blown speakers - Blu-ray Forum

krazeyeyez · 10-01-2008, 07:07 PM

figured this is the best site to ask this on since so many people have my audio setup or something close. i have heard that under powering a speaker is the leading cause of blowing or damaging them.

i have an integra 6.8 receiver, klipsch rf-82s, rc62, and 2 rs52s, and a paradigm ultra cube 12, although im saving for an svs cylinder at the moment.

how loud can i take these without worrying the speakers can't handle it? im guessing i got enough power so how much can i deliver before i risk damage?
and does it depend on how i calibrated it? or is it purely a decibel thing.

i ask because i have blown cheapo speakers before, o well, but this is alot of investment i don't wanna destroy early into its life. also with other speakers its very noticable once there blown, and i am curious if these speakers would do a better job of hiding damage if it exists. i watch alot of stargate, and in newer episodes, movies, and atlantis when the ships are shown something doesn't sound quite right......or "good" imo with the engine noise. but this is the ONLY time i notice this, and i can't tell if its supposed to sound like that or if i already over did it with the volume knob watching a blu lol.

edit: also i just got hit by that dang master audio pop issue (that vegas movie with cameron diaz), panny bd-30 and the integra, and it was loud!!!

edit: i also just got hit with that dang master audio pop issue with the panny integra combo, and it was loud!!!

Pelican170 · 10-01-2008, 07:09 PM

I would think stay within the RMS power levels and you will be fine...

Driver_King · 10-01-2008, 07:11 PM

It think it'll be hard blowing Klipsch speakers considering how efficient they are. Unless you're using them outside as a PA system or are wearing earplugs, you shouldn't have to worry about them getting blown.

krazeyeyez · 10-01-2008, 07:12 PM

rms?

is 90 decibels give or take a little to loud?

Driver_King · 10-01-2008, 07:12 PM

Have you done an update to your receiver?

Driver_King · 10-01-2008, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krazeyeyez

rms?

is 90 decibels give or take a little to loud?

Only you can be the judge there.

Pelican170 · 10-01-2008, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krazeyeyez

rms?

is 90 decibels give or take a little to loud?

RMS = the recommended power to the speaker. Like above mentioned, i dont think you will blow them if you are using a receiver...Turning up the volume super loud wont give them extra juice to blow, but can make them distort...

krazeyeyez · 10-01-2008, 07:22 PM

lol thanks......i knew you could update it but didnt know one was available. i will have to look into that. so if you turn it loud enough to distort which i would think would be obvious, turning it back down should yield no permanent damage. also could be all in my head but it seems like i can take blu's louder with the lossless then dvd's before they sound not so good, technical term

Johk · 10-01-2008, 07:25 PM

You shouldn't have any problems. Try listening to the same scene with headphones and see if the material is the source of your displeasure.

I would be more worried about your ears! :P

Also, if you want loud volume levels you might consider a separate amp that won't distord sound. Distortion is not pleasant and can potentially damage the speakers...

On a personal note, do not sit on the remote while trying to sing in rockband, I've blown a tweeter on my Athena center channel this way (feedback)

Driver_King · 10-01-2008, 07:25 PM

What is the exact model of your receiver?

Edit: Nevermind. Here is some info on how to update the firmware.

krazeyeyez · 10-01-2008, 07:28 PM

its an integra 6.8, bought it around the new year.

CasualKiller · 10-01-2008, 10:26 PM

Rule of thumb is usually no more than 50 watts over the speaker rating. I run mine at 160 wpc and they are rated for 120.

Edit> distortion is also factored in via common sense, my Onkyo has 0.1% THD when delivering a 6 ohm load. I would be a little leary about running an extra 40-50 wpc with a receiver rated 0.8%-1% THD or higher.

krazeyeyez · 10-02-2008, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CasualKiller

Rule of thumb is usually no more than 50 watts over the speaker rating. I run mine at 160 wpc and they are rated for 120.

Edit> distortion is also factored in via common sense, my Onkyo has 0.1% THD when delivering a 6 ohm load. I would be a little leary about running an extra 40-50 wpc with a receiver rated 0.8%-1% THD or higher.

you just blew my mind

im guessing probably is the source since i watch movies at a much higher volume then stargate, and its the only time i have noticed any kind of "distortion/unnatural sound" with my gear. appreciate the responses guys, i got a cheap spl and just got transformers on blu and i HAD to crank it, just curious if i was jeopardizing my speakers, if they were peaking at 90 decibels appx. of course this wasn't the dialogue scenes because i wouldn't be hearing a thing ever again if the action sequences were any louder then 90 lol.

the other thing that had me a little worried was unlike with my last audio system, loud doesn't seem "loud" with these speakers after a few minutes for my ears to adjust, in fact i don't notice until i go to say something and have to raise my voice like im at the bar. im guessing that would be a lack of distortion. anyways thanks guys for the peace of mind.

Driver_King · 10-02-2008, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krazeyeyez

the other thing that had me a little worried was unlike with my last audio system, loud doesn't seem "loud" with these speakers after a few minutes for my ears to adjust, in fact i don't notice until i go to say something and have to raise my voice like im at the bar. im guessing that would be a lack of distortion. anyways thanks guys for the peace of mind.

That sometimes happens to me too.

I go to ask how everyone thinks the sound quality is and I find myself not even being able to hear myself even speak.

petenad · 10-02-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krazeyeyez

rms?

is 90 decibels give or take a little to loud?

90 is childs play 115db's to 120 now your talking damage

4Dblu · 10-02-2008, 05:31 PM

i have a KLIPSCH system in my living room and i played "the haunting" loud just the begining with the low octive bass about a year ago. after that my sub has a distorted sound that i can't get rid of it. i really haven't had the chance to get it check out but i really can't stand it. i changed the settings in the receiver, damn, i can't remember what it was but nothing helps may have to take it to the shop or get another sub.

this only happens when i play movies that has that low bass sound, like that earth rumble. all other bass sound is perfect like nothin' is wrong. any suggestion would HELP....

DavePS3 · 10-02-2008, 05:58 PM

It's distortion that kills speakers, not power really. Once you crank up many amps or receivers, the noise and distortion increase BIG time. The cleaner the amp, the more expensive and thus, the louder your speakers can handle. Once you start hearing the speakers 'fart' or distort, back off the volume. This is why there are cheap receivers and expensive amp/pre-amps. It's all in the build quality of the circuitry.

Pelican170 · 10-02-2008, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Driver_King

That sometimes happens to me too.

I go to ask how everyone thinks the sound quality is and I find myself not even being able to hear myself even speak.

hahaha, i do this all the time. i did it last night with Cloverfield actually. and i finally noticed what people are talking about with Dolby True HD having to be turned up louder than other formats....

DavePS3 · 10-02-2008, 06:03 PM

4Dblu... the sub simply cannot handle the lower hertz drops. Don't ask it to. Expensive subs will handle the 18 to 20 hz much better. All sub's will handle 25 and up no problem. The better the sub's amplifer and the bigger the driver's magnet, the better, really. Also, subwoofer specs are never at RMS anymore. In other words, when you see a sub's specs say, 'handles 800 watts'... that's not really true. That's peak - but nothing runs consistantly at peak. That 800 watt sub is more like 100 watts at constant (RMS). That's why you never see RMS after the wattage on subs anymore. It's very misleading.

DavePS3 · 10-02-2008, 06:17 PM

By the way... I dunno who told you that under-powering speakers can damage them but go back over there and give that person a slap for me. If that was true, playing speakers at low volumes for background music would be killing speakers left and right.

If a guy barely has his speakers up in volume for say, 15 years because his ears are sensitive, then his nephew comes in and cranks the volume up, the speakers can easily get damaged but that's because of the age. At 15 years of barely getting any excursion, the drivers can sieze up. Rare but it happens. That would be the same thing if you stored the speakers for the same amount of time. At 15 years, many surround materials, running the circumferance of the driver, start to deteriorate anyway.

10-01-2008, 07:07 PM	#1
krazeyeyez Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Dec 2007 Location:the guy on the couch Home Theater Gallery:18 Blu-ray collection:287 Blu-ray reviews:4	blown speakers figured this is the best site to ask this on since so many people have my audio setup or something close. i have heard that under powering a speaker is the leading cause of blowing or damaging them. i have an integra 6.8 receiver, klipsch rf-82s, rc62, and 2 rs52s, and a paradigm ultra cube 12, although im saving for an svs cylinder at the moment. how loud can i take these without worrying the speakers can't handle it? im guessing i got enough power so how much can i deliver before i risk damage? and does it depend on how i calibrated it? or is it purely a decibel thing. i ask because i have blown cheapo speakers before, o well, but this is alot of investment i don't wanna destroy early into its life. also with other speakers its very noticable once there blown, and i am curious if these speakers would do a better job of hiding damage if it exists. i watch alot of stargate, and in newer episodes, movies, and atlantis when the ships are shown something doesn't sound quite right......or "good" imo with the engine noise. but this is the ONLY time i notice this, and i can't tell if its supposed to sound like that or if i already over did it with the volume knob watching a blu lol. edit: also i just got hit by that dang master audio pop issue (that vegas movie with cameron diaz), panny bd-30 and the integra, and it was loud!!! edit: i also just got hit with that dang master audio pop issue with the panny integra combo, and it was loud!!! Last edited by krazeyeyez; 10-01-2008 at 07:11 PM. Reason: speaker pop

10-01-2008, 07:25 PM	#10
Driver_King Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Tampa Bay, Florida Home Theater Gallery:96 Blu-ray collection:28 Trading Score:10	What is the exact model of your receiver? Edit: Nevermind. Here is some info on how to update the firmware. Last edited by Driver_King; 10-01-2008 at 07:29 PM.

10-01-2008, 10:26 PM	#12
CasualKiller Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Brooks Alberta Blu-ray collection:54 Trading Score:15	Rule of thumb is usually no more than 50 watts over the speaker rating. I run mine at 160 wpc and they are rated for 120. Edit> distortion is also factored in via common sense, my Onkyo has 0.1% THD when delivering a 6 ohm load. I would be a little leary about running an extra 40-50 wpc with a receiver rated 0.8%-1% THD or higher. Last edited by CasualKiller; 10-01-2008 at 10:29 PM.

10-02-2008, 05:31 PM	#16
4Dblu Power Member Member since:Aug 2008 Location:Big Small State Home Theater Gallery:15 4K collection:264 Blu-ray collection:1566 DVD collection:113 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:31	sub distortion: piss off i have a KLIPSCH system in my living room and i played "the haunting" loud just the begining with the low octive bass about a year ago. after that my sub has a distorted sound that i can't get rid of it. i really haven't had the chance to get it check out but i really can't stand it. i changed the settings in the receiver, damn, i can't remember what it was but nothing helps may have to take it to the shop or get another sub. this only happens when i play movies that has that low bass sound, like that earth rumble. all other bass sound is perfect like nothin' is wrong. any suggestion would HELP....

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10-01-2008, 07:09 PM	#2
Pelican170 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Newtown, CT 4K collection:127 Blu-ray collection:735 DVD collection:256 Trading Score:13	I would think stay within the RMS power levels and you will be fine...

10-01-2008, 07:11 PM	#3
Driver_King Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Tampa Bay, Florida Home Theater Gallery:96 Blu-ray collection:28 Trading Score:10	It think it'll be hard blowing Klipsch speakers considering how efficient they are. Unless you're using them outside as a PA system or are wearing earplugs, you shouldn't have to worry about them getting blown.

10-01-2008, 07:12 PM	#4
krazeyeyez Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Dec 2007 Location:the guy on the couch Home Theater Gallery:18 Blu-ray collection:287 Blu-ray reviews:4	rms? is 90 decibels give or take a little to loud?

10-01-2008, 07:22 PM	#8
krazeyeyez Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Dec 2007 Location:the guy on the couch Home Theater Gallery:18 Blu-ray collection:287 Blu-ray reviews:4	lol thanks......i knew you could update it but didnt know one was available. i will have to look into that. so if you turn it loud enough to distort which i would think would be obvious, turning it back down should yield no permanent damage. also could be all in my head but it seems like i can take blu's louder with the lossless then dvd's before they sound not so good, technical term

10-01-2008, 07:25 PM	#9
Johk Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Blu-ray collection:645 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:2	You shouldn't have any problems. Try listening to the same scene with headphones and see if the material is the source of your displeasure. I would be more worried about your ears! :P Also, if you want loud volume levels you might consider a separate amp that won't distord sound. Distortion is not pleasant and can potentially damage the speakers... On a personal note, do not sit on the remote while trying to sing in rockband, I've blown a tweeter on my Athena center channel this way (feedback)

10-01-2008, 07:28 PM	#11
krazeyeyez Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Dec 2007 Location:the guy on the couch Home Theater Gallery:18 Blu-ray collection:287 Blu-ray reviews:4	its an integra 6.8, bought it around the new year.

10-02-2008, 05:58 PM	#17
DavePS3 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Toronto Home Theater Gallery:56 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	It's distortion that kills speakers, not power really. Once you crank up many amps or receivers, the noise and distortion increase BIG time. The cleaner the amp, the more expensive and thus, the louder your speakers can handle. Once you start hearing the speakers 'fart' or distort, back off the volume. This is why there are cheap receivers and expensive amp/pre-amps. It's all in the build quality of the circuitry.

10-02-2008, 06:03 PM	#19
DavePS3 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Toronto Home Theater Gallery:56 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	4Dblu... the sub simply cannot handle the lower hertz drops. Don't ask it to. Expensive subs will handle the 18 to 20 hz much better. All sub's will handle 25 and up no problem. The better the sub's amplifer and the bigger the driver's magnet, the better, really. Also, subwoofer specs are never at RMS anymore. In other words, when you see a sub's specs say, 'handles 800 watts'... that's not really true. That's peak - but nothing runs consistantly at peak. That 800 watt sub is more like 100 watts at constant (RMS). That's why you never see RMS after the wattage on subs anymore. It's very misleading.

10-02-2008, 06:17 PM	#20
DavePS3 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Toronto Home Theater Gallery:56 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	By the way... I dunno who told you that under-powering speakers can damage them but go back over there and give that person a slap for me. If that was true, playing speakers at low volumes for background music would be killing speakers left and right. If a guy barely has his speakers up in volume for say, 15 years because his ears are sensitive, then his nephew comes in and cranks the volume up, the speakers can easily get damaged but that's because of the age. At 15 years of barely getting any excursion, the drivers can sieze up. Rare but it happens. That would be the same thing if you stored the speakers for the same amount of time. At 15 years, many surround materials, running the circumferance of the driver, start to deteriorate anyway.

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