Why speakers distort

If your average volume level is 90 dBA and your speakers can only handle dBA then you have 30 dB of headroom. You can prevent speaker distortion by watching a sound meter readings when you get to the loudest part of the event and then reducing the board volume to keep it under the limit. If you find out that you have a channel showing consistent audio clipping and distortion, then it means you need to lower the channel volume or reset the gain structure.

Your email address will not be published. Ever heard a sound and wondered why are my speakers sounding distorted Well not only you my friend As an audiophile and music engineer I have had my fair share of dealing with speaker and sound distortion And believe me when I tell you, it is not a pleasant experience.

So in this article, I will be giving you the top 5 reasons why speakers sound distorted and what you can do to ensure that you fix this problem What does speaker distortion sound like? The word distortion has a whole lot of different meanings depending on who you ask. But if you ask me here is my own definition. For some reason, the sound coming out of the audio system has been negatively affected and we need to fix it What is the difference between Noise and Distortion?

This is one mistake most people make a lot. So what is the major cause of distortion in your speakers? The major cause of distortion in your audio is clipping Clipping usually occurs when an audio component cannot provide enough power supply and voltage to cleanly and easily handle the signal This is usually noticed on the channel level, mixer level or the amplifier level.

Hot signal sent into the system by an instrument This happens when for example a bassist uses a SansAmp on stage and is boosting the signal so much that it overloads the input. At this point the signal starts to clip and causes distortion. Your speaker being pushed beyond the limit it can handle I have seen this particular one happened lots of times Most times when working with audio equipment, you may be forced to deal with a speaker that is not built to handle high audio volume.

As volume increases, the drivers extend further and faster. The increase in movement causes heat inside the speaker. If the speaker components are poor quality, then heat damage may occur. Ultimately this leads to distortion. When your speaker is playing at low levels, damage may not be noticeable, but the higher the volume, the more evident this becomes.

The key to preventing distortion means choosing speakers with quality components. These symptoms can be things like:. Watch for these signs that you are pushing the boundaries and when you start to hear distortion, pull back.

This will keep you and your speaker happy and healthy for longer. As a general rule, never let small children play with or touch the soft mesh or rubber of a speaker system. Pushing their fingers inside may seem like a fun activity, but it can cause serious damage to your expensive technology and interfere with the sounds that it produces.

The same goes for pets. You may have blown your speaker. Sometimes it could appear to just be a damaged speaker. To check if your speaker has been blown, listen for sounds like rattling, heavy scratching, crackling, heavy distortions, or shaking. One method is to take the speaker apart and inspect the amplifier or speaker cones for holes or tears.

These are common tell-tale signs that you need a new speaker. This YouTube video below can help a DIY master get started on learning to fix a blown car speaker with some simple supplies and some super glue! For those that may not be as confident in their DIY skills or feel anxious about breaking their expensive sound systems, it is highly recommended that you do not attempt this by yourself.

The technology behind speaker systems is incredibly delicate, and you would be a lot better off taking it to a repair store and having a professional take care of it for you. Enjoy your powerful speakers, whether they are at full blast or have to be turned down to minimize distortion. Take a look at my article on setting your speakers to the perfect level. You can read it here. Decades ago when audio technology was in its formative stages, recording at home was nothing more than a distant dream.