Overdriving speakers

Klipsch_Fan
Klipsch_Fan Posts: 26
edited 2009 02 in Speakers
Did I post in correct place? Wasn't sure if I should ask question in 2 channel audio.

I've had bad luck in overdriving speakers. At the time I was using a Carver TFM-24 rated at 225/350wpc at 8/4 ohms respectively. I managed to ruin 4 driver's in 4 different Polk speakers, and 1 tweeter. Also 1 mid driver in a pair of Infinity RS-II's.

No equalization was used, and normally bass knob was either flat or between 10-11 o'clock. Treble was set flat or no more than 1 o'clock.

Just curious if others have had bad luck like Me.

Fred
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Post edited by Klipsch_Fan on
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited 2009 01
    which model of Polk speaker did you fry the drivers on?
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,890
    edited 2009 01
    What volume level were you playing at when these things happened? For example, 9 o'clock, 11, 12, 1, etc.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • jimbo1421
    jimbo1421 Posts: 772
    edited 2009 01
    Klipsch-Fan

    Here is one possible explanation:
    http://www.polkaudio.com/education/article.php?id=45

    Jim
    5.1 System:
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  • Klipsch_Fan
    Klipsch_Fan Posts: 26
    edited 2009 01
    1st pr were the Monitor 5JR+...damaged 6.5" midrange, these were My 1st intro to Polk. They were My favorites, truly amazing sound.

    2nd pr...S-10...damaged 7.5" driver

    3rd pr...RT-16...damaged 7.5" driver

    and last RT-2000p...damaged 6.5" mid/bass and 1" dome tweeter.

    Will say one thing though, Polk was incredible in sending replacement driver for the Monitor 5JR+, the other's I didn't bother with.

    Fred
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,890
    edited 2009 01
    So, what volume level?
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Klipsch_Fan
    Klipsch_Fan Posts: 26
    edited 2009 01
    F1nut wrote: »
    What volume level were you playing at when these things happened? For example, 9 o'clock, 11, 12, 1, etc.

    Been so long now, I'd venture to say 11 o'clock. Never did I ever go past 12 o'clock. Then again, volume knob may have been lower than 11 based on recording.

    Fred
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,890
    edited 2009 01
    Hmmm....it's possible that the amp was clipping at 11, but usually under 12 is ok depending on the recording. I take it you haven't had this happen to other speaker brands, only the Polks, yes?

    Has the amp ever been serviced?
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Klipsch_Fan
    Klipsch_Fan Posts: 26
    edited 2009 01
    Yep, clipping at 11 is always a possibility.

    Yep, I damage a mid driver in My Infinity RSII's though that was with an SAE A501. A mid/bass driver in a pair of KLH 2's that with a Pioneer integrated amp, maybe rated 70wpc. The KLH's required more power, but at the time bought what I could afford.

    Yes the amp was serviced "after" said damage was done. I was clueless at the time that surge protector's were a necessary item. After the lightning strike You could not miss the distortion etc...Sent back to carver and got it repaired.

    Not sure if I should mention this, plus it is off topic, but I'm trying to accumulate 25 posts to use the garage sale. :)

    Fred
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    Klipsch "A Legend in Sound" :)
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited 2009 02
    wow... you certainly do have a long history of killing drivers... and not just Polk ones either. I would say something is wrong with your amp.. OR you listen to very bass heavy music. I say it that because all the drivers you are frying are mid bass drivers and not tweeters.

    what time of music do you listen to? did any of the drivers "pop" or bottom out at times before you killed them?
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited 2009 02
    I would say it is a combination of the volume you were playing at as well as turning up the bass tone control. You don't have you turn up the tone control much to add to +3 or +6db of sound. That would require 2 to 4 times the power at those frequencies as normal and you have your amp turned up to the comfortable limit without that increase power need.

    Thats my guess anyway. One of the many reasons that people suggest purchasing speakers that you like the sound of without the boost of a tone control.

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited 2009 02
    Welcome to the Club!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
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    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • Klipsch_Fan
    Klipsch_Fan Posts: 26
    edited 2009 02
    danger boy wrote: »
    wow... you certainly do have a long history of killing drivers... and not just Polk ones either. I would say something is wrong with your amp.. OR you listen to very bass heavy music. I say it that because all the drivers you are frying are mid bass drivers and not tweeters.

    what time of music do you listen to? did any of the drivers "pop" or bottom out at times before you killed them?

    I listen to everything but opera. Only the RT-16 driver mad a pop or bottomed out, was listening to Clarke Duke Project, forget the song, but it was instrumental, and did have some heavy bass.
    _______________________
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  • Klipsch_Fan
    Klipsch_Fan Posts: 26
    edited 2009 02
    Lasareath wrote: »
    I had a brother-in-law who used to blow tweeters and drivers all the time, he told me that he wanted his radio shack system to be as loud as mine so he would turn the dial all the way up to as far as it would go.

    I guess his Radio Shack receiver couldn't be pushed that much!, LOL

    Like that last statement about the Radio Shack receiver:)

    Guess the Carver TFM-24 was trash, also My SAE A501, and My ATI 1505, and Now I have 2 Rotel RB-1070's bridged to Klipsch RF-83's and KLF-30's, woe Me. :(
    _______________________
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  • Klipsch_Fan
    Klipsch_Fan Posts: 26
    edited 2009 02
    McLoki wrote: »
    I would say it is a combination of the volume you were playing at as well as turning up the bass tone control....
    Michael

    From My original post: "No equalization was used, and normally bass knob was either flat or between 10-11 o'clock. Treble was set flat or no more than 1 o'clock" Other times the bass was turned down even further, depended on the source material.

    Fred
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  • Klipsch_Fan
    Klipsch_Fan Posts: 26
    edited 2009 02
    danz1906 wrote: »
    Welcome to the Club!

    Thank You for the Welcome.

    Guess I could ask You, Is it because My user name says "Klipsch_Fan that I seem to get complete sarcasm from some posters?

    I don't get it. I'm not attacking anyone. Oh well, such is life.

    Fred
    _______________________
    Klipsch "A Legend in Sound" :)
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited 2009 02
    Klipsch_Fan wrote: »

    Guess I could ask You, Is it because My user name says "Klipsch_Fan that I seem to get complete sarcasm from some posters?

    I don't get it. I'm not attacking anyone. Oh well, such is life.

    Fred

    Fred, no-one is being sarcastic. It is just that you seemed to come here just to sell something and that is frowned upon. Join the club and contribute and learn. Then when people get to know you they will trust you and you them.
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited 2009 02
    Klipsch_Fan wrote: »
    Not sure if I should mention this, plus it is off topic, but I'm trying to accumulate 25 posts to use the garage sale. :)

    Fred
    Klipsch_Fan wrote: »

    Guess I could ask You, Is it because My user name says "Klipsch_Fan that I seem to get complete sarcasm from some posters?

    I don't get it. I'm not attacking anyone.
    Fred
    Actually the responders are very cordial considering your intentions indicated in the first quote.:D
    Testing
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited 2009 02
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    Fred, no-one is being sarcastic. It is just that you seemed to come here just to sell something and that is frowned upon. Join the club and contribute and learn. Then when people get to know you they will trust you and you them.

    Exactly...joining up just to jack up your post count, unload some gear and leave never to be seen again, is kind of frowned upon here. I don't think it has anything to do with you being a Klipsch fan.

    Though for my personal tastes, I can't stand Klipsch.;) Everyone has their own tastes though. You obviously like Klipsch. There's nothing wrong with that. Well...maybe a little.;):)
    The nirvana inducer-
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  • Klipsch_Fan
    Klipsch_Fan Posts: 26
    edited 2009 02
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    Fred, no-one is being sarcastic. It is just that you seemed to come here just to sell something and that is frowned upon. Join the club and contribute and learn. Then when people get to know you they will trust you and you them.[/QUOTE

    True, I am or maybe was trying to sell something, but only because I saw the "garage sale" section where one can sell.

    I'm not an electronic's whiz, so I figure I really don't have much to contribute.

    As far as learning goes, I have learned to lower the volume just a bit.

    Thanks
    Fred
    _______________________
    Klipsch "A Legend in Sound" :)
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  • Klipsch_Fan
    Klipsch_Fan Posts: 26
    edited 2009 02
    GV#27 wrote: »
    Actually the responders are very cordial considering your intentions indicated in the first quote.:D

    I'm honestly confused then. Why have a section in forum to which other's can sell items? I only came here because they were Polk speakers.

    Heck, I'd even just give them away. Center has never been used, and surrounds maybe less than 20hrs total.

    Fred
    _______________________
    Klipsch "A Legend in Sound" :)
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited 2009 02
    Klipsch_Fan wrote: »
    I'm honestly confused then. Why have a section in forum to which other's can sell items? I only came here because they were Polk speakers.

    Heck, I'd even just give them away. Center has never been used, and surrounds maybe less than 20hrs total.

    Fred

    Club Polk is a fairly tightly knit community...People don't sell stuff here just to make money. Most of the time, people sell things at way below market value, just for the good will factor, and to help other people along on their audio journeys.

    You aren't breaking any "official" rules or anything...but most of the people on here are kind of wary of buying stuff from a random faceless person.

    It sounds like you're not here just to make a buck on your gear though. By all means stick around for a bit and post them up. Just don't make a bunch of meaningless posts to jack your count up real quick.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • Klipsch_Fan
    Klipsch_Fan Posts: 26
    edited 2009 02
    Garage Sale part of forum said one needed 25 posts in order to post there. I didn't make the rule.

    I truly like Polks, but was introduced to Klipsch and found the KLF-30's with their 103db sensitivity gave me the volume levels I desired.

    I won't bother no one here again. I'l just cancel my membership.

    You All Have a Great Day
    Fred
    _______________________
    Klipsch "A Legend in Sound" :)
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  • lifelongnewb
    lifelongnewb Posts: 72
    edited 2009 02
    Welcome to the club, this is by far the best forums I have yet to join for information. I've been around a few and well these people here seem genuinely interested in helping.


    Cheers!
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  • Retro152
    Retro152 Posts: 985
    edited 2009 02
    Klipsch_Fan wrote: »
    Garage Sale part of forum said one needed 25 posts in order to post there. I didn't make the rule.

    I truly like Polks, but was introduced to Klipsch and found the KLF-30's with their 103db sensitivity gave me the volume levels I desired.

    I won't bother no one here again. I'l just cancel my membership.

    You All Have a Great Day
    Fred[/QUOTE

    OOOOhhhhh cmon, just three more post's big guy and your there. At least try to dump your junk first, and then take your sorry **** outta here. Otherwise this was all in vain! have some respect for yourself. Geez!:rolleyes:
    Receiver: Pioneer Elite SC-05
    Amp: Emotiva Xpa-3
    Front L/R: POLK Rti-a9s':D
    Center:POLK Csi-a6
    Rear surround's:POLK Rti-a1s'
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  • Paden501
    Paden501 Posts: 286
    edited 2009 02
    Hey is Klipsch_Fan still around?

    I actually have a question or two for him about the Carver TFM-24 amp.

    KF, if you're still checking this thread, let me know what you think of the Carver amp.
    ~Matt
    My System

    Front L/R: Definitive BP10Bs
    Surrounds -Polk Audio Monitor 4As
    Preamp: B&K Reference 20
    CD: Jolida JD100a
    L/R Amp: Carver TFM-24
    Turntable: Pioneer PL-516 W/ Shure M97xe
    TV: Sony 52" XBR9
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