Why Do Audio Speakers Sometimes Blow When Turned Up Too Loud?
The loudness of your audio speakers can significantly impact their longevity and performance. Understanding why speakers blow or damage when turned up too loud is crucial for any audio enthusiast or audio professional.
Key Reasons for Speaker Damage
Rewiring back to the basics, audio speakers are designed to handle a certain amount of power, often measured in watts. Exceeding this wattage can lead to several forms of damage:
Overpowering
Each speaker has a power rating that indicates the maximum amount of power it can manage without burning out or otherwise overheating. When you exceed this rating, the speaker components, particularly the voice coil, can overheat and burn out.
Distortion
When audio signals are amplified beyond the speaker's capacity, they can cause distortion. This distortion can make the speaker cone move in ways it was not designed to, leading to mechanical failure. This is a major reason why speakers may suddenly pop or make strange noises when pushed too far.
Heat Build-Up
Excess power can generate heat in the speaker components. If this heat is not dissipated quickly, especially in poorly ventilated setups, it can damage the voice coil or other internal parts.
Impedance Mismatch
If the speaker's impedance (measured in ohms) does not match the amplifier's output, it can lead to excessive current flow, which can damage the speaker. Ensuring the right impedance match guarantees that the speaker receives the intended amount of power without running the risk of failure.
Physical Damage
The high volume levels can cause the speaker cone to move excessively. This can result in tears or other physical damage, making the speaker inoperable in extreme cases.
How to Avoid Blown Speakers?
To avoid damaging your speakers, it's important to match them properly with an amplifier and avoid pushing them beyond their limits. However, some issues arise when:
Customer-Provided Amplifiers
When customers provide their own amplifiers, it's difficult to control how much power is sent to the speakers. An amplifier's gain can be too high, leading to overloading. While you can use fuses on the speaker, they are not 100% effective.
Manufacturers' Responsibility
Even if a manufacturer provides both the speaker and the amplifier, it's important to limit the volume. By its nature, limiting has to be gradual, which means to gain protection, you often sacrifice undistorted output. However, some modern devices do include limiting, and if implemented properly, the speakers should be safe.
Avoiding Pops and Blows
There are a few simple steps you can take to avoid damage:
Volume Control
Always turn the volume all the way down before turning on the speakers and also before turning them off. You are more likely to do damage when turning them on with the volume at full blast than when turning them off. However, turning them off can also produce a pop, a sharp sound that can damage the speaker.
Conclusion
To maximize the lifespan and performance of your audio speakers, it's essential to understand the factors that can lead to damage and take steps to mitigate them. By following best practices in speaker setup and operation, you can enjoy crystal-clear sound without worrying about sudden damage.