clipping risks?

[mazurek]

While I'm playing around with the new Behringer DEQ 2496 equalizer, I sometimes make mistakes and make the signal clip to hell (like when I tried to slope the entire bass spectrum up). How much of a risk is there of damaging speakers, and is it easy to tell when you kill a driver? What are some good precautions to take when playing around?

 

[markw]

Learn and live by audio rule #1 at all times.

"If it sounds funky or bad, turn it down NOW!!!"

FWIW, audio riule # 2 is "Always power down everything when kerfutzing with any wires."

 

[jaxvon]

Post erased for ignorant statement.

Mazurek: Clipping is bad for your speakers. A badly clipping amp *can* cook your tweeters.

 

[annunaki]

Jaxvon,

I would do a bit more research on what actually causes drivers to fail before making that statement.

 

[jaxvon]

Alright. I'll edit my post.

 

[mazurek]

Is there a distinction between a badly clipped amp, and a badly clipped signal going into the amp at normal listening levels?

 

[MacManNM]

Is there a distinction between a badly clipped amp, and a badly clipped signal going into the amp at normal listening levels?

If it's clipped going into the amp, it will not be clipped coming out, but the amp will reproduce the signal exactly as it is. So while you probably won't damage your speakers, it will sound really bad. Clipping an amp is a bad thing, period. The RMS power increases dramatically, and the possibility of damaging speakers increases.

 

[annunaki]

Jaxvon,

I wasn't trying to be mean. Sorry if you took it that way.

Basiaclly, the extra power generated WHEN an amplifier clips is what destroys speakers. They (speakers, individual drivers) typically will go into power compression, causing massive heat buildup on the voice coils. Odd order harmonics along with higher than recommended power levels can damage tweeters very easily.

MacManNM, that is spot on.

A fully clipped amplifier will output TWICE it's rated rms power (RMS/Continuous Power is typically rated at .1% thd or below).