What are the thingamabobs called you can use on some speakers to adjust the gain of the high frequencies?

[BrainBugs]

So I have a pair of speakers that have the option to adjust the gain of high frequencies by one or two dB by putting the thingamabobs in a certain position (see image).
Does anyone know what these are called? I seem to have lost mine and would like to buy a pair, that is if they are sold seperately.

 

[egellings]

Likely just a resistor used as an attenuator.

 

[Jimbob54]

Switches? ;-)

 

[mhardy6647]

Often done with L-pads (fixed or variable)

Sometimes with (single) switched, fixed resistances (e.g., the famous, and justly so, Dynaco A-25 -- one of the best-selling loudspeakers yet produced).

(both borrowed images)

In terms of the OP's question -- I suspect the posts above have nailed it.

 

[DVDdoug]

I've never seen anything like that...

Did you just get one per speaker or did you get a selection?

It could be a resistor or maybe a shunt (just a wire or a short circuit).

Passive crossovers have capacitors, inductors, and sometimes resistors. That thing looks too small to contain an inductor or capacitor. If you put a resistor in parallel with an existing resistor the total resistance decreases, which would mean more signal to the tweeter.

Similarly, a shunt of short across a resistor makes the total resistance zero. This is my guess... A shunt... Basically just a piece of wire to bypass an internal resistor.

You're really in the dark having lost the originals but those look like banana jacks. The mating banana plugs usually have screw-connections so you can easily create a shunt with a short piece of wire.

You could also attach a resistor to the banana plug but we don't know the value. If it's a resistor it would probably be a few Ohms, and you'd probably want about a 2W resistor. Most of the power would go to the tweeter and any internal resistors so it shouldn't have to be high power, but you probably wouldn't a 1/4W resistor either.

 

[mhardy6647]

I've never seen anything like that...

Did you just get one per speaker or did you get a selection?

It could be a resistor or maybe a shunt (just a wire or a short circuit).

Passive crossovers have capacitors, inductors, and sometimes resistors. That thing looks too small to contain an inductor or capacitor. If you put a resistor in parallel with an existing resistor the total resistance decreases, which would mean more signal to the tweeter.

Similarly, a shunt of short across a resistor makes the total resistance zero. This is my guess... A shunt... Basically just a piece of wire to bypass an internal resistor.

You're really in the dark having lost the originals but those look like banana jacks. The mating banana plugs usually have screw-connections so you can easily create a shunt with a short piece of wire.

You could also attach a resistor to the banana plug but we don't know the value. If it's a resistor it would probably be a few Ohms, and you'd probably want about a 2W resistor. Most of the power would go to the tweeter and any internal resistors so it shouldn't have to be high power, but you probably wouldn't a 1/4W resistor either.

all good & interesting thoughts!
Perhaps it is in fact a shunt in the sense of a jumper -- i.e.,adding components to the default (unjumpered) XO and/or taking components out of the XO; like a jumper on a PC board or DIP switch (I am probably dating myself now).

 

[Sal1950]

Perhaps it is in fact a shunt in the sense of a jumper -- i.e.,adding components to the default (unjumpered) XO and/or taking components out of the XO; like a jumper on a PC board or DIP switch (I am probably dating myself now).

I'm pretty sure you nailed it there, it's just a jumper. But possible it includes a resistor internally also.
@BrainBugs, a close up pic of the "thingamabob" might reveal it.
In any case if you really want a name for it I'd call it a "tone control"

 

[BrainBugs]

I've never seen anything like that...

Did you just get one per speaker or did you get a selection?

It could be a resistor or maybe a shunt (just a wire or a short circuit).

Passive crossovers have capacitors, inductors, and sometimes resistors. That thing looks too small to contain an inductor or capacitor. If you put a resistor in parallel with an existing resistor the total resistance decreases, which would mean more signal to the tweeter.

Similarly, a shunt of short across a resistor makes the total resistance zero. This is my guess... A shunt... Basically just a piece of wire to bypass an internal resistor.

You're really in the dark having lost the originals but those look like banana jacks. The mating banana plugs usually have screw-connections so you can easily create a shunt with a short piece of wire.

You could also attach a resistor to the banana plug but we don't know the value. If it's a resistor it would probably be a few Ohms, and you'd probably want about a 2W resistor. Most of the power would go to the tweeter and any internal resistors so it shouldn't have to be high power, but you probably wouldn't a 1/4W resistor either.

I just got one per speaker. They do indeed look very much like banana plugs.
Found something on the internet where they are referred to as jumpers, so @mhardy6647 nailed it ,.
You can use them like this btw:

I think I will email the manufacturer to ask if I can buy a pair of these cause they seem to be quite rare.
Thank you all for your input, much appreciated.
@Sal1950 : I can't find close up pics unfortunately.

 

[Zek]

I think I will email the manufacturer to ask if I can buy a pair of these cause they seem to be quite rare.

You can make these jumpers yourself from a little good wire and a couple of banana connectors.

 

[BrainBugs]

You can make these jumpers yourself from a little good wire and a couple of banana connectors.

So some speaker wire and banana plugs? If the manufacturer won't sell them I wil try that, thnx .

 

[diablo]

My XTZ speakers have jumpers. They are just connections for the crossover board behind the faceplate. They are essentially linked banana plugs. Yours were probably similar - so wire and banana plugs would probably work fine.

 

[BrainBugs]

My XTZ speakers have jumpers. They are just connections for the crossover board behind the faceplate. They are essentially linked banana plugs. Yours were probably similar - so wire and banana plugs would probably work fine.

View attachment 220911

They look very similar to the ones I had. Thnx!

 

[BrainBugs]

Update: Just got an email form the manufacturer (Phonar), they will be sending me a pair for free . Kudos to Phonar!

 

[Sal1950]

Update: Just got an email form the manufacturer (Phonar), they will be sending me a pair for free . Kudos to Phonar!

Super! If the housing is translucent as it appeared in your first post, take a picture so we can see whats in it.
Just curious if it's simply a jumper or has a component embedded.

 

[Sokel]

Super! If the housing is translucent as it appeared in your first post, take a picture so we can see whats in it.
Just curious if it's simply a jumper or has a component embedded.

Just a simple jumper as they describe.

 

[sam_adams]

Pomona 3030, 1/2" (0.50", 12.7mm) center-to-center:

Pomona 5145, 3/4" (0.750", 19.05mm) center-to-center:

 

[Sal1950]

Pomona 3030, 1/2" (0.50", 12.7mm) center-to-center:

View attachment 223156


Pomona 5145, 3/4" (0.750", 19.05mm) center-to-center:

View attachment 223159

Just don't plug them into the speaker terms.

 

[BrainBugs]

Pomona 3030, 1/2" (0.50", 12.7mm) center-to-center:

View attachment 223156


Pomona 5145, 3/4" (0.750", 19.05mm) center-to-center:

View attachment 223159

So I should have searched for Test Plugs & Test Jacks...TIL . Thnx.