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Author Topic: What causes Damage to Loudspeaker HF drivers ??  (Read 3975 times)

Bob Faulkner

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Re: What causes Damage to Loudspeaker HF drivers ??
« Reply #10 on: September 19, 2018, 05:37:38 PM »

I'm shocked this has never come up before?

JR
LOL
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Brian Jojade

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Re: What causes Damage to Loudspeaker HF drivers ??
« Reply #11 on: September 19, 2018, 05:44:04 PM »

In this case with a powered speaker the "cause" of failure is a barely adequate driver and insufficient driver protection, there is no other explanation for it. The compression driver used in this box (2414h) has a meager 35w rating while the amp powering it is rated at 150w continuous 300w peak, that is more than enough juice to smoke the driver in a second with mic feedback for example if there isn't sufficient protection. Clearly JBL has not put enough engineering into this box, it is an entry level product but other manufacturers(EV) manage to produce entry level powered speakers(ZLX) that can handle mic feedback without blowing drivers.

This exactly.  The fact that a speaker is powered or passive doesn't change the rules on what burns out a speaker.  Too much power over too long of a time, or physical over exertion of the driver or external physical damage (such as drops, liquid spills, etc) are the 3 things that cause speakers to fail.  Just because the speaker is in a powered box doesn't change those rules.

Manufacturers of powered boxes typically will put in components that make it difficult for you to overdrive the speakers. This is done by either using speakers rated at higher power ratings than the amp inside, or by adding protection circuits to keep a valve on the potential current supplied to the speaker.  In the case of the eon 612, the JBL marketing team wanted to have a bigger watt number to plaster on the side of the speaker, so they put in bigger power amps but neglected to put in an HF driver that could actually handle that kind of power.  So, if you crank the box up to 11, the net result is the HF driver goes up in smoke.

Now, to be fair, it does take quite a bit for this to happen. You have to overdrive the cabinet quite a bit before there is a problem.  Any competent user shouldn't ever run into an issue.  However, if you let the speaker go into feedback for an extended period or are just an idiot and crank it up to an obviously too loud because it now sounds like crap before it blows level and don't notice it, you'll be replacing a lot of drivers.
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Brian Jojade

Tony Mamoh

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Re: What causes Damage to Loudspeaker HF drivers ??
« Reply #12 on: September 23, 2018, 09:46:34 AM »

When you say 'crank up to 11'; do you mean crank the gain to the 11o'clock position? Pls clarify......



This exactly.  The fact that a speaker is powered or passive doesn't change the rules on what burns out a speaker.  Too much power over too long of a time, or physical over exertion of the driver or external physical damage (such as drops, liquid spills, etc) are the 3 things that cause speakers to fail.  Just because the speaker is in a powered box doesn't change those rules.

Manufacturers of powered boxes typically will put in components that make it difficult for you to overdrive the speakers. This is done by either using speakers rated at higher power ratings than the amp inside, or by adding protection circuits to keep a valve on the potential current supplied to the speaker.  In the case of the eon 612, the JBL marketing team wanted to have a bigger watt number to plaster on the side of the speaker, so they put in bigger power amps but neglected to put in an HF driver that could actually handle that kind of power.  So, if you crank the box up to 11, the net result is the HF driver goes up in smoke.

Now, to be fair, it does take quite a bit for this to happen. You have to overdrive the cabinet quite a bit before there is a problem.  Any competent user shouldn't ever run into an issue.  However, if you let the speaker go into feedback for an extended period or are just an idiot and crank it up to an obviously too loud because it now sounds like crap before it blows level and don't notice it, you'll be replacing a lot of drivers.
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Tim McCulloch

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Re: What causes Damage to Loudspeaker HF drivers ??
« Reply #13 on: September 23, 2018, 12:14:04 PM »

When you say 'crank up to 11'; do you mean crank the gain to the 11o'clock position? Pls clarify......

It's a Spinal Tap reference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xgx4k83zzc
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"If you're passing on your way, from Palm Springs to L.A., Give a wave to good ol' Dave, Say hello to progress and goodbye to the Moonlight Motor Inn." - Steve Spurgin, Moonlight Motor Inn

Tony Mamoh

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ProSoundWeb Community

Re: What causes Damage to Loudspeaker HF drivers ??
« Reply #14 on: September 24, 2018, 03:59:09 PM »


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