Galactic Soap Posted August 9, 2014 Posted August 9, 2014 Hey Guys, So we celebrated my daughters 5th birthday party yesterday, and while this was happening my system was playing background music while the kids were outside. Anyway, one of the kids got into the house and unbeknown to us yanked up the volume control on my Accuphase E-460 to the point where the speakers distorted for about 6 to 8 seconds. Luckily one of the adults swooped and lowered the volume. At that stage, I decided to turn the music off (and install some outdoor speakers in the not too distant future!) For good measure the kid appeared to have gotten in the house again before he left, and turned the volume up again while the amp was switched off, which in turn made for a pleasant suprise when I turned the system on again and for 1 to 2 seconds experienced the same distortion. Bless him. Kids will be kids. The mother was duly apologetic, and I feined that everything was fine but I think my face betrayed my words! I spent a few hours in a state of paranoia that this fiasco had damaged my speakers and/or my amp. I then spent some time during the evening listening to some familiar tracks and couldn't really hear any issues. KD Lang sounded sumptous, Luther Vanderous as esquite as ever, and Miles & Mr.Coltrane did what they do best. There wasn't any smoke or burning smell, and upon inspecting the speaker I can't really see any issues with the cone or surround. However, to put my mind at rest I though I'd post and ask if there's anything else I need to keep my eyes & ears out for so as to definately know whether any damage was done? Cheers, Soapy
LunchieTey Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 I've had the exact same issues before with kids cranking my system while being unsupervised. Even my ribbons weren't damaged even though they were in hard distortion(FULL volume) for maybe 10 seconds? Unless a driver has sufficient time to actually heat the voicecoil to a temperature high enough to do damage, you'll find zero damage. In fact Dynaudio's have oversize voice coils anyway which is an even bigger help. I once demonstrated to a friend how long it actually takes to cook a speaker with clipping, and it's a surprisingly loooong time. Just think of all the teenagers driving around with car systems running in full clip for laps around town... 1
Guest Muon Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 This sort of thing would scare the hell out of me Glad all is OK
Guest Point source Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 (edited) Glad to hear all is ok.. reminds me of some angst i had a couple of months ago in a galaxy far away... I have a very small but none the less nice scratch on my 'left' KEF LS50's which is placed very close to the window and a internal roller blind. Yes I have my speakers in an ideal spot, NOT. No one knows how it happened (my kids are in their twenties)? but that's life - still sounds ok but seriously divorce material at the time! Over it now and listening to DSOTM and Pavarotti this afternoon so no harm done apart from very minor cosmetic damage. Life is too short to worry too much, enjoy the music. Regards, Brian Edited August 10, 2014 by Point source
Audiobugged Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 Hey Guys, So we celebrated my daughters 5th birthday party yesterday, and while this was happening my system was playing background music while the kids were outside. Anyway, one of the kids got into the house and unbeknown to us yanked up the volume control on my Accuphase E-460 to the point where the speakers distorted for about 6 to 8 seconds. Luckily one of the adults swooped and lowered the volume. At that stage, I decided to turn the music off (and install some outdoor speakers in the not too distant future!) For good measure the kid appeared to have gotten in the house again before he left, and turned the volume up again while the amp was switched off, which in turn made for a pleasant suprise when I turned the system on again and for 1 to 2 seconds experienced the same distortion. Bless him. Kids will be kids. The mother was duly apologetic, and I feined that everything was fine but I think my face betrayed my words! I spent a few hours in a state of paranoia that this fiasco had damaged my speakers and/or my amp. I then spent some time during the evening listening to some familiar tracks and couldn't really hear any issues. KD Lang sounded sumptous, Luther Vanderous as esquite as ever, and Miles & Mr.Coltrane did what they do best. There wasn't any smoke or burning smell, and upon inspecting the speaker I can't really see any issues with the cone or surround. However, to put my mind at rest I though I'd post and ask if there's anything else I need to keep my eyes & ears out for so as to definately know whether any damage was done? Cheers, Soapy Feel ur pain! Glad that there's no damage. Wonder what the legal situation is... Kid sneaks in, turns volume up, blows speaker drivers. Who pays? Kid sneaks in, turns volume up, blows speaker drivers, you chuck a fit and give him a good and well deserved paddling. No permanent damage. What happens next? Kid sneaks in, turns volume up, blows speaker drivers, you chuck a fit and give him a good and well deserved paddling. You go a bit too far. Possible long lasting damage. What happens next? Someone's gotta ask these questions. Surely. 1
Juicester Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 One of the main reasons I upgraded to accidental damage insurance on our home policy (no limit applied to HT). But then I would NEVER leave the room unattended with little kids who don't know the man cave rules. It's bad enough with your own offspring.
Tasebass Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 Kids and fire...dont mix. Kids who cant swim and a swimming pool..dont mix. Kids near a road...dont mix Kids and expensive Hi Fi ............ How did he know the volume control?? 1
Sub Sonic Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 Speakers can definitely be damaged by short term "overload" situations such as you have mentioned. Speaker drivers have thermal limits (burning out the voice coil) and also mechanical limits, where it is possible for the voice coil to bottom out on the magnet assembly, and causing physical damage to the voice coil/former. However, if it all sounds OK, I'd just run it as normal. You'll know pretty quickly if the speaker's voice coil has been badly damaged due to the sound it will make. Regards, SS
Galactic Soap Posted August 11, 2014 Author Posted August 11, 2014 Unless a driver has sufficient time to actually heat the voicecoil to a temperature high enough to do damage, you'll find zero damage. In fact Dynaudio's have oversize voice coils anyway which is an even bigger help. However, if it all sounds OK, I'd just run it as normal. You'll know pretty quickly if the speaker's voice coil has been badly damaged due to the sound it will make. Brilliant - Thank you gents. I've put the system through its paces and can confirm that all is indeed well, but yes, scared the day lights out of me! Feel ur pain! Glad that there's no damage. Wonder what the legal situation is... Kid sneaks in, turns volume up, blows speaker drivers. Who pays? Kid sneaks in, turns volume up, blows speaker drivers, you chuck a fit and give him a good and well deserved paddling. No permanent damage. What happens next? Kid sneaks in, turns volume up, blows speaker drivers, you chuck a fit and give him a good and well deserved paddling. You go a bit too far. Possible long lasting damage. What happens next? Someone's gotta ask these questions. Surely. Agreed, it sure did give me a glimpse into the Pandora's box that would have been opened up if any damage had taken place. I mean how could you explain to the average punter that my speakers retail for $11K and my amp $13K. I'm relieved I didn't have to go down that path. One of the main reasons I upgraded to accidental damage insurance on our home policy (no limit applied to HT). But then I would NEVER leave the room unattended with little kids who don't know the man cave rules. It's bad enough with your own offspring. Note to self, upgrade insurance policy. RE: Leaving the kids alone in the man cave. Alas I don't have that luxury, my listening room backs out onto my alfresco area which was where the kids were. How did he know the volume control?? The accuphase has a fairly intuitive design in that the volume control is one of two large knobs, he chose the right one (the other being the source selection).
Juicester Posted August 11, 2014 Posted August 11, 2014 large knobs must.......resist.......inappropriate..........comment....... 1
Johnnygohard Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 I think you shouldn't risk using your speakers any further. And should offer them for sale.. Giving me first dibs! By the way how do they go at low volume? Do they loose anything. I'm just about to pull the trigger on a set, and its my only concern, cheers John
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