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- Path: sparky!uunet!olivea!gossip.pyramid.com!pyramid!lstowell
- From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
- Newsgroups: rec.audio
- Subject: Re: Clipping questions
- Message-ID: <184736@pyramid.pyramid.com>
- Date: 31 Dec 92 02:50:43 GMT
- Sender: daemon@pyramid.pyramid.com
- Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
- Organization: Pyramid Technology Corporation
- Lines: 45
-
- In article <1992Dec29.210924.21212@midway.uchicago.edu> cal@gsbux1.uchicago.edu (Cal Lott) writes:
- >
- > What I am specifically unclear on is the relationship of the
- >amplifier to the speaker that it is driving when clipping occurs. Can
- >one realistically say that it is either the amp or the speaker that is
- >"clipping"? It would seem to be more reasonable to say that the entire
- >system is clipping, but that would not help in determining which
- >component is the weak link in the chain.
-
- The amplifier is clipping INTO THAT SPEAKER LOAD....whose fault
- it is is a matter of personal opinion.
-
- >
- > Is there an audible difference between the ugly noise a system
- >makes when it runs out of power to properly drive the speakers and the
- >ugly noise a system makes when the speakers are being overdriven?
-
- Usually an overdriven speaker becomes audible when the bass is
- overdriven....this is usually a truly horrid mechanical rattling
- sound. Some rare wimpy midranges (and some verrrrrry pricey
- panel speakers) will exhibit signs of overdriving in the
- midrange. On a cone speaker, overdriven midrange tends to be
- brassy, harsh (usually...your mileage may vary) or even honky.
-
- An overdriven tweeter USUALLY becomes very silent very fast.
-
- An overdriven electrostatic usually sounds very much like $$$$
- going up in smoke...for good reason.
-
- An overdriven amp will tend to start sounding very harsh....much
- like a J. Hendrix rock guitar sound.
-
-
- [Fisher amp...]
- >
- > So what is causing my sister's system to clip, folks? Any
- >ideas would be appreciated. It's not a real problem-- just something
- >that I am curious about.
-
- Did the amp clip, or did the Polks start making rattling noises?
- It also could be defective power supply in the amp......
-
- If the amp, check for excessive bass boost or bass
- boost+loudness control on. Its pretty common to boost the bass
- too much on a pair of small speakers to make it sound better.
-