All speakers are not created equal. If you have a high quality speaker, it is important to know how speakers blow out. You can prevent damage by taking a few simple precautions.
Speakers work by pushing air particles with an electromagnet. So when everything is set up correctly, the sound waves will vibrate the metal coil which creates an electric current, which then moves the electromagnet. However, this isn’t the only way in which a speaker will produce sound and move air particles. In fact, if your amp or power supply is too strong and the volume too high, you could actually blow out your speakers and create an unpleasant feedback loop of screeching noise!
So how do we avoid this? Let’s get started learning about all of these tips for preventing speakers from blowing out!
Related Article: How Do Speakers Blow?
How Speakers Work
Sound is simply a vibration of molecules. The speaker in your car, for instance, vibrates the air particles into a pattern that we hear as sound. But when you play music or another sound on it, the vibrations are converted into electrical signals that are then amplified and sent to your speakers.
The speaker has a cone-shaped diaphragm (or “paper”) attached to an electromagnet. When you turn on the amplifier and set the volume, the electromagnet pushes against the cone-shaped paper which sets it in motion. Air particles collide with this moving cone surface and create sound.
Causes of Speaker Blowouts
1. Noise
If someone has been playing music on a stereo or if there is a lot of noise, the speaker will have a harder time hearing himself. This can cause his voice to be too loud or too soft and it will cause him to blow out. The best way to avoid this is to try not to play any music at all when you are speaking.
2. Bad Microphones
Sometimes microphones aren’t set up correctly or they’re picking up more background noise than they should be. If the microphone isn’t doing what it’s supposed to do, then the speaker will have trouble being heard and he might blow out.
3. Not Enough Time Between Presenters
It’s important for speakers to take a break from talking when they are more than 20 minutes into their presentation so they don’t become hoarse or tired. If the speaker doesn’t take enough time between presentations, he could end up blowing out during his next speech because he isn’t giving his throat enough time to recuperate in between speeches.
4. Poor Air Quality
If there is smoke or bad air quality in the room, it can make it difficult for the speaker to breathe and speak properly because his throat becomes irritated and inflamed which could lead him to blow out while speaking. If there is bad air quality in your room, try opening windows or doors so that fresh air comes in and circulates around the room instead of stagnant air that causes an unpleasant smell and makes people sick
Preventing Speaker Damage
If you’ve ever seen a speaker blow out, then you know it is not fun. The speaker will emit an awful screeching noise that can be heard for blocks. This is why you should always take precautions to prevent your speakers from blowing out.
Speaker damage occurs when two magnets get too close and create a disruptive feedback loop. The issue arises because the speaker has to move air particles in order to produce sound waves, which means that there is always the risk of moving the magnet too close to another magnet. To prevent this, make sure your amp or power supply doesn’t push the volume too high and never place your speakers on anything magnetic like metal surfaces. When setting up your acoustic panels, keep your speakers away from anything they could hit during transport. If you have any questions about preventing speaker damage, contact a professional!
Avoiding Speaker Blowouts
There are many things you can try in order to prevent speaker blowouts. One is by using a windscreen. Windscreens are like a barrier that prevents the air from getting to the mic. They’re made of foam or rubber, and they work effectively at blocking out the air. You can buy one on Amazon for fairly cheap, and it’s worth your while if you’re giving presentations often.
Another way to avoid speaker blowouts is by making sure your microphone is up close to your mouth. You want it about 6-8 inches away from your mouth and don’t want it pointed away from you.
Another way to decrease blowouts is by speaking in short sentences instead of long ones. It’s also helpful if you don’t try to shout over everyone when addressing the audience, but rather speak calmly and slowly so people can hear what you’re saying better.
It’s also important not to speak too loudly into the microphone or talk for too long without taking a break for breath or drinking water. A little breather every couple minutes will do wonders for preventing speaker blowouts!
Don’t use your speakers too much
The first thing to remember is that most speakers have a tendency to blow out at the volume settings between 5-8. If you’re using your speaker constantly, or if you crank up the volume on your amp, you could quickly wear out your speakers and create a feedback loop.
The best way to avoid this is by using your speakers sparingly. There are many times when less is more, and this is one of those instances!
Pay attention to the speaker’s power supply
The power supply on your speaker is important because it will determine how much power the speaker is receiving. A lower power supply will help to save your speaker. This can be found by looking at the amp’s peak wattage – a lower peak wattage will save your speakers from blowing out.
Know your amps and their limits
The first thing you can do is measure your amp or your power supply. You need to know how much power it can handle, and what the limits are. This will help you avoid blowing out your speakers.
How do you find this information? Look at the back of your amp (or power supply), where the brand is typically listed. This should tell you what voltage and amperage is best for that specific device, but if not, look at the specs on the tag or on their website. Be sure to read reviews to make sure that these amps are still in good condition before using them!
Avoid Feedback Loops
Feedback loops can be a major problem when speakers are too close to each other or have their volume set too high. If you have two speakers and they are really close together, they will create feedback loops which can make a terrible shrieking noise. To prevent this, simply place them at least three feet apart and have one speaker facing the other.
What Causes Speakers to Blow Out?
If your amp or power supply is too strong and the volume too high, you could actually blow out your speakers and create an unpleasant feedback loop of screeching noise! So, how do we avoid this? You can prevent damage by taking a few simple precautions. Here are some tips for preventing a speaker from blowing out:
-Know the wattage capacity of your speaker.
-Don’t use an amplifier with more watts than what your speaker can handle.
-Avoid clipping when you’re setting up your sound system. Clipping occurs when the input signal to an amplifier exceeds the maximum amplification possible for that circuit. This is bad, because it produces distortion in the sound waves which causes all of those air particles to move erratically, which in turn causes the electromagnet to blow out!
-Also, invest in quality cables and make sure they’re not overloaded either because this also causes distortion that will harm your speakers.
What to do if your speaker does blow out
If you are unlucky enough to have blown out your speaker, there are a few things you should do. The first is to turn down the volume of your power supply. The second is to ensure that you have a good quality speaker. It is important not only to use a quality amp but also make sure that your speaker can handle the power it is receiving. There will be times when your speakers will need to handle more than their average load and blow out, but if they are high quality, they will be able to handle this easily.
The third thing you might want to try would be turning up the input sensitivity on the amplifier and turning down the volume of your power supply until you find an ideal balance between sound and clarity for your speaker. This is a good option for those who want more volume but don’t want distortion from a high input sensitivity or don’t want too much low end from an amp with an insufficient output impedance.
FAQs
If you are experiencing feedback and/or a screeching noise when the volume is turned up, your amp or power supply may be too strong.
Try to lower the volume of your amp or power supply. You can also hook up an external speaker.
A speaker blowout is when the speaker’s voice becomes excessively distorted, or “blown out,” during the course of a speech. These happen for many reasons- it can be caused by physical problems with the speakers’ throat, microphones and other equipment malfunctions, or even environmental factors like humidity and wind.
Conclusion
Preventing speaker damage is not just a question of good sense. The worst part is, speaker damage can be difficult to detect. But as long as you’re aware of the signs, you can take action before it becomes a problem.
To prevent speaker damage, try to avoid feedback loops, watch your amps, and be mindful of your speaker’s power supply. And of course, don’t use your speakers too much. There are other ways to keep your speakers healthy, like avoiding things that cause speakers to blow out.
What are some of the signs that your speaker is about to blow out? Check out our blog to find out!
