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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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In Reply to: Watts, Speaker & Amps. posted by davesear on August 25, 2003 at 12:10:46:
The cause of damaged speakers is almost always the person who last touched the volume control. The good news is damaged speakers can be replaced ... the bad news is damaged hearing can't be fixed.
That means if speakers are being damaged by being played too loud, there's a good chance your hearing is being permanently damaged too.If the owner of a receiver or amplifier turns up his volume control high enough, for long enough, his speakers will be damaged unless they are fused in some way, which few are, or are some unusual pro speakers that can handle a huge amount of power.
Most likely the tweeters will be damaged first. It matters little whether your amplifier is clipping or not. Some people think buying a more powerful amplifier that never clips will "save" your tweeters but they know little about electricity. Tweeters use lightweight wire voice coils that can't handle much power -- even a 20 or 30wpc amplifier played at or near full volume will damage most tweeters.
Too loud for too long = damaged tweeters. Buying a 200 or 300wpc that never clips won't protect the tweeters.The ONLY common situation before a non-defective speaker is damaged by too much power (that's the ONLY way to damage speakers) will be VERY LOUD music. Usually loud enough to damage your ears too.
Radio Shack sells a $35 sound meter.
Buy it and measure the average volume (SPL) using A-weighting and slow response. If the average is 80dBA or lower you'll never hurt your ears ... but if 90dBA or higher, you will probably damage your hearing in the long run ... for which there is no cure.
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Follow Ups
- Buy a sound meter to see if ears are at risk -- forget about the speakers! - Richard BassNut Greene 13:13:41 08/25/03 (2)
- good advice! - Bruce from DC 14:39:43 08/25/03 (1)
- Re: good advice! - mfi 07:47:26 08/26/03 (0)
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