Harman/Kardon 3490 Clipping

ejperry09
ejperry09 Posts: 29
edited June 2010 in Speakers
Hey all,
I posted earlier about frying a tweeter on my Polk Monitor 70's... definitely fried! I ordered some new tweeters and those should be coming in.

However, onto my receiver:

:eek:

Anyways, I'm wondering if there's any way I could have done damage to my Harman/Kardon 3490 receiver as well. Does "clipping" ruin the receiver or just speaker components?
Post edited by ejperry09 on
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Comments

  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited June 2010
    It's possible, but if this is just one party for a few hours and you refrain from straining things from now on, you should be fine. HKs usually feature lots of current and that one is rated at 120w/channel @ 8 ohms. If your room isn't an auditorium then it should be able to get very loud without clipping. You just need to remember that every 3db of volume takes twice the power. If you're listening at 105dbs and decide to bump the gain to 108, it's likely going to clip the amps. If you're at 105dbs and bump the gain +10, that will take 10Xs the power and you'll definitely clip the amps and drive them into protection. Hell, you shouldn't be listening to music in house louder than 90dbs, on average anyway

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited June 2010
    ejperry09 wrote: »
    Does "clipping" ruin the receiver or just speaker components?
    Specifically the tweeters are prone to damage with excessive clipping.
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited June 2010
    +1,

    Also something to think about when you get your new tweeters. There is a break-in period during which you'd be well advised to play those at "moderate" volumes for a few weeks...ease into the tweeter and it will serve you for many years.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • ejperry09
    ejperry09 Posts: 29
    edited June 2010
    Thanks all!

    So then it's not likely I damaged the receiver and/or amp in the receiver in this situation? Would the sound be noticably different if the receiver was ruined?
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited June 2010
    YES! If you fried the receiver you would know it. If it can still drive a set of speakers cleanly and loudly....no problem.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • PerfectCreature
    PerfectCreature Posts: 1,456
    edited June 2010
    I have the same receiver and I have never ever had a problem with power. I am powering monitor 50s though....I have had it up to -10dbs on the receiver and it is just to much for my hearing so...I don't know.
    It may have been you just didn't break them in properly.
    I know that I didn't properly break in my 50s and blew the tweets.
    Your amp should be fine. I have blown subwoofers with car amps and they have come out like champs.
    Even if you did, I am sure HK would replace.
    Receiver
    Harman Kardon HK 3490
    Speakers
    Polk Audio Monitor 50s
    Subwoofer
    Klipsch KSW-100
    Cables
    AudioQuest Rocket 33s 10ft
    AudioQuest Optilink1 2m
    AudioQuest Alpha-Snake 25ft Interconnect
    AudioQuest HDMI-1 2m

    Alienware X51 R2
    PS4
    Samsung Smart TV 40" 1080p 3D
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