Speakon 4-pole & 2-pole. Help!

[Corabar Steve]

What's the difference?

Would some amps or speakers not work with 2-pole?

How many poles are actually used between amp & speaker?

[TonyB]

Usual wiring is for just 2 of the poles, +1 and -1.

The other two poles are used if for example you want to run one cable for a bi-amped system then you could use +1 and -1 for the bass bins and +2 and -2 for the tops.

[Paul James Promotions]

Just to add to that reply, yes you can use a 2-pole connector in a 4-pole socket, if you are only using two core cable.

[Corabar Steve]

Ta, as I thought.

[spin mobile disco]

Or if you have a quadraphonic amp it can carry 2 signals out on each cable to first one set then other without having to worry about impedence or extra cables.
To be fair only big installs or outdoor gigs require it, out door because less cabling means less mucky gear and less thing for peopel to trip over.
Inside it means you can run front and back sound in a room with half the cabling. Much easier and less likely intrusive.
Just like having iec connector or bulgin 8 way. Both can do the same thing but one takes less romm and can be a bit tidier than 8 iec's.

[Paul James Promotions]

To be fair only big installs or outdoor gigs require it, out door because less cabling means less mucky gear and less thing for peopel to trip over.


The Basys system (and I assume a fair few other systems) use 4 core cable to connect from amplifier to subs, then a small 2 core cable to connect from subs to mid/tops. Only a 1200watt compact system.

[colint]

The Basys system (and I assume a fair few other systems) use 4 core cable to connect from amplifier to subs, then a small 2 core cable to connect from subs to mid/tops. Only a 1200watt compact system.

Ditto, I do the same on all my stuff 1+ 1- for mid/hi & 2+ 2- for bass makes things nice and tidy!

and you can't use a 4 pole speakon in a 2 pole socket

[Tom]

so just to clear things up. if you have an amp and 4 speakers

would you use 4 pole from the amp to the first set of speakers then 2 pole from the main speaker to the other speaker. if you under stand that at all???

[Paul James Promotions]

so just to clear things up. if you have an amp and 4 speakers

would you use 4 pole from the amp to the first set of speakers then 2 pole from the main speaker to the other speaker. if you under stand that at all???

No, not if the speakers are standard 'off the shelf' units. Chances are they are all wired to accept signal from pins 1+ and 1- only. The other pins are probrably not used.

If using seperate bass and mid/top cabinets, you can re-wire your equipment to do this, and I would be happy to talk you through it.

If however they are all full range speakers, I would keep the cables seperate.

[colint]

so just to clear things up. if you have an amp and 4 speakers

would you use 4 pole from the amp to the first set of speakers then 2 pole from the main speaker to the other speaker. if you under stand that at all???

no just use 4 pole connectors on everything it makes life so much easier then at a later date if you want to bi-amp the system you just add some 4 core cable to the system.

this does of course mean you'll have to re-wire the outs on your rack (assuming you use a connector plate on the rack) and also the inputs/link outputs on your bass cabs
doing it like this means you only have 2 cables running across the stage & makes everything much neater & we like neat don't we?