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by FadingxSmiles on January 19th, 2007

FadingxSmiles

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When people tell you that your loud music will "bust the speakers" is there any truth behind that? It seems that the makers would only make it possible to turn the volume up to a safe range. (Any type of speaker. On TV's, computers, radios, etc.)

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Answers. 9 helpful answers below.

  • by scotty2006 on April 21st, 2007

    scotty2006

    Yes it is possible to blow the speakers, I would be more worried about causing hearing damage from the loudness. The speakers can be replaced your loss of hearing from sustained high levels of sound cannot be. I am the sound engineer for our church and worked sound systems for 25 years for various bands and county fairs. I have had to replace many a blown speakers.

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  • by RedJohn on April 21st, 2007

    RedJohn

    As one of the other answers pointed out, the expression is "blowing" your speakers, not "busting” them. However, speakers are rarely damaged by running too much current through them. More speakers are blown by running an underpowered amplifier too loudly than by overdriving a speaker.

    When the amplifier volume is turned up far enough to cause the output power to exceed the amplifier's design limit, the audio signal fed to the speakers will clip (i.e., the top and bottom of the signal is chopped off). Clipping produces very high distortion levels and will eventually cause a speaker's voice coil to overheat and seize - producing one blown speaker. The point at which the output signal clips is determined by the amplifier’s design power limit, the amount of headroom (i.e., how much over the rated power limit an amplifier can be operated before it reaches the design limit and clips), the speaker efficiency, and the tone control settings.

    Running an underpowered amplifier at high volume levels will cause an amplifier to clip when large transient signals are encountered. The smaller the headroom available in the amplifier, the earlier the signal will clip. Inefficient speakers require more power to deliver the same apparent volume level. The more power a speaker requires, the more likely you are to run the amplifier beyond its design limit into clipping.

    A lot of people seem to like unrealistic bass levels and many small speakers are incapable of producing decent bass. As the bass tone control is turned up, the amplifier is forced to deliver more power at low frequencies. More power means the amplifier runs closer to its design limit and clips earlier. The same is true for any tone controls (e.g., treble, mid). Turning up the tone controls can force the amplifier to deliver five or ten times the power at the frequencies affected by the controls. This reduces the headroom at those frequencies and brings the amplifier that much closer to clipping.

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  • by Think-About-It on March 2nd, 2007

    Think-About-It

    The answer is yes, and the term is blow the speakers.

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  • by Anonymous on January 19th, 2007

    Anonymous

    Have you seen those auto saloon shows - with who can have the loudest car stereo competitions?
    They have some car stereos louder than jet engines (and they shake the car apart over time from vibration).
    I think if you put a big amp with too smaller speakers you can break the speakers as they cannot handle the electrical output they are receiving.
    If you buy a set - they shouldn't break as they are designed to work together.
    And in regard to volume up to a safe range - they don't bother to do that for hearing safety, you can easily damage your hearing with any personal music device.

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  • by justme32 loves the weekends on January 19th, 2007

    justme32 loves the weekends

    I busted the speakers in my bf's car.

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  • by canoeguide on December 3rd, 2011

    canoeguide

    Too much amplifier output can ruin speakers.

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  • by vincent on May 17th, 2007

    vincent

    It is very possible to do damage a speaker with excess volume.

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  • by Arctico-The-Wolf Supports Leonard Peltier on December 3rd, 2011

    Arctico-The-Wolf Supports Leonard Peltier

    Yes it is they're electrical components...they fail like everything else when pushed beyond they're limits...

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  • by Pheasant on December 3rd, 2011

    Pheasant

    I've blown a speaker or two in my life. Pink Floyd' "Wish You Were There" album made you think you did.....

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