Speakon connector

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Neutrik Speakon. The connector barrels are approximately 26 millimetres (1 in) overall diameter.[1]

The Speakon (sometimes stylized speakON) is a type of cable connector, originally manufactured by Neutrik, mostly used in professional audio systems for connecting loudspeakers to amplifiers.

The name Speakon is a registered trademark.[2] Other manufacturers make compatible products,[3] often under the name speaker twist connector.

Speakon connectors are rated for 40 A RMS continuous current, higher than 1/4-inch TS phone connectors, two-pole twist lock, and XLR connectors for loudspeakers. Compared to standard phone plugs, Speakon connectors also have the following advantages:[4]

  • No possible confusion with low-current microphone or instrument cables.
  • They lock into their sockets with a twisting motion, making them significantly less prone to disconnection than standard phone plugs.
  • They are shielded from human touch, preventing electrical shock from a high-powered amplifier.
  • The contacts do not short out during connection or disconnection. This can be a benefit when working with sound equipment that is in operation.
  • The chassis receptacles are airtight, so do not provide an air leak path from speaker enclosures.

A Speakon connector is designed with a locking system that may be designed for soldered or screw-type connections. Line connectors (female) mate with (male) panel connectors and typically a cable will have identical connectors at both ends. If it is needed to join cables, a coupler can be used (which essentially consists of two panel connectors mounted on the ends of a plastic tube). Recently the manufacturer has introduced a new series called STX which includes also male line connectors and female panel connectors (in the four-pole and eight-pole version only).

Speakon connectors are designed to be unambiguous in their use in speaker cables. With jack and XLR connections, it is possible to use low-current shielded microphone or instrument cables in a high-current speaker application. Speakon cables are intended solely for use in high current audio applications.

Speakon connectors arrange their contacts in two concentric rings, with the inner contacts named +1, +2, etc. and the outer contacts named −1, −2, etc.[5] The phase convention is that positive voltage on the + contact causes air to be pushed away from the speaker.

Speakon connectors are made in two, four and eight-pole configurations. The two-pole line connector will mate with the four-pole panel connector, connecting to +1 and −1; but the reverse combination will not work. The eight-pole connector is physically larger to accommodate the extra poles. The four-pole connector is the most common at least from the availability of ready-made leads, as it allows for things like bi-amping (two of the four connections for the higher-frequency signal, with the other two for the lower-frequency signal) without two separate cables. Similarly, the eight-pole connector could be used for tri-amping (two poles each for low, mid and high frequencies with two unused), or quad-amping (two poles each for high, mid, low and sub).

Another use for the four-pole cable is to carry two channels of amplified signal from an amplifier to a pair of loudspeakers using a 'combiner' Y-lead connected to the two output channels, and a 'splitter' Y-lead to feed the loudspeakers. The 'combiner' and 'splitter' Y-leads are the same: two two-pole connectors on one end, connected to the ±1 and ±2 pins, respectively, of a four-pole line connector at the other end.[6] Some amplifiers and mixer-amplifiers are configured to do this without the need for a 'combiner'.

Also available are 2-pole "combo" receptacles that can also accept 4-pole cables and 1/4″ phone plugs.

See also

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Neutrik. Speakon trademark page
  3. E.g. Switchcraft HPC (High Power Connectors) Series
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Electronics 2000 | Pin-outs | Speakon Connectors
  6. MX21's bi-amp information: custom speakon cable

External links