Best way to setup mains and wedges

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 8:42 pm

Hi all,

I am kind of new to the live sound scene.
Here is what I have to work with.
2 QSC RMX 1450 power amps
Mains: Yamaha S115V Speakers
Wedges: some horrible looking JBL's

The QSC's have speakon outputs but the yamahas only have 1/4".
should buy some speakon to 1/4" cables? right now the previous sound guy has the mains mono daisy-chained from the one QSC amp with the wedges running off the other QSC amp.

Thanks for the help!

-Chris W

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 3:40 pm

well I heard that you shouldnt use speakon to 1/4" cables for some reason.
I dont know why but make shure you are positive you wont blow anything with one of those cables. I'm not saying dont use speakon to 14" cables, but I'm just saying you should be careful with them. Dont even plug them in and turn your amps on unless your shure you wont blow anything.
Make shure you ask someone that knows a lot about this stuff.
Not me.
I'm an idiot

Later,
-Sam

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:53 am

The issue with Speakon-to-1/4" cables is really the same as with any speaker connection- polarity and # of terminals. People who make their own cables can easily screw up the terminations if they're not careful. And Speakons can handle more current reliably.
If you're going to do live sound, you should definitely get a Parts Express catalog (Google them). They have all sorts of cables and adapters for what you'll need (p.255) to do this. Carvin has them, as well as GC, too.
Just make sure that you properly "load" the amps with the correct speaker impedances.
And remember this:The uglier the wedge, the louder the wedge!

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 6:29 pm

Thanks for the replys
do find a cable tester like the Ebtech Swizz Army a hadny tool to have for live sound, or is it more gimmicky?

-Chris W

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 4:20 am

There are several good cable-testers out there. I'd go with the Whirlwind or the Eb-Tech. Stay away from the Rolls and the Behringers-both have real cheesey switches and connectors. Definitely a good investment, as are MagLites, Leatherman multi-tools, and about a guzzillion adapters...
Back to the tester...Whirlwind has been making them for over 30 years now, they are the industry standard, and are no more expensive than the Eb-Tech.

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