why do speakers distort?

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gankstaflash

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Joined: January 02, 2007

Location: Australia

Posted: June 04, 2007 at 6:13 AM / IP Logged

simple question, why do speakers distort when you pump up the volume?

is it becuz the speakers cant handle the power or there isnt enough power being given?

i also realised they distort more when u increase the bass...

Steven Kephart

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Posted: June 04, 2007 at 10:10 AM / IP Logged

Distortion can come from many number of things. It can come from motor or suspension nonlinearities, mechanical noises within the sub, mechanical peaks exceeded, distortion in the signal (either from the source material or added in the electronics such as clipping), and even from the enclosure alignment chosen.

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DYohn

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Posted: June 04, 2007 at 10:31 AM / IP Logged

Also from speaker cone and voice coil materials, from the crossover, from heat, from vibrations in the speaker or the enclosure or the vehicle, from power compression, from phase changes, from poor transient response, etc. etc. etc. And this does not include the thousands of possible distortion factors introduced from the signal chain before it even gets to the speakers.

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gankstaflash

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Joined: January 02, 2007

Location: Australia

Posted: June 05, 2007 at 1:32 AM / IP Logged

if i buy some pioneer 3-way for around $200(au) and use my head units amp (200W), is there little chance of distortion?

also, will a external 200W amp give you better quality and loudness than a head unit one?

Steven Kephart

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Posted: June 05, 2007 at 1:40 AM / IP Logged

1. That depends on how loud you turn it up. I'm not a big fan of using head unit power.

2. Most definitely. An outboard amplifier will have more clean power than the 15-20 rms watts a head unit will have. Even a cheap amp will sound better. Of course that is assuming a full range amplifier and not a monoblock sub amp.

gankstaflash

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Posted: June 05, 2007 at 1:42 AM / IP Logged

so when they say 200W head unit amp, isnt that in rms power?!!?!?!

Steven Kephart

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Posted: June 05, 2007 at 2:00 AM / IP Logged

No. That is maximum, fully distorted output, and probably a little fudged at that. Think about this, within the case of the head unit you have the CD player, radio, and all the pre-amp circuitry along with the 4 channel amplifier. Now look at the size of a typical outboard 50 watts by 4 channel amplifier. Which one do you think is more likely to produce the rated power levels? why do speakers distort? -- posted image.

why do speakers distort? -- posted image.

gankstaflash

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Posted: June 05, 2007 at 2:21 AM / IP Logged

lol, thx =]

dswift

Copper - Posts: 396

Joined: March 12, 2007

Location: United States

Posted: June 05, 2007 at 4:59 PM / IP Logged

Distortion. Ehh hate it. Save up for a set of componets. You can get a cheap set of REV Pioneers and a 4 channel pionner amp for a decent price. And it sound pretty good. I mean its no Zapco, but you'll deffinitly enjoy the sound.

"dont ground out!"

sarcomax

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Posted: June 05, 2007 at 5:37 PM / IP Logged

200 watts is the wls rating. The When Lightnig Strikes Rating developed by Dr Frankenstein.

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why do speakers distort?

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