please help with comps ! crackling sound at mid to high volume

[duro78 10+ year member]

I recently bought a set of image dynamics cxts or ctx's can't think right now but they sounded great but one day i started hearing a crackling sound at mid to high volume on the left side now both sides. if I keep the volume low I don't hear it and sometimes when I raise the volume I don't hear it but its annoying.I originally thought I blew the right tweeter but hen both sides started and I'm pretty sure its coming from the mid bass also. Ive blown few tweets in my day and when I did they just didn't work anymore. Is it my rca's, amp, amp outputs, speakers or wiring touching somewhere? Please help i don't want to start pulling everything apart rather go to the obvious first

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[duro78 10+ year member]

figured out i blew the tweets

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

you damaged the tweeters from clipping the amp. amp clipping causes high frequency harmonics. those harmonics put a lot of power into the tweeters, which will destroy them quickly.

 

[dontbeaprix 10+ year member]

I recently bought a set of image dynamics cxts or ctx's can't think right now but they sounded great but one day i started hearing a crackling sound at mid to high volume on the left side now both sides. if I keep the volume low I don't hear it and sometimes when I raise the volume I don't hear it but its annoying.I originally thought I blew the right tweeter but hen both sides started and I'm pretty sure its coming from the mid bass also. Ive blown few tweets in my day and when I did they just didn't work anymore. Is it my rca's, amp, amp outputs, speakers or wiring touching somewhere? Please help i don't want to start pulling everything apart rather go to the obvious first

you need to learn how to set up a stereo properly. I have never blew a speaker in 15plus years of doing car audio.

 

[duro78 10+ year member]

you damaged the tweeters from clipping the amp. amp clipping causes high frequency harmonics. those harmonics put a lot of power into the tweeters, which will destroy them quickly.

your absolutely right I remember foolishly pushing too far

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

It is a learning process. No worries, it's only money. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[kMethod]

you damaged the tweeters from clipping the amp. amp clipping causes high frequency harmonics. those harmonics put a lot of power into the tweeters, which will destroy them quickly.

How likely are you to damage the mids at the same time as the tweeters on a component set like this? I've just done the same thing as duro it seems.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

Depends. Sometimes it's just blown crossover capacitors on the tweeters.

 

[goingdef 10+ year member]

Depends. Sometimes it's just blown crossover capacitors on the tweeters.

Only on REALLY cheap x-overs or the ones you find on coaxials, I would just go for -6db attenuation and a negative eq curve starting at around 2.5khz or slightly hgher depending on what your tweeters play down too.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

Only on REALLY cheap x-overs or the ones you find on coaxials, I would just go for -6db attenuation and a negative eq curve starting at around 2.5khz or slightly hgher depending on what your tweeters play down too.

Every capacitor has a voltage rating. Exceed that and it pops. Higher voltage caps are larger and more expensive. Few companies over-design, and the cap can protect the tweeter if properly sized to pop before the tweeter.

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

I had a smoking tweeter yesterday Clipping it snott out of it..still plays, but as stated..Its only money..Replacing soon:santa:

 

[goingdef 10+ year member]

Every capacitor has a voltage rating. Exceed that and it pops. Higher voltage caps are larger and more expensive. Few companies over-design, and the cap can protect the tweeter if properly sized to pop before the tweeter.

Yep, that's what I was referring to those little non polarized electrolytic caps, d@mn things sound like a .22 going off by your leg!

 

---------- Post added at 03:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:08 AM ----------

 

I had a smoking tweeter yesterday Clipping it snott out of it..still plays, but as stated..Its only money..Replacing soon:santa:

Man that could not have sounded good with enough going to it to roll smoke!

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

Yep, that's what I was referring to those little non polarized electrolytic caps, d@mn things sound like a .22 going off by your leg!

yea, i suppose any respectable crossover has mylar caps with much higher voltage ratings...

 

[kMethod]

Depends. Sometimes it's just blown crossover capacitors on the tweeters.

How exactly do you diagnose which part is the issue with components between the tweet, mid n crossover?

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

with a DMM. measure AC voltages and resistances. electrical troubleshooting is best explained here:

Basic Car Audio Electronics