Why is my subwoofer distortion?

Overpowered Subwoofer

If you turn the volume up too much, it might start to distort the sound. The result may be a rattling sound inside the sub. Increasing the volume of the signal results in an increase in the signal voltage. If you increase the volume more than its limits, the cone might move forward too much.

Beside this, what causes subwoofer distortion?

Over-Powering Low Frequency Speakers (subwoofers) Failures in subwoofers are caused either by ELECTRICAL and/or MECHANICAL power handling issues. Electrical failure occurs when applying to much power to the subwoofer(s) and causes the voice coil(s) to "burn".

Also Know, how do I know if my subwoofer is distorting? Usually you'll know if your system is distorting when you turn up the volume, and it does not seem to go any louder. It just gets more compressed from that point on. And the level of "static" increases as you keep turning the volume ****. Input stage distortion is much harder to hear.

In this manner, how do I stop my subwoofer from distorting?

For the subwoofer, you need to use High Pass Filters which removes the distortion and low bass. This enables your system to gain a clear and clean sound where you can also try lowering the crossover point for the low pass filters that bring the bass up and forward thus achieving the maximum pure sound.

Does Bass Boost cause distortion?

If the Hz and the power being supplied to the coil in the speaker is good, the signal should not cause distortion which will in turn cause the speaker to "Crackle" or become very "Fuzzy" or "Hazy". You should be safe.

31 Related Question Answers Found

What does a bad subwoofer sound like?

A blown subwoofer is detectable by the quality of sound that is produced through the speakers. If there is no sound, or all you hear is static or a persistent buzzing, especially with the volume turned high, this is a strong indication that your subwoofer is completely blown.

Can you damage speakers by playing them too loud?

The answer is yes, you can play music too loud and damage your speakers. There are a couple ways this mishap on your part can occur too which you should familiarize yourself with. When you over-power low-frequency speakers or subwoofers, it's either electrical or mechanical in nature.

How do you reduce distortion?

Several ways can be used to minimize distortion caused by shrinkage:

Do not overweld.
Use intermittent welding.
Use as few weld passes as possible.
Place welds near the neutral axis.
Balance welds around the neutral axis.
Use backstep welding.
Anticipate the shrinkage forces.
Plan the welding sequence.

What does distortion sound like?

Distortion (music) Distortion and overdrive are forms of audio signal processing used to alter the sound of amplified electric musical instruments, usually by increasing their gain, producing a "fuzzy", "growling", or "gritty" tone.

Why does my speaker sound fuzzy?

Audio distortion can occur for a number of reasons. Common reasons include: A microphone or sound source, like a computer, is overloaded with sound. Pushing speakers to produce louder sounds than they were designed to produce will lead to a distorted output.

What causes audio distortion?

Unwanted distortion is caused by a signal which is "too strong". If an audio signal level is too high for a particular component to cope with, then parts of the signal will be lost. This results in the rasping distorted sound. Once the component's maximum dynamic range is breached, you have distortion.

Why do my speakers distort at high volume?

You're much more likely to hear distortion or cause damage if your amplifier is under powering the speakers. Higher volume means asking the amplifier for more power. If it is unable to provide enough, your speakers will distort. The increase in movement causes heat inside the speaker.

How long should a subwoofer last?

3-5 years

Can Underpowering a sub damage it?

Underpowering a subwoofer isn't inherently bad for the sub. Not giving it enough power just means that the music will sound weak and lack detail. The clipped signal tries to make the sub do things it's not designed to do, which leads to it tearing itself apart or overheating and burning out.

Should sound come out of a subwoofer?

Is sound supposed to come out of a subwoofer? Only if it is on, and the volume up. Subs are speakers, so, yes, they will produce sound when there is something within their bandwidth to be played.

What happens if you Underpower a subwoofer?

If you underpower a sub and its not loud enough, do not turn the amplifier gain up higher to make the amplifier "louder." All you'll do is over-drive the amplifier and cause the signal to "clip" which causes distortion, and damages the speaker.

Do subwoofers get louder as they break in?

No, that's normal, especially subs with stiff suspensions. Once they loosen up, they will play louder and sound better.

What happens if your amp is underpowered?

The underpowered amp can damage speakers by "clipping". The signal going to the speakers from the amp is AC (Alternating Current).

Why do my subwoofers smell?

New subs can get a little stinky if you get at them, there's often bits of excess glue burning off. There is only one reason that subs smell and that is because the voice coil glue is getting hot and 'off-gassing'. This is the only reason subs smell bad.

Is Bass bad for your heart?

Unless you have a serious heart condition, the pounding bass shouldn't affect your heart muscle. But if you feel chest vibrations when you aren't around loud sounds, this could be a sign of an abnormal heart rhythm — see your doc to get it checked out.

Can bass boost damage speakers?

It's more about wattage than decibels. Bass requires much more wattage than highs. Adding bass boost is the same thing as adjusting low-end frequency on an equalizer. It shouldn't hurt the speakers but It'll probably still sound like crap because the amplifier can't provide enough power to the speakers to begin with.

What happens if you listen to too much bass?

Highs/mids will hurt straight away, but bass notes tend to take a while to have an effect - nausea, disorientation, discomfort. In fact, due to the wavelength, a bass note has a lot more power at the same level as high frequency sounds.