Hi, I have added a photo in my gallery section here that is from a powersoft manual. I have a few questions regarding this: In the top part the outputs are nl4 on each channel and the manual says to use 4core cable. Why is this? Will using 2 core be any different?
In the second part of the picture regarding bridging. If I wanted to do this would I be right in saying I'd need to make up a special y cable or use a speakon splitter ?
It's the first amp I've seen like this hence my confusion.
Thanks
Q
In the second part of the picture regarding bridging. If I wanted to do this would I be right in saying I'd need to make up a special y cable or use a speakon splitter ?
It's the first amp I've seen like this hence my confusion.
Thanks
Q
Okay, so...
- they want you to use 4-core cable because Powersoft amps tend to be used at high powers and low impedances, meaning lots of current. 4-core cables (in their diagrams, the cores are run in parallel, carrying the same current) give you more copper, meaning (I^2)*R losses drop.
- You could use 2-core cable, it'd be fine.
- Bridged mode will require a Y-cable.
Chris
- they want you to use 4-core cable because Powersoft amps tend to be used at high powers and low impedances, meaning lots of current. 4-core cables (in their diagrams, the cores are run in parallel, carrying the same current) give you more copper, meaning (I^2)*R losses drop.
- You could use 2-core cable, it'd be fine.
- Bridged mode will require a Y-cable.
Chris
The reason for 4 conductor cable is there are various inexpensive options in 4SO cable to power three phase motors. See this page.
McMaster-Carr
The ultraflexible 10 gage cable is what I use, 7081K42 at $3.27 a foot. Rated 25 amps per wire, of course will go higher in music service. Paralleling two cables will halve the resistance. I can get the 4so10 cable (electrical supply language) to work with the 90 deg angle switchcraft phone plug, but not pomona phone plugs. What gauge you can get on neutrix is up to you to determine. 8 would allow even bigger peak currents.
BTW I find on my solid state amps that 10' of 4SO10 has less IM distortion on top octave piano, than 20' of 18 ga zip cord. Pianos are not supposed to have vibrato, which the 18 ga cord promotes on the top octave. HighFrequency Iintermodulation distortion, Mr Faley calls it. No meter required to hear it, just great speakers and a good source. I use Peter Nero, Young & Warm & Wonderful which has a top octave solo passage.
McMaster-Carr
The ultraflexible 10 gage cable is what I use, 7081K42 at $3.27 a foot. Rated 25 amps per wire, of course will go higher in music service. Paralleling two cables will halve the resistance. I can get the 4so10 cable (electrical supply language) to work with the 90 deg angle switchcraft phone plug, but not pomona phone plugs. What gauge you can get on neutrix is up to you to determine. 8 would allow even bigger peak currents.
BTW I find on my solid state amps that 10' of 4SO10 has less IM distortion on top octave piano, than 20' of 18 ga zip cord. Pianos are not supposed to have vibrato, which the 18 ga cord promotes on the top octave. HighFrequency Iintermodulation distortion, Mr Faley calls it. No meter required to hear it, just great speakers and a good source. I use Peter Nero, Young & Warm & Wonderful which has a top octave solo passage.
There are a couple ways 4-core speaker cable can be useful, it can be used to biamp a speaker cabinet with 2 separate amp channels... lows on one pair and highs on the other, or you could combine both pairs into a single amp channel or across a bridged pair to deliver high power levels to a single speaker system.
But 4 core is not necessary for a traditional stereo speaker setup, for that you just need 2 core.
But 4 core is not necessary for a traditional stereo speaker setup, for that you just need 2 core.
Thanks Chris, I have a few lengths of 6mm so that should do the job. Only 10m runs.
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