Blowing the Speakers?
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Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 49
From: Riverside, CA
Blowing the Speakers?
When I was at the dealer purchasing my car, the guy told me that there was no limit on the speakers. You can turn it up as loud as you want, but the speakers will blow. I have no idea if this is true, nor do I want to find out by experimenting. I also wouldnt want them loud enough to have them blow... but I was just curious if this was true.
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 170
From: Riverview, FL
There are a number of factors that can blow a speaker. According to the SSP DSP Processor and Pioneer head unit, the user can enjoy the MAXIMUM output volume w/o losing sound power and quality. However, this is an ideal scenario.
What attributes to sound quality is, the actual audio contents of the disc, SSP, Pioneer built-in amp, and the speaker characteristics. If I have a CD that is properly normalized and balanced, then yes I can maximize my volume with very little distortion. (I did that, max volume is 62). But a sloppy music track can damage your speakers. If you have ever messed with an equalizer, then this can be simple to follow. Have you ever put the equalizer settings to MAX and notice blotchy sound? That is harmonic distortion where the interacting frequencies no longer interfere with each other constructively. That is how speakers/subwoofers get damaged. By ineffeciently reproducing constructive frequency responses can cause damage.
Electrical Engineering approach. The power delivered to a speaker is AC (Alternating Current) which outputs at variable frequency responses. You can't determine the exact amplitude of every frequency range b/c it is changes rapidly. But the common measurements are Peak to Peak, Average Amplitude, and RMS. On a oscilloscope, you will see a squiggly line that represents transient responses of the subwoofer which can be a positive or negative amplitude. The driver (subwoofer) needs to have positive or negative bias so that the magnetic field produced by the sub's voice coil will make the sub's cone have a push / pull effect. Remember, AC signals with inductors produce a magnetic field which is why the voice coil has a huge magnet around it. When you max the volume and add distortion to the line, you are now making the AC signal becoming closer to a DC signal. DC signals through inductors do not have magnetic field properties. There will be no interaction between the voice coil (inductor) and the magnet. So, by harmonic distortion, your blotchy noise is really a damaging DC signal. You never want to run high current DC into the coil because it burns up. It is just like connecting your battery to the speaker!
What attributes to sound quality is, the actual audio contents of the disc, SSP, Pioneer built-in amp, and the speaker characteristics. If I have a CD that is properly normalized and balanced, then yes I can maximize my volume with very little distortion. (I did that, max volume is 62). But a sloppy music track can damage your speakers. If you have ever messed with an equalizer, then this can be simple to follow. Have you ever put the equalizer settings to MAX and notice blotchy sound? That is harmonic distortion where the interacting frequencies no longer interfere with each other constructively. That is how speakers/subwoofers get damaged. By ineffeciently reproducing constructive frequency responses can cause damage.
Electrical Engineering approach. The power delivered to a speaker is AC (Alternating Current) which outputs at variable frequency responses. You can't determine the exact amplitude of every frequency range b/c it is changes rapidly. But the common measurements are Peak to Peak, Average Amplitude, and RMS. On a oscilloscope, you will see a squiggly line that represents transient responses of the subwoofer which can be a positive or negative amplitude. The driver (subwoofer) needs to have positive or negative bias so that the magnetic field produced by the sub's voice coil will make the sub's cone have a push / pull effect. Remember, AC signals with inductors produce a magnetic field which is why the voice coil has a huge magnet around it. When you max the volume and add distortion to the line, you are now making the AC signal becoming closer to a DC signal. DC signals through inductors do not have magnetic field properties. There will be no interaction between the voice coil (inductor) and the magnet. So, by harmonic distortion, your blotchy noise is really a damaging DC signal. You never want to run high current DC into the coil because it burns up. It is just like connecting your battery to the speaker!
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Scion Dynasty
SL Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 343
From: Arkansas
There are a number of factors that can blow a speaker. According to the SSP DSP Processor and Pioneer head unit, the user can enjoy the MAXIMUM output volume w/o losing sound power and quality. However, this is an ideal scenario.
What attributes to sound quality is, the actual audio contents of the disc, SSP, Pioneer built-in amp, and the speaker characteristics. If I have a CD that is properly normalized and balanced, then yes I can maximize my volume with very little distortion. (I did that, max volume is 62). But an sloppy music track can damage your speakers. If you have ever dealt with an equalizer then this can be simple to follow. Have you ever put the equalizer settings to MAX and notice blotchy sound and harmonic high frequency distortion? That is how speakers can get damaged. By ineffeciently reproducing a balance frequency response can cause damage.
Electrical Engineering approach. The power delivered to a speaker is in AC form which has variable frequency responses which is called harmonics. You can't determine the exact amplitude of each frequency b/c it is variable. You can only measure Peak to Peak, Average, and RMS. On a oscilloscope, you will see a line that represents transient responses of the signal to the subwoofer and it will fluctuate between positive and negative when connected to the sub. The fluctuation actually represents the flexing of the driver's (subwoofer's) cone which produces the bass by air movement. When you max the volume and add distortion to the line, you are now making the AC signal becoming closer to a DC signal. So, by harmonic distortion, your blotchy noise is really a damaging DC signal. You never want to run high current DC into the coil because it burns up. It is just like connecting your battery to the speaker!
What attributes to sound quality is, the actual audio contents of the disc, SSP, Pioneer built-in amp, and the speaker characteristics. If I have a CD that is properly normalized and balanced, then yes I can maximize my volume with very little distortion. (I did that, max volume is 62). But an sloppy music track can damage your speakers. If you have ever dealt with an equalizer then this can be simple to follow. Have you ever put the equalizer settings to MAX and notice blotchy sound and harmonic high frequency distortion? That is how speakers can get damaged. By ineffeciently reproducing a balance frequency response can cause damage.
Electrical Engineering approach. The power delivered to a speaker is in AC form which has variable frequency responses which is called harmonics. You can't determine the exact amplitude of each frequency b/c it is variable. You can only measure Peak to Peak, Average, and RMS. On a oscilloscope, you will see a line that represents transient responses of the signal to the subwoofer and it will fluctuate between positive and negative when connected to the sub. The fluctuation actually represents the flexing of the driver's (subwoofer's) cone which produces the bass by air movement. When you max the volume and add distortion to the line, you are now making the AC signal becoming closer to a DC signal. So, by harmonic distortion, your blotchy noise is really a damaging DC signal. You never want to run high current DC into the coil because it burns up. It is just like connecting your battery to the speaker!
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 170
From: Riverview, FL
Originally Posted by Nate2085
There are a number of factors that can blow a speaker. According to the SSP DSP Processor and Pioneer head unit, the user can enjoy the MAXIMUM output volume w/o losing sound power and quality. However, this is an ideal scenario.
What attributes to sound quality is, the actual audio contents of the disc, SSP, Pioneer built-in amp, and the speaker characteristics. If I have a CD that is properly normalized and balanced, then yes I can maximize my volume with very little distortion. (I did that, max volume is 62). But a sloppy music track can damage your speakers. If you have ever messed with an equalizer, then this can be simple to follow. Have you ever put the equalizer settings to MAX and notice blotchy sound? That is harmonic distortion where the interacting frequencies no longer interfere with each other constructively. That is how speakers/subwoofers get damaged. By ineffeciently reproducing constructive frequency responses can cause damage.
Electrical Engineering approach. The power delivered to a speaker is AC (Alternating Current) which outputs at variable frequency responses. You can't determine the exact amplitude of every frequency range b/c it is changes rapidly. But the common measurements are Peak to Peak, Average Amplitude, and RMS. On a oscilloscope, you will see a squiggly line that represents transient responses of the subwoofer which can be a positive or negative amplitude. The driver (subwoofer) needs to have positive or negative bias so that the magnetic field produced by the sub's voice coil will make the sub's cone have a push / pull effect. Remember, AC signals with inductors produce a magnetic field which is why the voice coil has a huge magnet around it. When you max the volume and add distortion to the line, you are now making the AC signal becoming closer to a DC signal. DC signals through inductors do not have magnetic field properties. There will be no interaction between the voice coil (inductor) and the magnet. So, by harmonic distortion, your blotchy noise is really a damaging DC signal. You never want to run high current DC into the coil because it burns up. It is just like connecting your battery to the speaker!
What attributes to sound quality is, the actual audio contents of the disc, SSP, Pioneer built-in amp, and the speaker characteristics. If I have a CD that is properly normalized and balanced, then yes I can maximize my volume with very little distortion. (I did that, max volume is 62). But a sloppy music track can damage your speakers. If you have ever messed with an equalizer, then this can be simple to follow. Have you ever put the equalizer settings to MAX and notice blotchy sound? That is harmonic distortion where the interacting frequencies no longer interfere with each other constructively. That is how speakers/subwoofers get damaged. By ineffeciently reproducing constructive frequency responses can cause damage.
Electrical Engineering approach. The power delivered to a speaker is AC (Alternating Current) which outputs at variable frequency responses. You can't determine the exact amplitude of every frequency range b/c it is changes rapidly. But the common measurements are Peak to Peak, Average Amplitude, and RMS. On a oscilloscope, you will see a squiggly line that represents transient responses of the subwoofer which can be a positive or negative amplitude. The driver (subwoofer) needs to have positive or negative bias so that the magnetic field produced by the sub's voice coil will make the sub's cone have a push / pull effect. Remember, AC signals with inductors produce a magnetic field which is why the voice coil has a huge magnet around it. When you max the volume and add distortion to the line, you are now making the AC signal becoming closer to a DC signal. DC signals through inductors do not have magnetic field properties. There will be no interaction between the voice coil (inductor) and the magnet. So, by harmonic distortion, your blotchy noise is really a damaging DC signal. You never want to run high current DC into the coil because it burns up. It is just like connecting your battery to the speaker!
Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 46
From: Houston,TX
Re: Blowing the Speakers?
Originally Posted by Helcyon
When I was at the dealer purchasing my car, the guy told me that there was no limit on the speakers. You can turn it up as loud as you want, but the speakers will blow. I have no idea if this is true, nor do I want to find out by experimenting. I also wouldnt want them loud enough to have them blow... but I was just curious if this was true.
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 170
From: Riverview, FL
Originally Posted by Helcyon
yup yup. thanks. thats a lot of info. way more than i was asking for thanks.
The graph shown NisAznMonk is a basic representation. You will never have the same wave form across several time periods b/c frequency changes. But, like I said, it's a conceptual model.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 49
From: Riverside, CA
Re: Blowing the Speakers?
Originally Posted by NisAznMonk
Originally Posted by Helcyon
When I was at the dealer purchasing my car, the guy told me that there was no limit on the speakers. You can turn it up as loud as you want, but the speakers will blow. I have no idea if this is true, nor do I want to find out by experimenting. I also wouldnt want them loud enough to have them blow... but I was just curious if this was true.
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