Apologies if this is posted in the wrong section. Please let me know and I’ll move.
I’ve build a couple of custom bookshelf speakers which sound really nice in my opinion.
One of the speakers has a 4x30 amplifier with dsp. There are two enclosures and each has a subwoofer and a full range drivers.
Where my design is really let down is with the speaker connectors, they feel cumbersome and clunky. I currently have 4 binding posts on the back of one enclosure which I used 4 cables with banana plugs to connect to the other enclosure.
Are there better connectors I could use? How about cables?
Some of my purchased speakers have custom cables and connectors so it’s just one cable with neat small form factor connectors. I think this would be way better but I’m not sure what to search for.
Thanks so much in advance and let me know if more info is required
I’ve build a couple of custom bookshelf speakers which sound really nice in my opinion.
One of the speakers has a 4x30 amplifier with dsp. There are two enclosures and each has a subwoofer and a full range drivers.
Where my design is really let down is with the speaker connectors, they feel cumbersome and clunky. I currently have 4 binding posts on the back of one enclosure which I used 4 cables with banana plugs to connect to the other enclosure.
Are there better connectors I could use? How about cables?
Some of my purchased speakers have custom cables and connectors so it’s just one cable with neat small form factor connectors. I think this would be way better but I’m not sure what to search for.
Thanks so much in advance and let me know if more info is required
The best connector is no connector. Beyond that it’s a crap shoot. One that you should not put so much thought into. Wires straight from driver to amp are best, sealed at the cabinet. The other best is solder direct to tabs. If these are not possible then feel free to listen to those who wish to offer their special collective wisdom.
Check out the speakON 4 conductor speaker cable and connectors.
Attachments
Thanks both, and yes I get the logic of no connector is best but I don’t think that’s an option here.
Will check out the speakon 4
Will check out the speakon 4
Banana plugs are probably adequate for 30 watt amps into 8 ohm speakers, but the spring force is too low to prevent oxidation over years. Oxidation leads to silence on low voltage passages like soft ones.
Oxidation can be prevented by a serious copper melding crimp, or by the force of screws on two mating surfaces. Speakon uses a screw on the wire. Old school had crimped spade lugs from Amp, (now TE connectivity) with a serious crimp by a professional tool, captured under screws of a terminal strip. The inside of the terminal strip had lugs the wires from the output device could be soldered to. This setup was reliable for decades on my ST70. ****ese spade lugs look just like AMP but the thinner metal leads to less long life. The cheap lugs will melt at 40 amps, I have proved on an automobile ignition circuit. . Other crimp lugs I have found to take the higher currents were Panduit, 3M, T&B, Ideal.
The germans used 5 pin DIN connectors for mid-power products, and I found one on a Sony receiver I am restoring Do not know if the socket force is high enough to prevent silent soft passages after years of use without removal and replacment. R&R scrapes the oxide off.
Oxidation can be prevented by a serious copper melding crimp, or by the force of screws on two mating surfaces. Speakon uses a screw on the wire. Old school had crimped spade lugs from Amp, (now TE connectivity) with a serious crimp by a professional tool, captured under screws of a terminal strip. The inside of the terminal strip had lugs the wires from the output device could be soldered to. This setup was reliable for decades on my ST70. ****ese spade lugs look just like AMP but the thinner metal leads to less long life. The cheap lugs will melt at 40 amps, I have proved on an automobile ignition circuit. . Other crimp lugs I have found to take the higher currents were Panduit, 3M, T&B, Ideal.
The germans used 5 pin DIN connectors for mid-power products, and I found one on a Sony receiver I am restoring Do not know if the socket force is high enough to prevent silent soft passages after years of use without removal and replacment. R&R scrapes the oxide off.
I used these and they've been spot on! Thanks so much for the recommendation.