Speakon connectors (speaker connections)
In the old days, 1/4 \" connectors were used exclusively for speaker connection (other than the home speakers that had the wire coming out of the inside, and the screw terminal termination now called \"Euro block\" termination).
Then for a lack of a better plug, Edison 220/240 locking plugs started appearing on proprietary speakers (meaning ones built \"in house\".)
As the sophistication of the speakers increased a perceived need for a better connector was addressed and Neutrik created the NL series of connectors specifically for speakers... this is important since a specific type connector is then associated with that same application... and it's important that they NOT be interchangeable with the other type connectors, like the Edison/120/240volt plugs. This way a the two types cannot be used trans purpose... and someone that doesn't know any better won't plug a speaker into a wall outlet...and vise versa...
Capice? (understand...in Italian?)
I guess first off we should examine the different types of \"speakon\" connector...
There are three types to date:
1. NL2 has only 2 connections... they are 1+ and 1-
2. NL4 has 4 they are 1 + 1- and 2 + 2-
3. NL8, and you can well imagine the delineation of pins here.
In an NL2 type Speakon, the speaker would usually fall into the \"fullrange category\"
In an NL4 type, the woofer would run off pins 1+ and 1-, and the and the high frequency section would run off 2 + and 2-
A 4 way cabinet would require 8 'poles' from top to bottom, the highest component to the lowest with the highest number being the highest frequency....and on down.
High 4+/-
high mid 3+/-
low mid 2+/-
low 1+/-
Amps with speakon connectors usually also have a way to run a bi-amp speaker off one amp with only one cable with 4 conductors...the configurations are changed by switches on the amp back. One of the Speakon connectors usually provides all 4 connections... and would be labeled as such on the connector on the amp.
Then for a lack of a better plug, Edison 220/240 locking plugs started appearing on proprietary speakers (meaning ones built \"in house\".)
As the sophistication of the speakers increased a perceived need for a better connector was addressed and Neutrik created the NL series of connectors specifically for speakers... this is important since a specific type connector is then associated with that same application... and it's important that they NOT be interchangeable with the other type connectors, like the Edison/120/240volt plugs. This way a the two types cannot be used trans purpose... and someone that doesn't know any better won't plug a speaker into a wall outlet...and vise versa...
Capice? (understand...in Italian?)
I guess first off we should examine the different types of \"speakon\" connector...
There are three types to date:
1. NL2 has only 2 connections... they are 1+ and 1-
2. NL4 has 4 they are 1 + 1- and 2 + 2-
3. NL8, and you can well imagine the delineation of pins here.
In an NL2 type Speakon, the speaker would usually fall into the \"fullrange category\"
In an NL4 type, the woofer would run off pins 1+ and 1-, and the and the high frequency section would run off 2 + and 2-
A 4 way cabinet would require 8 'poles' from top to bottom, the highest component to the lowest with the highest number being the highest frequency....and on down.
High 4+/-
high mid 3+/-
low mid 2+/-
low 1+/-
Amps with speakon connectors usually also have a way to run a bi-amp speaker off one amp with only one cable with 4 conductors...the configurations are changed by switches on the amp back. One of the Speakon connectors usually provides all 4 connections... and would be labeled as such on the connector on the amp.
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