POD go into FRFR speaker (Alto TS412) - what kind of cable, and a little confusion

[daveaphotopod]

I've searched around, and I've seen suggestions of a 1/4" TRS to the same cable. So, I hear to my local Guitar Center and I try to locate them and they are near the keyboards, and they are labeled, I believe as speaker cables. Hard to say because there's no photos of the packaging on the web site. 

 

2 things to clear up. 1. I am well aware I can ask the staff. I was just browsing, and the store was busy, and I had errands to run 2. I understand in the title I said speaker, and I also mentioned that the packaging says speaker, so....that makes sense. However, I have heard/seen other people mention that it should be an instrument cable. (which is probably the primary reason I am confused) 

[silverhead]

Yets, there is confusion. I am confused about what you are asking, since you didn’t actually ask a question or at least it isn’t clear. A TRS cable is typically for stereo signals,  but you only mention one speaker. And I don’t believe there’s any difference between a speaker cable and an instrument cable. A cable is a cable. The type of shielding and the end jacks matter, but neither makes one cable a speaker cable and another an instrument cable. Please clarify your question. 

[voxman55]

@silverheadsaid "And I don’t believe there’s any difference between a speaker cable and an instrument cable" - huge, HUGE difference!  If you get it wrong you can damage your speakers! 

Guitar cables are unbalanced

microphone cables are balanced

Speaker cables are unbalanced BUT they are heavier duty with thicker gauge wire because they carry a heavier load

In theory, unless your FRFR and Pod Go are more than say 10m away you can use an unbalanced guitar cable and it shouldn't make a difference.  However, I recommend you use a TRS stereo balanced cable ( I use a Stagg balanced stereo TRS cable) because some guitar cables simply don't give as good signal strength and sound.  Note: A powered FRFR speaker is NOT like a guitar speaker cab, so you do not use a speaker cable. 

 

https://www.gak.co.uk/en/stagg-sac-stereo-jack-balanced-cable-6m20ft-sac6ps-dl/117208

See this video:
 

 

And this one:

 

And this is good to understand balanced v unbalanced if you want a bit more techy savvy.
 

 

[silverhead]

I stand corrected. Thanks voxmann55. I wasn’t aware of that. Apologies for providing incorrect information. I hope it ultimately did/does not cause harm to anyone’s equipment.

[daveaphotopod]

On 11/27/2023 at 8:07 AM, silverhead said:

I stand corrected. Thanks voxmann55. I wasn’t aware of that. Apologies for providing incorrect information. I hope it ultimately did/does not cause harm to anyone’s equipment.

 

All good. I haven't purchased or done anything yet. Appreciate you trying to help. 

[daveaphotopod]

On 11/27/2023 at 6:09 AM, voxman55 said:

@silverheadsaid "And I don’t believe there’s any difference between a speaker cable and an instrument cable" - huge, HUGE difference!  If you get it wrong you can damage your speakers! 

Guitar cables are unbalanced

microphone cables are balanced

Speaker cables are unbalanced BUT they are heavier duty with thicker gauge wire because they carry a heavier load

In theory, unless your FRFR and Pod Go are more than say 10m away you can use an unbalanced guitar cable and it shouldn't make a difference.  However, I recommend you use a TRS stereo balanced cable ( I use a Stagg balanced stereo TRS cable) because some guitar cables simply don't give as good signal strength and sound.  Note: A powered FRFR speaker is NOT like a guitar speaker cab, so you do not use a speaker cable. 

 

https://www.gak.co.uk/en/stagg-sac-stereo-jack-balanced-cable-6m20ft-sac6ps-dl/117208

See this video:
 

 

And this one:

 

And this is good to understand balanced v unbalanced if you want a bit more techy savvy.
 

 

 

Thank you! I appreciate it. 

 

So I can assume that something like this will work, then? (and yes, I may be about that far. it depends on the setup/venue. Obviously not in all cases.) 

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Livewire/Advantage-Interconnect-Cable-1-4-TRS-to-1-4-TRS-20-ft-Black-1500000013744.gc

[voxman55]

On 11/27/2023 at 3:15 PM, daveaphotopod said:

 

Thank you! I appreciate it. 

 

So I can assume that something like this will work, then? (and yes, I may be about that far. it depends on the setup/venue. Obviously not in all cases.) 

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Livewire/Advantage-Interconnect-Cable-1-4-TRS-to-1-4-TRS-20-ft-Black-1500000013744.gc

 

It's TRS so it should be balanced - but odd the ad doesn't actually say balanced (you'll notice the GAK link made it clear), hence I'd be inclined just to double check with them.

[trainguy]

If I may extend this line of thought - if I want to continue the chain out of the Alto (or Headrush FRFR108 which I use) into FOH, there is an XLR out of the Headrush for this purpose.  Will changing the volume on the FRFR108 affect the signal strength to FOH, or will it only affect the volume of the FRFR?

 

tg

[voxman55]

On 12/16/2023 at 3:16 AM, trainguy said:

If I may extend this line of thought - if I want to continue the chain out of the Alto (or Headrush FRFR108 which I use) into FOH, there is an XLR out of the Headrush for this purpose.  Will changing the volume on the FRFR108 affect the signal strength to FOH, or will it only affect the volume of the FRFR?

 

tg

Just the volume on the FRFR - the FOH main board controls the XLR signal