Clipping Question

[pervertatoid 10+ year member]

How do I "hear" clipping? I have a few songs that, when playing, the speakers pop in certain parts - as if someone touched a nine-volt battery to the speaker wire. I thought perhaps it was a short or something, but the popping happens at the same part of the songs every time. I can skip directly to 3:02 on a particular track and hear a loud popping from the speakers.

I opened up the MP3 file in an audio-editing program and noticed that it appears to have been recorded at 0db and the particular location of the popping sound is right at the max level. Could the popping I'm hearing in my speakers be a result of clipping?

I played the song on my computer, however, and have heard no such popping noises or other abnormalities. I also experienced none while playing it on my wife's computer.

Is there anything else this could be? Obviously it could be a coincidence that it pops where the signal is maxed, but what else could cause the popping in my speakers?

I've attached a pic of the waveform as it shows up in the audio editor if it helps.

Thanks for any help.

Click to read more...

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

It may or may not be the result of "clipping", but the sound is likely the result of over-excurting the speakers. It isn't necessarily the result of clipping, you could simply be mechanically overpowering them due to the high output level at that particular frequency.

How are you powering the speakers (headunit power or external amplifier) ?

Where is your highpass filter set and what is the slope ?

What speakers are they ?

 

[pervertatoid 10+ year member]

It may or may not be the result of "clipping", but the sound is likely the result of over-excurting the speakers. It isn't necessarily the result of clipping, you could simply be mechanically overpowering them due to the high output level at that particular frequency.
How are you powering the speakers (headunit power or external amplifier) ?

Where is your highpass filter set and what is the slope ?

What speakers are they ?

I've got four Eclipse SE8365s. They are rated at 40w RMS and the amp powering them is a TXi4406, rated at 55w RMS (at 4-ohms, which the speakers are). The high pass is set at 150Hz (the speakers are supposed to handle 90Hz - 40kHz) and the slope is permanently fixed at 12dB. However, this popping noise also occurs no matter what the volume at which I'm playing the song. I can have the song playing at 1 (out of 50), and I still get the popping noise.

I did think of one other thing that might be the cause of the issue, though I don't quite understand the mechanics well enough to say that it is or is not the culprit...

The RCA inputs on the amplifier got pushed up against the back seat of my car when the box moved (it is now mounted in place) and they are slightly loose - I plan on soldering them soon, but haven't got around to it yet. Could that somehow be the cause of the issue?

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

What is your xover setting? If it does it at lower volumes, it isn't clipping.

 

[pervertatoid 10+ year member]

What is your xover setting? If it does it at lower volumes, it isn't clipping.

See above post for crossover settings.

I'm not sure I understand the idea of clipping correctly, but couldn't it still be clipped without being clipped at the amplifer? I.E. the recording itself is clipped? (Which WOULD make me think that I'd hear similar results from my computer speakers when playing it, but regardless...)

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

See above post for crossover settings.
I'm not sure I understand the idea of clipping correctly, but couldn't it still be clipped without being clipped at the amplifer? I.E. the recording itself is clipped? (Which WOULD make me think that I'd hear similar results from my computer speakers when playing it, but regardless...)

Basically clipping is asking your amp to produce more power then it can, and it sends a clipped signal. I suggest you either read the gain setting tutorial, or turn your gain all the way down and try it, so that way you can rule out clipping. What volume do you play your music at? Do you use any bass boost?

 

[pervertatoid 10+ year member]

Basically clipping is asking your amp to produce more power then it can, and it sends a clipped signal. I suggest you either read the gain setting tutorial, or turn your gain all the way down and try it, so that way you can rule out clipping. What volume do you play your music at? Do you use any bass boost?

I usually play my music at 25-30 (out of 50) on the HU. But again, I even hear the popping noise when I have the music turned down to 1.

I have a 7-band EQ which has the 60Hz and 150Hz turned all the way to -5, then it steadily goes up 'til it's at +5 for the 6kHz and 15kHz. I have a separate Subwoofer Output which is at 8 (out of 8). I don't notice the popping in my subs, though.

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

At volume 1 your amp wouldn't be clipping. I think it is safe to say you can rule out clipping.

 

[pervertatoid 10+ year member]

Any ideas on what might be causing this, then?

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

A bad connection somewhere? I was going to say tinsel slap, but I don't know if it still does it at that low of volume.

 

[pervertatoid 10+ year member]

A bad connection somewhere? I was going to say tinsel slap, but I don't know if it still does it at that low of volume.

"Tinsel slap"? Enlighten me...

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

"Tinsel slap"? Enlighten me...

Basically where your cone hits the tinsel leads, in essence the tinsel leads slap against the cone. Generally that isn't audible until higher levels. Is th poping noise the same loudness at any volume, or does the poping noise get louder when you turn up the volume?

 

[pervertatoid 10+ year member]

Basically where your cone hits the tinsel leads, in essence the tinsel leads slap against the cone. Generally that isn't audible until higher levels. Is th poping noise the same loudness at any volume, or does the poping noise get louder when you turn up the volume?

The popping gets louder as the volume goes up.

 

[pervertatoid 10+ year member]

Well, I'll make sure to check all my connections tomorrow. Thanks for all the help!

 

[luvinthebass 5,000+ posts]

when you played that certain area of the song did the goldwave control volume thing hit the red area and then there's 2 little boxes did those go red, if they did it was at 0db then