A major breakthrough for the live industry came in 1987, with Neutrik’s debut of the speakON created specifically for speaker connections. A new EU European Low Voltage Directive required that any connector capable of carrying more than 50 volts must be protected against inadvertent contact. Obviously, other connectors — such as banana plugs and 1/4-inch styles — did not meet this requirement.
With that goal in mind, Neutrik developed both cable and chassis versions of the speakON. This not only covered the needs of the new standard, but also added a secure twist-locking mechanism and solderless (fast assembly) terminations in a reliable, rugged and near-indestructible form factor. And all of these attributes were ideally suited for professional sound reinforcement applications.
Eventually, the original 2-pole speakON connector line was expanded, adding 4- and 8-pole variations for mono- or multi-amping — all with full protection against arcing damage if disconnected under load. Since 1987, the Neutrik speakON has gone on to become a world standard in sound reinforcement amplifier/speaker connections, where a high-current, inductive load environment is the norm.
Another world standard from Neutrik arrived in 1992, with Combo, a design that placed a 1/4-inch TRS jack in the center of a female XLR receptacle. It was an immediate hit. Based on the overwhelming world success of the Combo XLR, Neutrik eventually debuted a Combo version of the speakON, which placed a female 1/4-inch jack in the center of a panel-mount speakON connector. To differentiate the Combo speakOn from a standard speakON receptacle, the Combo versions are molded in a green-colored material.
Building on the speakON’s near-decade of success, in 1996 Neutrik developed the powerCON, a locking AC power connector that easily handled 120 or 240 volts and featured a pre-mating contact for ground connection before power. Unlike the computer-style IEC power connectors, powerCON locks into place with a simple twist for a secure connection.
2017 and Beyond
With the speakON continuing its worldwide acceptance after three decades, we thought we’d take a moment to offer congratulations on this historic run. We’d also like to present a few surprising facts about SpeakON, penned by Neutrik USA’s Fred Morgenstern.
For more information about speakON, visit Neutrik at www.neutrik.us.
Thirteen Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About speakON
By Fred Morgenstern
In celebration of speakON’s 30th anniversary, we bring you a few obscure (and some not-so-obscure) facts about the amplifier-to-loudspeaker connector that changed the world.
1. speakON is designed solely for audio amplifiers and speakers.
Audio — music or speech — is highly variable, with loud and soft passages. The electrical signal varies accordingly, as opposed to a typical appliance, such as light fixtures or refrigerators. Their power draw is fairly constant, perhaps with some “on” and “off” states, some inrush current, and some other temporary conditions, but still, for the most part, constant.
The speakON was created specifically for the inherent variability of audio signals. Designed, tested and agency-rated specifically for that purpose, speakON should only be used for audio signals.
2. A 2-pole speakON cable connector (NL2FX) can be plugged into any 4-pole speakON chassis connector, but…
This way, you can access terminals 1+ and 1- of a chassis connector, simply leaving the chassis connector’s terminals 2+ and 2- untouched.
However, you cannot plug a 4-pole cable connector into a 2-pole chassis connector. Also, you cannot connect anything but an 8-pole cable connector into an 8-pole chassis connector. The only “weird” combination that works is plugging NL2FX (or its discontinued predecessor NL2FC) into a 4-pole speakON chassis connector.
3. Some speakON connectors are weather resistant.
In the STX (“touring”) series, the 4-pole connectors (when mating STX to STX) are weatherproof to IP54. The 8-pole connectors (when mating STX to STX) are weatherproof to IP50. These IP ratings are only achieved in the mated condition, not unmated.
4. Hate soldering and crimping?
Neutrik offers a screw-terminal chassis connector — the NL4MP-ST, which is equipped with easy-to-terminate screw terminals.
5. speakON / ¼” combo connectors are (probably) not for you.
Like its Combo XLR / ¼” chassis connectors, Neutrik also makes speakON / ¼” Combo chassis connectors. However, if you want to integrate these into your own setup, you’re probably out of luck: these speakON / ¼” combo connectors are only offered with contacts for printed circuit boards — and not with solder or tab terminations.
Why? In the early days of speakON, some large manufacturers insisted on being able to offer either a speakON or a traditional ¼” connection to their end users. The combo connector allows this option. However, for individual customers (such as yourself and your sound company) you can make that choice yourself. Neutrik wants you to choose speakON, so for standard terminations, we do not offer the Combo connector option.
6. Good luck differentiating among NL8MPR*, NLT8MP* and NL8MD-V* series of connectors.
All three connectors look the same from the front. The
difference is at the rear. Shown at left, the NL8MPR* contacts have little cut marks on their edges and can be soldered or terminated with 3/16-inch flat tabs like NLFASTON. The NLT8MP* (center in photo) contacts are slightly larger and longer, and their edges do not have these cuts. These contacts can be soldered or terminated with commonly available 1/4-inch flat tabs. Pictured at right, the NL8MD-V* has angled contacts for use on printed circuit boards.
7. The NL8MPR and NL8MPR-BAG are square parts, but used to be round.
Up until about 2002, these 8-pole chassis connectors were round (“R” for “round”). When we changed the parts to the square, G-size cutout (in response to multiple requests from the largest customers of these parts), we did not change the part numbers. So, now “R” stands for “rectangular”… I suppose. By contrast, the NL4MPR began its life as a round part and remains round to this day. Confused yet? If you ever need to retrofit a speaker or amplifier with an older-style, round NL8MPR, use the newer style (square) NL8MPR along with the sealing gasket SCNLT, which will cover up any spaces that might have been cut for the older, round NL8MPR.
8. Neutrik offers a red-colored chassis connector used to indicate bridged operation.
The red NL4MD-V-R is a PCB-mount part. If you need a solder-or tab-terminated part, consider using our standard black chassis connectors (NL4MD*) along with the SCDP-2 red-colored gasket.
9. Use a Pozidriv #1 screwdriver to tighten the cable connector screws.
Do not use a Phillips-head screwdriver. A Phillips-head screwdriver will not make proper contact to the screw head and may strip or otherwise damage the screw head.
10. You can use speakON with thin cable.
The standard cable diameter range for NL4FX is 7mm to 14.5mm. However, for thinner 5mm to 8mm cable, we offer the NLRR reduction bushing.
11. Don’t use speakON with solid wire.
Use stranded wire. Solid wire may not acceptably terminate to speakON’s contacts.
12. Neutrik offers a speakON cable connector with gold contacts
The NL4FC-B has a black body, yellow/gold latch and gold-plated contacts. This is the only speakON option with gold contacts. There are no speakON chassis connectors with gold contacts. The rationale for this disparity is that cable ends in heavy usage might be more subject to environmental degradation than chassis-side connectors.
13. Audio connector or climbing apparatus?
Neutrik was surprised when various audio technicians told us that one reason they liked speakON was that while connected to the rear of loudspeaker cabinets, they could use these as toeholds for climbing up the rear of loudspeaker stacks. This is not recommended! Neutrik has no ratings or guarantees for using speakON as a climbing device. Still, these engineers were quite excited when Neutrik introduced our STX (touring) series speakON connectors, with even more heavy duty, metal cable connector bodies.
You may have known some of these, but did you know them all? If so, email our marketing and communications manager Janet Tufo (jtufo@neutrikusa.com) and let us know.
Fred Morgenstern is the product director of Neutrik USA.
