30 Metre speaker cable? Possible? Advisable?

Aubrey_Thicket

Hi all


I recently created another thread on the subject of Microphones on a small P.A System I am setting up for a local club. The advice I received there was fantastic and indeed I did end up buying the recommended Microphones.


So, on to my next question...


With this setup I have a Pulse PHM200 Amp which works perfect for the small room where it is situated. The existing Bose Speakers are perfect and the Mic was recommended by users on here. The setup is running well. So, as I have mentioned, there are 2 Bose speakers in the room where the Amp is situated. A lady asked me yesterday if it would be possible on a couple of occasions in Summer if it would have been possible to move one of the speakers outside. To me this was a perfectly good question but after a brief look on Amozon/Ebay there doesn't seem to be a raft of the cables I THINK I need. So, please can somebody advise me...Is is possible to buy a cable 30 metres in length that has speakon connectors at one end (to go into the back of the amp) and Jack connectors at the other? Bear in mind that the length is close on 30Metres is this recommended? I know there are speakon/Jack connectors but I also wanted to see if there is anything wrong with running such a long cable.


Thank you all

EssexExile

30m cables seem to be readily available.

keith969

At that length it would make sense to use 2.5mm copper cable to keep the resistance low. Cheap bell wire may be too lossy.

John_Gray

You can even get 500 ft speaker cable!

PS Words like rip and off might apply...

I_have_spoken

My experience is that amp/speakers that sound loud indoors become whisper quiet when used in the open air. 1kW is typically needed to get any volume with horn-loaded speaker arrays.

For a couple of times a year, I'd rent a PA that'll cope with being used outdoors.

Owain_Moneysaver

Get short jack-speakon cables to convert to speakon near the amp, then run everything else in speakon.

Jack plugs really aren't suitable for speaker use - there is a risk of shorting the amp when plugging in/out, and the risk of plugging a mic or line connection to a speaker jack and blowing something. And jack plugs don't take the thick cables you'll really need with long runs.

A couple of 70 watt outputs into box speakers won't give pop concert volume in a stadium but should be adequate for Councillor Thick to judge the bonny babies at a small outdoor gathering.

System

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

Jack plugs really aren't suitable for speaker use - there is a risk of shorting the amp when plugging in/out, and the risk of plugging a mic or line connection to a speaker jack and blowing something. And jack plugs don't take the thick cables you'll really need with long runs.

Everything in that post is wrong. The socket is designed so a short can't occur when plugging in/unplugging. You won't blow something accidentally plugging a mic or line connection to a speaker jack. 1/4" jack plugs are more than capable of taking thick cables for long runs. Got a flight case full of 50 metre and a couple of 100 metre long speaker cables with 1/4" jack plugs on the end.

Ainsley1

Been offline for a couple of days so sorry did not see your current posts.
Glad you sorted the mic issue.

On the long cables for speakers.
Go for the largest size of copper core you can buy and connect.....And install, bearing in mind things like trip hazard and tucking the cable out of the way.

The reason for going for 'big' cable is to keep it's impedance low relative to the speakers (impedance is roughly the resistance but taking into account the alternating current nature of the signal, still measured in ohms). Low impedance will tend to keep the electrical damping characteristics of the speaker as provided by the amplifier working without too much deterioration and thus keep quality as high as possible as well as power output from the speakers. (Posts above regarding wire sizes).

Ignore all 'specialist' speaker cables (unless economical) as low loss/oxegen free copper/gold plating etc will be of no benefit. Ordinary multistrand wire will do just as well....At a fraction of the cost! P.m. me if you wish to know how to twist two cheap wires together so that you can make up a cable from say a common 25m drum. With this method however you would need to add connectors. Otherwise the cheapest PVC covered cables of size you can source!-Definately NOT mic cable!!!

Another lateral thought. If outside you may need to protect your Bose speakers from rain AND moisture/high humidity in general. I don't have the details of your specific Bose ones but some speakers use loudspeaker cones based on paper or other materials affected by moisture and in the worst case they could be ruined! Do check. If going to be a problem it might be worth buying another suitable speaker for outside instead of one Bose. Some speakers (other than horn speakers) have moisture resistant cones and other parts designed for use in adverse conditions. You might get away with setting things up and using in dry conditions and bringing indoors as soon as finished with or if the weather turns! Your risk your decision.

Yes greater power is often required outside but I suspect for your use that might not be a problem (just turn it up a bit?) unless you use the other speaker inside at the same time when it might be too loud!! Ideally for both inside or outside use -a separate amp for each. Unfortunately the
Pulse is a 2channel output mono amp rather than stereo so does not have a balance control that would allow you to modify the output level of one speaker with respect to the other.