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Can I simply swap in a 14" jack for an existing Speakon jack on a speaker cab? It has 2 Speakons in parallel, and I just want to replace one for convenience & flexibility. I don't anticipate ever using both inputs together, but ya never know.
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07-21-2025 08:23 AM
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Yes. But I’d replace one with a combo Speakon / 1/4” jack instead. It’s a direct drop-in and will look exactly like the original. Check the current ones first to be sure one or both are not already combo jacks. The center hole is not large enough to accept a 1/4” plug in the standard Speakon. If you can easily plug a 1/4” plug in, it’s a combo jack.
Originally Posted by Woody Sound
The combos are not air tight. So if your cab is sealed, they may affect sound quality. So would a standard 1/4” jack. So you’d have to use an enclosed, sealed 1/4” jack or seal the combo Speakon (eg with silicone - there are no sealed ones of which I’m aware). Another solution for this issue would be to attach a cylinder of some kind to the inside surface of the panel to surround the back of the jack, and seal the open end with silicone around the wires coming out of the back of the jack.
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Or keep it simple - get an adapter.
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Thanks. I thought about the combo jack, but I wasn't sure about the wiring. They're definitely not combos. It's a ported older Raezer Acoustic 10, so it should be ok with a small gap. I called RE, and they told me it's unusual, and most likely was special ordered that way.
Re the adapter, I already bought one to get me in business immediately, but I don't want to have another small thing to have to keep track of.
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The RE cabs I've seen (and owned, still have one) have one SpeakOn and one 1/4" jack. I've changed several 1/4" jacks to SpeakOn, never the other way, because IMO SpeakOn is far superior in every way. I do have adapters, though, for use where necessary. I have some cables made up with 1/4" plug on one end, some with 1/4" jack, all with SpeakOn on the other end. I have different cabinets and amps with either, so I have to use adapters depending on which amp I'm using with which cabinet. I wish every company standardized on SpeakOn, but that's a futile hope. I'm seriously considering modifying my Toob Metro to a SpeakOn connector. I detest using 1/4" plugs on speaker cables.
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Other than that the cable can't be pulled out of the jack accidentally, which is not nothing, what do you find that is superior about Speakon connectors? I have them on my AI amp head and my RE cab, so I use them but I've never noticed any particular sonic superiority compared to 1/4" TS.
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A couple of subjective observations.
1) The Speakon Combo jacks I've stumbled on are meant to be soldered to PCBs. I bought 20 accidentally and have no use for them, because I use flat push-on connectors for the sake of convenience and making life easier for speaker-swappers. (A Dutch HiFi enthusiast sent me some premium cable and insisted on soldered joints on his daughter's Metro. Much to my surprise, the treble end did sound better.)
2) Millions and millions of guitar players past and present can attest to the fact that the 1/4" plug/jack combination works. However, it's definitely archaic and needs an excessive amount of metal for the currents it transfers, especially at the guitar end. Worse, inserting and removing the plug causes a momentary short if the system is on. We all know the sound when a guitar is plugged or unplugged. I've seen a DV Mark Little Jazz go up in smoke when an extension cab was connected while the amp was on.
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I haven't used 1/4" connectors for speakers in 23 years
Advantages of Speakons:
Locking: won't pull out accidentally, which could blow up your tube amp
Non-shorting: won't short when being inserted or removed, which could blow up your solid state amp
Fully insulated
Handles high currents: the output of high-power amps can exceed the rating of 1/4" connectors
Can't be confused with instrument cables.
I'm something of an expert on the intended use of 1/4" jacks and plugs:
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I bought a bunch of SpeakOn jacks from ebay that don't need to be used on circuit boards. I just solder the leads to the lugs, and use wood screws to secure the body to the cabinet back.
Like these: Pardon Our Interruption...
or these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/37365534975...Bk9SR9ifqvWFZg
No idea what bulk purchases would cost, nor where.
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No sonic difference that I can hear. The reason is that the connection is more secure, and the possibility of shorting during connection/disconnection is removed. The contacts cannot be shorted, unless by very intentional methods, and it would be difficult even if done intentionally. Blow up your amp one time, and you will tend to look for a better mousetrap. SpeakOn is a better mousetrap. Originally Posted by Cunamara
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It would be awesome if Speakon were the standard, but obviously that's far from the situation. I remember the arguments for dbx being so much better than dolby. Years ago I asked a very well respected recording engineer (working at the university level) about going with dbx for my home system. He said that dbx was far superior to dolby, but that dolby was so entrenched in the industry, that using dbx as your standard made it hard to work with others. Or Mac vs PC, or Beta vs VHS. But when it comes to sharing files, recordings, and yes, gear, using a product better/different than the industry standard can create problems if you want to mingle in the broader world.
Last edited by Woody Sound; 07-21-2025 at 11:08 PM.
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"Speakon compatible" means it's not a Neutrik original. Apparently, patents have run out a long time ago. For some reason, Neutrik keeps diversifying the models all the time. I buy 10-20 2-pole units for my bass cabs every once in a while, and they're always different in some way. Doesn't matter as long as the flange and mounting hole are the same, but recent editions of Neutrik's Speakon plugs have become monstrously large, hence protruding and vulnerable. Time to look at "compatibles"?
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Originally Posted by Gitterbug
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The only disadvantage to speakon is that they do not come out when yanked. Instead of a cable coming out, you could have an amp/cabinet coming down.
I do like speakon, and I use cables with right angle speakon connectors.
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Thanks, Never! Angled Speakon plugs are not in the Finnish importer's catalog, so I didn't know they exist. Nor does my cable maker. Rean's flathead 1/4" plugs were not in the catalog either, until I asked. Have to ask again.
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I like SpeakOn because no soldering is needed. Connections are by screws.
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I guess they forgot to Finnish the catalog update. Maybe they were in too much of a herring to get it out Originally Posted by Gitterbug
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You can buy the right-angle part separately, without having to buy a complete plug with it. It fits right on the back of the plug in place of the straight connector. I ordered some from mouser.com a few years ago, and they work well. Mouser can do either individual items or bulk, whatever you need. No idea about shipping from Texas to Finland, though. Ebay has all sorts of Speakon connectors and adapter cables.
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Thanks, all! I'm rejuvenating my bass cab line, so this info is of value.
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I wouldn't make a buying decision based solely on the type of speaker connection either an amp or a cabinet has, and I have some of both. But I do prefer Speakon because of the safety aspect. But it's not hard to convert a cabinet to Speakon, although it's beyond my willingness to convert an amp. I could probably do it if I were desperate, but I'm not. There are easier solutions.
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Alright, stop that. Stop that immediately! Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
I guess they forgot to Finnish the catalog update. Maybe they were in too much of a herring to get it out
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Oh cod! What have I done?? We can’t afjord to lose our sense of humor. Originally Posted by Ukena
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"Afjord????????"
How did that land in my Lapp?
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Are you guys Finnish yet? Originally Posted by Ukena
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For now. I’m busy playing my new guitar. It’s definitely a kipper. Originally Posted by Stringswinger
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