This can be more than a minor annoyance: blown speakers can cost you time, money, and precious sound quality. It’s not always a cut-and-dry case for determining if a speaker is blown or not, but you can follow a few of these tips to diagnose a speaker that’s gone awry.


Amps gone wild

People tend to choose an amplifier based on cost instead of quality or correct application. That means people often unknowingly purchase a unit that’s too small to do the job efficiently, correctly, and safely.

The unit then tries to overcompensate to get more output from the system, so it throttles up the preamplifier. This drives the signal into the red and creates the annoying clipping and distortion that we all know and hate.

The speakers might be able to handle the clipping and distortion for a while, depending on how severe it is, but speakers can’t heal themselves. Left unrepaired, it’s just a matter of time until your speakers give out entirely.

To keep your speakers in ship shape, we suggest reading all manuals and specification sheets for your speakers. These guides will tell you the correct power amplifier that’s rated for your speakers. A moment of research can save you hundreds of dollars!

We also recommend giving your speakers enough headroom when you install them. Headroom gives your speakers enough clearance to give them a clean signal with zero distortion. If you aren’t sure about the proper headroom for your speakers, that should be in your manual as well.


Low cut / high pass filter

Another factor that can cause blown speakers is filter requirements. This is especially a concern with paging or stadium horns connected to speaker systems. The problem is the low cut / high pass requirements.

For example, when you see a 100 Hz high pass filter is required, make sure you use a good equalizer or an appropriate HPF. If you don’t, it’s just a matter of time before low frequencies will degrade your speakers, costing you thousands. An equalizer or HPF, in addition to an output limiter, will give your speakers a much-needed extra layer of protection.


The bottom line

When it comes down to it, pay attention to the equipment you’re using! Use an appropriately-rated amplifier that gives your speakers ample headroom. If you’re using paging or stadium speakers, you might need an HPF or equalizer for extra protection.

It all comes down to using proper equipment: take care of your speakers and they’ll take care of you.


But hey, we get that it’s not always easy troubleshooting speaker problems. So if you’re stumped, give Pro Acoustics a ring and we’ll be more than happy to help you! (888) 256-4112