Why is my amplifier shutting down at high volume?

[Pogre]

Looks like you might have found the issue, but make sure you check all of your connections too. A single stray strand at the binding posts on either end can cause major issues and shut down at higher volumes.

 

[fmw]

You were right. One of the tweeters on my front left speaker is blown. No sound at all. This is causing all of the problems. Luckily I have tons of extra cash and will just buy more speakers. Thanks for the advice!

And, luckily, the amplifier protected itself from current draw as it should. Are you playing that loud in order to supplement bass? If so take some of your tons of cash and install a subwoofer.

 

[sterling shoote]

OP, before concluding, all it takes is one little strand of speaker wire crossing from Negative to Positive terminal to shut down an amp. High volume could cause this condition. So, when you inspect the seemingly damaged speaker, check for a loose or broken terminal connection. It could be that the speaker is not damaged at all, just shorting out from a bad terminal connection, perhaps, from manufacturing error.

 

[sterling shoote]

You were right. One of the tweeters on my front left speaker is blown. No sound at all. This is causing all of the problems. Luckily I have tons of extra cash and will just buy more speakers. Thanks for the advice!

The speaker may not be "blown". In fact, what is more likely is one of the terminal connections to it is severed, perhaps from poor assembly when manufacured.

 

[Pogre]

The speaker may not be "blown". In fact, what is more likely is one of the terminal connections to it is severed, perhaps from poor assembly when manufacured.

That's what I was saying too. Might not be. For as little effort involved it's worth it to check tho. A stray strand or bad connection can cause this exact issue.

 

[highfigh]

I just added an Emotiva BasX A3 to my Onkyo TX-RZ730. I really like the results. However, when I crank the volume way up near the max, the amp shuts down and goes into protection mode. I have a pair of Polk R700 towers and a Csi A4 for my center. Any suggestions on his to troubleshoot thus issue, or should I simply return the Emotiva?

Do you mash the accelerator pedal to the floor when you drive your car? What would happen if you redlined the engine for any length of time? Parts would fly through the hood, that's what would happen.

This stuff isn't made to run at maximum. Your speakers hate it, the amplifier hates it and neither will last long if you continue to do it.

This falls under 'operator error'.

 

[highfigh]

Not even 3 years old. I just wanted more power and a better sound stage. And I get all of that until the Emo cuts off.

You won't get better sound stage, especially if the room is small and reflective. Also, at high SPL, your ears/mind don't perceive sound as they do at lower levels, so sensing the soundstage is different because of the acoustics and your hearing. What you think is better sound stage is coming from longer reflection times, especially if it sounds like the stage becomes higher than at lower levels- you're hearing the reflections from the ceiling.

 

[highfigh]

You were right. One of the tweeters on my front left speaker is blown. No sound at all. This is causing all of the problems. Luckily I have tons of extra cash and will just buy more speakers. Thanks for the advice!

"Causing all of the problems"? No, it's a symptom that the amplifier was clipping or you sent too much power to the speakers- if you swap the tweeters and it still doesn't work, it means you killed the crossover cap from too much voltage.

RTFM.

 

[highfigh]

OP, before concluding, all it takes is one little strand of speaker wire crossing from Negative to Positive terminal to shut down an amp. High volume could cause this condition. So, when you inspect the seemingly damaged speaker, check for a loose or broken terminal connection. It could be that the speaker is not damaged at all, just shorting out from a bad terminal connection, perhaps, from manufacturing error.

The amp should shut down at almost any level if a strand of wire was shorting the output. If the current was high enough, that one strand would become a fuse and burn through.

 

[Pogre]

The amp should shut down at almost any level if a strand of wire was shorting the output. If the current was high enough, that one strand would become a fuse and burn through.

I had a stray strand from a chewed speaker cord that caused this same issue. Everything worked until I turned it up then it would shut down. At lower volumes it seemed to work fine.

 

[highfigh]

I had a stray strand from a chewed speaker cord that caused this same issue. Everything worked until I turned it up then it would shut down. At lower volumes it seemed to work fine.

I'm referring to one thin strand and an amp that's being run at WOT, not a speaker cable that could handle 10A.

 

[Mikado463]

Luckily I have tons of extra cash and will just buy more speakers. Thanks for the advice!

Yeah, just throw more $$ at it, that will work just fine .......