Speakon Vs. XLR?

[Spasticteapot]

I'm hoping to build some active 2-way speakers, and want to create an idiotproof method to connect the two to prevent sending low-frequency signals to the tweeter. I was thinking of using some 3-pin XLR cable (which seems to be quite popular as a speaker connection on older European gear) and use a shared ground for the woofer and tweeter. Is there any reason I shouldn't do this? I'm only using 60W, I'll be making the cables myself (so wire gauge should not be a problem) and using high-quality XLR connectors is only 40% the cost of Speakon stuff.

[Steve Eddy]

Originally Posted by Spasticteapot

Is there any reason I shouldn't do this?

Nope.

They're rated at 16 amps per pin.

se

[Geek]

Don't forget to "burn them in" first under the light of the full moon at equinox while wrapped in monk cloth... otherwise they's sound bad



Cheers!

[d to the g]

Originally Posted by Spasticteapot

using high-quality XLR connectors is only 40% the cost of Speakon stuff.

That's pretty much the opposite of what I found. I wonder if partsexpress was running a sale. Even the local proaudio places had speakon parts cheaper...

[Iain McNeill]

As long as the amps are single ended. Some class D amps have a differential output where you can't connect a common as you suggest.

...as for monk cloth, I find cheap nylons work just as well

[Geek]

Originally Posted by Iain McNeill

...as for monk cloth, I find cheap nylons work just as well

That could lead to anything from a warm, soft sound to really hot.. depending who was in 'em last

Cheers!

[dangus]

The main reason I can see is the risk of mixing inputs and outputs, since 3-pin XLR is mostly for lo-level signals. OTOH, if you have no other XLR stuff in a home setup, no risk. The common ground of a 3-wire cable certainly goes against the cult of bi-wiring. Also, tying the output commons of two amps together could be a bad idea.

XLR come in 4 to 6 pin versions. Not so common, and maybe more costly. Unless they aren't because the dealer is tired of dusting them.

There's also the Alcatel EP connectors; they're uncommon, but you might find a box of them used at some pro sound dealer. They're impressively supersized XLR connectors with plenty of pins. The receptacles fit the same cutouts as the round Speakon receptacles.

Finally, the venerable "Jones" plugs, which can be had with plenty of pins and handle reasonable currents.

[TheSeekerr]

Speakon's advantage lies mostly in its durability - the genuine Neutrik plugs are close to indestructable. This is a good feature on stuff that gets bashed around a bit. Also, the locking actually works, which is handy when the stage gets swarmed by 12 year old metal fans.

So far as making your own cables go, the advantage of Speakon is that the strain relief is built for the high gauge cable, whereas XLR is built for mic cables.

For home audio, though, it's probably overkill, unless you have a particularly brutal living room.

[Geek]

Originally Posted by TheSeekerr

For home audio, though, it's probably overkill, unless you have a particularly brutal living room.

My cats have tried their darnednest to try and kill my Neutrik RCA's to no avail

Cheers!

[Speedskater]

XLR come in 4 to 6 pin versions. Not so common, and maybe more costly. Unless they aren't because the dealer is tired of dusting them.

Unfortunately the 4 to 6 pin versions have much smaller pins and less current carrying capacity. I sometimes use these connectors for remote DC power supplies but only low current ones.