Making speakon cables??

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Chris Glover

Chris Glover

Active DJ
Jan 11, 2014
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I'm looking into making my own speakon cables as due to the fact that my next weeding in two weeks requires me to set in one place and have my cabs in another (65') away from my table. I was wondering if I could use the soow cable 12/3 cable from lowes the make my own? As 50' is too short and I have no need for 100'. Please let me know what u guys think.
 
SO cable is fine .. often better than quality speaker cable, but 12/3 will be heavier than needed. HD/Lowes will normally have 12/2, which would be lighter and less expensive. I made many cables over the years from 12/2 SOOW. Also use quality Speakons (Neutrik). The Chinese clone stuff is crap. I've used a number of pre-made cables over the years on other systems and maybe 50% of the connectors (non-Neutrik) broke or were in the process of doing so.
 
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I've made my own using SO 10/2 and I have no complaints and no problems.
 
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DJ SVO is spot on, if you are going to run lengths over 50' with high power settings, then 12/2 is starting to be borderline. Spend a little extra and go with the 10/2. If you are not going to be driving high volumes then 12/2 will be fine, even out to 100' plus.
 
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You've got to be pushing a LOT of current to need greater than 12ga cable. Not that there's anything wrong with 10ga, but with a roughly 5% loss over 100 feet and capacity of over 35A outside a conduit, you've got to be pushing a continuous 4000w per channel to need it. For 100' power cables, it makes sense, since we tend to load those close to capacity at times, but with a typical amp pushing less than 2000w/ch peak, you'd need to be running 150'+ to need 10ga. If you have it, no issues, it's just more weight than you need.
 
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Chris Glover said:
So if I buy 12/2 and Neutrik speakon connectors I'll be good?
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Yes .. use the 4 conductor Speakons if you can, they're a little easier to handle as they are slightly larger, even though you'll only use 2 of the 4 possible conductors (pair 1+ and 1-). Price is usually only a dollar or 2 difference. .. And if you find cable of type SO, SOOW, SJOW, SJOOW or SEOW, go for those .. they will have a softer, more pliable jacket than other types, and it will usually coil easier.
 
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Bridge mono will do that. Just found it easier to buy a couple of rolls and put together different lengths and back ups (No, I'm not paranoid, crap happens when you least expect it ;) ). Besides, you should've seen my friends face when I replaced a distributor in the middle of nowhere :D you can never have too much backup ;)
 
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I'm not a fan of the white jacket, but I've made a number of custom cables with 12ga Monoprice cable, and absolutely love them. The pair of 100'ers doesn't get used all that often, but is sure handy to know you have with. They also lay very nice when you uncoil them -- something I was worried about.

I recommend you get actual Neutrik ends, as pictured -- not the knock-off ones.

For weddings and most -normal- events, I end up using a pair of black 12ga 50s.


monoprice.png
 
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I don't do passive much these days, but I have a bunch of the Neutrik-to-Neutrik connectors to extend cables. This way you can keep a 75', a 50' and a 25' pair and get 100', 125' or 150' if needed by connecting them. I think I have 6 or 8 of the connectors.

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I just got rid of a half dozen of the connectors, now that I am down to just one passive rig (and it is pretty much the studio set up). They do work well but they are not cheap.
 
oldschooldj said:
It was about 6 bucks each, but for a small peice of plastic I thought that was a lot.
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Still cheaper than 2 male connectors and a piece of cable. :) I think I was buying them on eBay for 4 for $20 shipping included at one point.

BTW, if you make up SpeakON cables, use the SPX version instead of the slightly cheaper FC (older style). The latch release is more of a rocking motion instead of the older sliding motion, which starts to hurt the old finger tips with some tight connectors. No need for the fancy STX version (all metal) unless you throw them around.

The SPX also comes in different colors and has available right-angle converter and coloring bands .. worth the extra $1.
 
Cables are ok, though a little stiff IMO. Connectors are junk.
 
Chris Glover said:
Thanx Steve. I appreciate the honesty
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Other people like the cables and it's fairly easy to replace the connectors with Neutrik Ones ... they screw connect at the wire ends.
 
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