speaker crackle at high volume

esandes

Well-known member
when i push my 4x12 (100W) loudly with my 100W head i can hear the speakers crackle. it's like a high pitch rattle which i used to think were coming from the springs that hold the power tubes in place. are the speakers permanently damaged or is it just the speaker distorting too much? i heard if the speaker is blown there would be no sound out of it and since these speakers are all wired up in series i would know if a speaker is blown out.
 
Re: speaker crackle at high volume

Are you sure the cab is rated 100W and not 240W or 280W?

If it's 100W for sure, you might be damaging the speakers. An amp with a 100W RMS rating can put out peaks significantly more than 100W.
 
Re: speaker crackle at high volume

Just a few ideas.....
The only way to rule out the speaker(s) is to try different ones.
Speakers CAN be damaged bot not "blown". That is to say, they will still function, but not to their max ability.
Using a 100 watt amp into 100 watts of speakers is an iffy proposition. You are likely exceeding 100 watts way before the volume knob is all the way up. You MAY be heating the speaker voice coils to a higher degree than they are rated for. That causes damage that CAN be heard.
best
 
Re: speaker crackle at high volume

it's definately a 100W speaker cabinet. it's loaded with greenbacks. i better turn the volume down when it crackles up like that. my 50W head into the same cab never makes that noise.
 
Re: speaker crackle at high volume

indeed. i hope the speakers are ok. it might be time to get a vintage 30 loaded cab.
 
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