For any musician or audiophile, one of the worst things that can go down is when a speaker blows.
DJs, guitarists, bassists, and sound pros alike all lament when there’s a blown speaker. Whether it’s caused by feedback, poor AC power, or clipping amplifiers, you might be wondering how to handle the damage that’s done.
While there are certainly instances when factory defects cause speakers to blow due to misalignment, coil gap fragments, or poor gluing, these are much more rare than user error which can cause a blown speaker situation.
So, can you blow a speaker by playing it too loud? For the answer to this question as well as what you can do to protect your investment in your sound equipment, keep reading!
Can You Damage Speakers by Playing Them Too Loud?
The answer is yes, you can play music too loud and damage your speakers. There are a couple ways this mishap on your part can occur too which you should familiarize yourself with.
When you over-power low-frequency speakers or subwoofers, it’s either electrical or mechanical in nature. Electrical failure happens when you put too much power into the subwoofers and burn out the voice coils. This is why you should always check the gain settings and wiring of your subwoofers first before your session.
Mechanical failure happens when the speaker physically rips or tears. This is usually due to improper enclosure size.
You can avoid this by staying around 25% above or below the recommended enclosure volume by the manufacturer.
If it’s too large, the mechanical suspension of the subwoofer becomes compromised which in turn leads to the tearing or separating of the surround.
When you use a smaller enclosure than the manufacturer recommends, it usually won’t cause any problems with power handling effects and is generally safer than going larger.
You may also find that subwoofer failure happens when the enclosure isn’t vented properly. When the tuning is improper, it can lead to compromised mechanical power handling for the speaker.
It goes below the tuned enclosure frequency, which is why you should double-check the port diameter with the length in relation to the internal volume of your enclosure so it matches what the manufacturer recommends.
So, yes, loudness is a factor when you damage your speakers. But there are other reasons you could be doing untold damage to your speakers.
Keep reading to find out what you might be doing to jeopardize them and how to avoid it!
Other Things That Could Damage Your Speakers
If you can damage your speakers by playing them too loud, then you should know there are other ways you can blow them out.
When it comes to over-powering high-frequency speakers like mid-range and tweeters, these too can be from electrical or mechanical power handling issues.
Most of the failures happen when an electrical failure takes place. This is when too much power is applied to the speaker’s voice coil.
It might not occur the first time, but constantly over-powering this equipment leaves it burnt out.
You should reduce the amplifier gain controls or adjust the treble and bass boost controls to the proper setting for your music.
Of course, you can always opt to keep from pushing your audio system too hard too.
Distortion isn’t what damages a speaker but if you hear it long before it hits those peak volumes, it’s wise to readjust your amplifier, signal processor gain controls, or the equalizer settings to maximize sound quality.
You may need to tinker with all of those factors together or separately to find harmony.
With mechanical failures on midrange and tweeters, these are the result of using the wrong crossover point for that particular speaker.
When too low a frequency is applied to a small suspension-type driver such as the tweeter, it can physically create de-lamination with the speaker surround.
The only way to correct this type of failure is to read up on the guidelines from the manufacturer for the proper crossover slope and frequency.
Again, we must mention that distortion is not the cause of speaker damage. It’s that audible clipping that clues you in for when an audio component can no longer keep up with the power supply voltage for a clean amplification of the sound.
It can happen at any point from the source unit, amplifier, signal processor, and so on, which should alert you to make adjustments.
Many people mistakenly believe that when the amplifier clips, it sends a DC current to the voice coil in the speaker, thus burning it, but that’s not true.
To understand that better, think about cars. If you listen closely to any car audio system, the amplifier clips at moderate to loud volumes.
When you overpower a speaker electrically, that’s from constantly playing it too loud. Too loud means you’re applying more power to the speaker than what it’s rated for.
That’s what does the burnout in the voice coils. But when you want sound quality, you need to match up the signal processor, source unit, and amplifier gain settings for optimized sound levels to minimize that dreaded speaker hiss.
But what if your speakers are new? What could cause them to not sound as awesome as you hoped? Keep reading and you’ll soon know!
Why the Sound Quality of Your Loudspeakers Is Poor
It’s natural to turn up the volume when you put on your favorite album or your favorite song comes on. But when speaker distortion comes in, it totally ruins the experience. Some speakers sound just fine when you play them at low volumes, but when you turn them up, they distort. Why is that?
There are several reasons why you might notice the sound quality is poor in your speakers.
Among them, many people think that when the amp sends too much power, they’ll blow out the speakers. But the opposite is what’s actually true.
You’re more likely to receive distortion or damage your speakers if that amp is under-powering your speakers. At a higher volume, you’re signaling that amplifier for more power.
If it isn’t capable of such things, your speakers will distort the sound.
Another reason you might have poor sound quality is in the speakers themselves. If you choose a set of speakers with a low build quality, they’re very easy to be damaged with high volumes no matter how much power comes from your amplifier.
As you turn up the volume, the drivers continue to extend further and go faster. With this increase in movement, it creates heat inside the speaker.
The components in the speaker need to be high quality, for if they’re not, you’ll wind up with distortion.
You likely won’t notice at low levels, but when you turn it up, you’ll see you should have invested in a better product.
Basically, the critical point for preventing distortion is in choosing speakers that are made from quality parts. Additionally, you’ll want to select an amplifier that can bring enough power to your system.
By striking the right balance, you’ll be able to have a system that can effortlessly handle music no matter what volume you use.
How to Maintain Your Speakers
Speakers are on of the most important parts of any music system. They should be of high quality so that you have the kind of sound output you’re looking for.
Quality speakers mean a higher price, but it’s worth it in the long-run. If you skimp out on quality and go for a low-price, low-quality speaker set, you’ll wind up paying more later on when you have to replace them. Investing in quality from the beginning is the best choice.
But no matter how high the quality, you should take care of your speakers. You can’t expect them to give their optimum performance if you neglect to maintain them.
Here are some quick tips for keeping them in pristine condition so they’ll always give you the sound quality you deserve.
■ Keep Dust Away
Dust can majorly affect the performance of your speakers. You can use your vacuum to clear out the dust carefully, or a blower to blow the dust from the inside.
Those compressed air can used for computer keyboards are perfect for this.
■ Clean Them Often
Regular cleaning is essential for performance too, though you should never use liquid cleaners on them as they can damage the amplifier.
■ Avoid Magnetism
You should never put them on metals but rather, wooden materials. This prevents magnetic interruptions.
Keeping them from these sources prevents the electromagnet from damage.
■ Watch Out for Static
Static electricity can also cause problems in a carpeted room. Try using anti-static floor mats or spray-on anti-static chemicals to keep from burning out your speakers.
■ Keep Heat in Check
One of the other reasons investing in quality is so important is because cheaply-made speakers usually don’t have the proper thermal design.
You should always keep speakers away from direct sunlight. Any vent holes on your speakers should never be blocked either.
■ Watch the Wiring
Always check your plugging and connection jacks when putting your sound system together. When you put the wrong jacks in with the wrong channels, you can blow it.
■ Make Sure Everything Is Ventilated
If you want your speakers to last for a long time, you should make sure the area is properly ventilated. Keeping fans nearby for when you use them heavily will help keep them cool.
■ Follow What the Manufacturer Suggests
It’s not the most fascinating read you’ll ever have in your life, but when you buy new speakers, you should always read the manufacturer’s guide for maintenance.
You’ll find detailed instructions on how to properly care for your speakers and keep them at their best.
This will also help ensure you haven’t made any errors when setting it up so you can enjoy your music.
■ Don’t Forget Prevention for Electrical Failures
One way to kiss your speakers goodbye is to connect them to outlets without using voltage protection.
A brownout or blackout caused by lightning storms or electrical surges can happen at any time.
Make sure they’re always plugged into a voltage stabilizing power supply to protect them should the power fail.
■ Do a Burn Out Test
For a new speaker, you should do the burn out test. This helps you ensure there are no manufacturer defects.
You’ll keep it running for at least 24 hours which will clue you in if there is a problem with the manufacturing of it.
Now you know what to do for your best speaker performance.
Here’s what you should know when you need to replace your speakers, aside from investing in quality for a top-notch sound.
When You Have to Replace Your Speakers
For speakers that are dead, you either need to replace it or try reconing. Reconing is when you remove all the moving parts and replace them.
It’s something that only a professional should do though there are manufacturers that offer recone kits should you feel like attempting it yourself.
Unless you’re handy or an expert with speakers, it’s a better idea to hand it off to a pro.
Some people don’t want to replace a speaker outright without attempting a fix because there are rare or vintage versions that aren’t in production anymore. If you have it fixed professionally, it will be as good as new.
If you’re looking to replace one yourself, you should know a few things. If it’s a standard guitar cabinet that doesn’t have passive crossover, you should be able to change the speaker to another guitar speaker without problems.
The guitar head was likely designed with an original speaker so it might not sound as good as one that goes with other amps.
Bass guitar and PA cabinets should have the speaker replaced with the original ones as specified or at least one that is recommended that is extremely close in specs.
There are more multi-drivers and low frequencies involved in these so you have to avoid off-spec models or they’ll change the sound of your cabinet and won’t stand up to performance.
For higher power speakers, they’re not designed for the cabinet’s tuning and can fail at lower power levels. You might not be happy though if you loved the way it originally sounded.
Heading to your local repair shop might make you happy, or you can tempt fate by doing it yourself.
Of course, there’s nothing like new speakers, so perhaps the time has come to invest in a set that works best for your needs.
Keep in mind that speaker quality speaks volumes, pardon the pun, about your music.
Whether you perform or you’re an aficionado of sound, poor quality speakers are easy to distinguish from high quality options.
You’ll only wind up replacing them sooner if you skimp out on quality for a cheaper price.
Conclusion
When you have speakers of any kind, you can damage them by playing them too loud. But that’s not the only way to destroy your sound system.
Many factors come into play with syncing up your equipment plus the type of speakers, the connections, and plenty more.
To avoid troubles, you should always check your setup before turning it up. You should also take steps to maintain your system to prolong the life of your speakers.
Never buy speakers just because they’re cheap either. Make sure you look into the quality of them.
They will cost you more upfront, but that’s much more economical than replacing them every few years.
By tuning into how to tune your system and caring for it, you should be able to get the best sound quality out of it for the enjoyment of your music for a great many years.