, or solder.

6th March 2008, 03:26 PM	#6
Brett diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002	Speakon.

7th March 2008, 11:58 AM	#7
ianpengelly diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006	Having used XLRs, Jacks and Speakons in a gigging environment I would go with Speakon everytime. They really don't cost that much and they will last a lot longer than other solutions. I am going to use them for the speakers I am building for my stereo, as they allow bi-wiring and are nice and quick to release when I need to do some tweaking! Hope this helps.

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