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Author Topic: Splices in speaker wire runs Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 03-25-2003 06:30 PM                        OK, usually it's more like "where the hell'd I put my knife... damn, no time, I'll just use my teeth". Then it sometimes follows, "who the *&%# turned that amp / distribution breaker on! You *&%#@$! sonofa..."  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 03-25-2003 07:33 PM                    I am aware of a place that drives its Eastman 25 at silent speeds by way of an oscillator and an audio amp. So yeah they can put out some serious output.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-25-2003 09:55 PM                     I second the Speakon! We use them on our speakers. They're great! Virtually indestructible. Impossible to hook up wrong. (Assuming the connectors were wired correctly upon installation.) Can not short upon connection/disconnection. Positive locking upon insertion.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 03-26-2003 12:12 AM                     Actually, the 3-pin XLR is defined as having a 15amp current carrying capacity. That is one of its characteristics. Steve  |  IP: Logged Rob van Ede Film Handler Posts: 25 From: Zeist, The Netherlands Registered: Sep 2002 posted 03-26-2003 02:48 AM                        I've seen and used pro loudspeaker cabinets with XLR (speakerlevel) inputs. Never seen a burned connector though. One thing i have seen is someone using a microphone cable between amp and speaker. Halfway the evening all the insulation had melted. That can't happen with Speakon. I too see some problems on terminating decent speaker cable in an XLR connector.  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 03-26-2003 01:17 PM                     I would never use an XLR connector in a Speaker run. As Gordon said, AWG 10 or 12 wire just doesn't fit without birdcaging the wires. And, of course, there are many quality levels from puke to top-of-the-line XLR connectors. I think Switchcraft made the best, and Radio Trash made the worst. I have used wire nuts, and have hot had any problem with them. I have also used barrier strips that Aaron posted, and have not had any problem with those, either.  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 03-26-2003 06:04 PM                  I agree Paul. The "primo" Switchcraft and others are rated at 15 amps for the 3-pin. The more pins there are, the less the rating. The cheapos are lucky to keep that rating with a few uses. The XLR series all have a basic flaw as to their "contact" method and the cheapos use inferior spring metal material to save costs and will wear out much quicker than the "high-end" ones. All that aside, the BIGGEST (IF you're lucky) conductor you can get into a 3-pin is #12 solid. Much smaller for other pin configurations. Another BIG drawback is that the maximum cable you can squeeze into them is about 0.350 inches in diameter. That's OK if you use lamp cord or small-guage SO cable. All this might be OK for the low-power home use or road use, but the reputable professionals all will use Speakons for their road stuff. Stick to using XLR's for signal levels….gold contacts of course. >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 03-26-2003 08:23 PM                     Again...electrically, the XLR connector is a 15-amp connector in a 3-pin which means...14awg or smaller. No big mystery there. The 4-pin and larger configuration are only rated to 10amps (16awg and smaller). As to the max cable diameter...there are various boots to them, depending on manufacturer. I'm not claiming that the XLR is the speaker connector of choice but that there is nothing completely wrong with it. What I can't stand is those that use 1/4" phone plugs as speaker connectors (still don't in pro-audio...by the speaker manufacturers, no less). Unless you use the 1/4" plugs that have the wide insullation area, you will short out the amp when inserting or removing. Speakons are good though even Neutrik should be shot for their 13awg max wire spec (though you can fit 12/4 SJ in there). There needs to be a fat guage speaker connector invented and adopted. Steve  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 03-26-2003 08:28 PM                  People use larger than 14 guage wire for longer runs even though the circuit may only be capable of supplying 15amps. Also, I've seen many 4-pins used for bi-amp'd stuff. The 5-7 pin are rated less than 10 amps. (If I remember correctly, I think 7.5 amps) The largest boot I've seen would only accept a cable diameter of 0.350 inches... There may be others, but I'm not aware of them. It's not a good idea period! There are better solutions. I agree about those lame 1/4-inch phone plugs... YUK! >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-26-2003 10:23 PM                     I couldn't find a UL listing for any xlr's for anything but class B and CSA doesn't list them for any current application  |  IP: Logged William Bunch Film Handler Posts: 87 From: Misawa, Japan Registered: Nov 2001 posted 03-27-2003 01:49 AM                        Here's a question about speaker runs/connections: If you have an amp with both Speakon and barrier strip connections, which would you use? This is assuming a permanent system within a rack cabinet not subject to moving or tampering.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 03-27-2003 06:38 AM                     Speakon versus barrier strip... If you want the end user to be able to quickly switch out the amp...speakon...if you want the more reliable permanent and easier to install connection, barrier strip (more reliable due to fewer connections). Steve  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-27-2003 10:32 AM                     Just from a cost standpoint, SpeakOn connectors cost as much as $5 apeice. (Depending on the type and number of connections inside.) I imagine you can get barrier strips for less than $1 apeice. The only reason you would want to spend that kind of extra money is if you wanted to be able to move the speakers. Otherwise I would buy barrier strips. It would be money wasted.  |  IP: Logged

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