what type of speaker cable?

[vwflyer]

We are using a powered mixer and would like to install hanging speakers. The room has a drop ceiling in which we will run the speaker cables from the mixer to the speakers. I would like to use the speak-on connectors in the mixer's amp output. Should I buy speakers with speak-on inputs or buy a role of speaker wire and figure out some way to attach speak-on connectors to the mixer side and connect whatever kind of terminal to the speaker side that the speaker needs? I'm going to need about 80ft of speaker wire per channel and spools of speaker wire at this length is quite a bit cheaper than a pre-made speaker cable with speak-on ends.
Thanks,
John

[tdangelo]

If the cables are NOT running in the ceiling or inside walls or floors and are otherwise temporary you can run 12/2, 12/3 or 12/4 stranded Belden SJ or SJO. The "12" stands for guage and the "/2," "12/3" etc. stands for how many conductors the cable will have.

If the cables ARE running in the ceiling or inside walls or floors and are otherwise permanent than SJ or SJO will likely not meet code regulations. Someone else will need to chime in.

If the speakers do not have Speakon you can buy (or build) a cable with Speakon on one end and something else on the other.

[bpalermini]

Yea, just buy the connectors you need and make your own cables. But be sure to use legal cable for your installation.

[pdc]

"Hanging speakers":
What kind? Are these true flyable boxes?

Cable:
Plenum rated cable is just as cheap as non. Use plenum rated wire and you can put it anywhere and call it a day.

Size:
12AWG will be fine.

[Brad Weber]

Belden, West Penn, Canare, Gepco, Liberty... the list goes on for acceptable manufacturers.

The drop ceiling does suggest that you may need to verify if the space above the ceiling is considered a plenum, such as being used for return air, and thus requires plenum rated cable.

While the power output of the amplifier, the impedance of the speaker, the run length, etc. are all potential factors, I agree that 12AWG cable would typically be fine for the type of use noted. I just wanted it to be clear that recommendation is not necessarily applicable for all applications.

I also agree that you need to be very careful of both the products and installation when addressing hanging or flying speakers overhead. You don't want to end up with one of the all too common improper and dangerous installations of flown speakers.

[vwflyer]

Hey guys,

Thanks for your replies. I didn't even notice that you had all responded as I was waiting for an email letting me know and never got one. I thought I had it set to notify me when I received a response but I guess not. I thought that nobody wanted to talk to me but it turns out this forum is full of helpful people.

I chatted with a tech guy online at Monoprice.com and he says that I can't attach speakOn connectors to their 12 gage speaker wire.

monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023901&p_i d=3844&seq=1&format=2

Why would that be? Is it that the cable isn't fat enough for the collar to grip it, or is the outer insulation too stiff for the collar to dig in and grip or what? Or does he just not know what he is talking about?

Any suggestions for online retailers that sells Plenum rated cables?
We are located in northern Mexico and so the laws differ somewhat from stateside laws (not much in the way of building codes here, mostly just use common sense).

We haven't decided how to hang the speakers yet. We haven't picked out the speakers either. It's a mexican style construction (concrete ceiling, block and concrete walls with plaster). Whether we fly the speakers from the ceiling or hang them from the walls they will have to be anchored in with concrete bolts.

[tdangelo]

Originally Posted by vwflyer

Why would that be? Is it that the cable isn't fat enough for the collar to grip it

Doesn't make sense since heat shrink tubing or electrical tape would easily allow you to build-up the jacket to any needed diameter.

Originally Posted by vwflyer

or is the outer insulation too stiff for the collar to dig in and grip or what?

Even then looping the cable back onto itself would provide adequate strain relief so the connections are not ripped out of the Speak-on.

Originally Posted by vwflyer

Or does he just not know what he is talking about?

Hmm, not sure what to say about that other than it sounds like a Proverbs 15:22 thing.

Check out Redco as an alternative. They are great at custom stuff

http://www.redco.com/

[Brad Weber]

Originally Posted by vwflyer

I chatted with a tech guy online at Monoprice.com and he says that I can't attach speakOn connectors to their 12 gage speaker wire.

monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023901&p_i d=3844&seq=1&format=2

Why would that be? Is it that the cable isn't fat enough for the collar to grip it, or is the outer insulation too stiff for the collar to dig in and grip or what? Or does he just not know what he is talking about?

Interesting since the premade cables they offer are supposedly 12AWG, http://www.monoprice.com/products/se...peakon&x=0&y=0.

[vwflyer]

Well, I called the good people at Churchmedia.net and asked them if I could connect speakon connectors to their in-wall bulk speaker wire and he assured me that that is what speakon connectors are designed to connect to. I was thinking that maybe speakons are designed to only connect to stage type speaker cable which has a fat black rubber housing but he assured me that that isn't the case and that they will go on 12 AWG 2 conductor twisted pair in-wall speaker wire just fine.
I think that Proverbs 15:22 applies very well here.
Thanks for your help guys.

[EmilBarnabas]

You can connect speakONs to just about any kind of wire.

The older style used a small 1.5 mm allen/hex wrench to tighten the wires once they were inserted into the connector, but now I see that the new speakONs use a #1 Pozidrive driver, which is like a Phillips screw driver, but different. (The nice thing about 'standards' is that there are enough of them so everyone can have their own!)

[vwflyer]

I've never seen one of those drivers before. I guess I should get one while I order the connectors.
Thanks

[prochlea]

I've never had a problem using a tweaker to tighten them. (tiny flat head)