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Can you damage active speakers by accidentally pulling out the cable from the headphone jack?

post #1 of 7
2/17/10 at 3:17pm
Thread Starter 
I just received my Audioengine A2 active speakers which I connected to my laptop via analog RCA cable. While trying to use the EQ and the volume to adjust the sound I pulled out the RCA cable from my laptop. The speakers produced a "khrrrrr" sound when this happened (similar to what you would imagine electric distortion to sound like).

I was wondering can the speakers be damaged this way. Don't get me wrong, the A2's produce sound okey as we speak but, having played with the EQ settings, I was wondering if it is possible that speakers can get damaged and this would only show as a slightly different or lacking sound.

I would imagine quality speakers to have protection against situations where someone accidentally pulls out the cable.
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post #2 of 7
2/17/10 at 5:03pm
I don't think so. Now if you had a stereo jack instead of the RCA then yes you could but since it was an RCA I would say not very likely.
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post #3 of 7
2/17/10 at 5:11pm
It shouldn't be a problem... I wouldn't make a habit of it though.
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post #4 of 7
2/17/10 at 5:34pm
Thread Starter 
Well actually it kind of is a stereo jack. I mean it's the combined headphone/SPDIF-output of my laptop and the cable that was used was 3.5mm jack to 2 phono. I pulled off the 3.5mm jack. The volume of A2 was low at the time and there was no sound coming out of them (when I accidentally pulled the cable off). I guess I said RCA out of habit (I tend to call phono cables RCA).

Anyway, I contacted Audioengine and they said that this would not be a problem. They said that the situation is similar to a situation where I'd touch a live wire which would cause interference.
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post #5 of 7
2/17/10 at 5:39pm
Spiking the voltage is potentially damaging for any electrical components. It likely won't blow things up, but try not to do it intentionally.
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post #6 of 7
2/17/10 at 9:41pm
No, I have done something similar, but I try not to. It didn't hurt my active speakers, but it might if done regularly.

ALSO TAKE NOTE: if your active speaker's RCA cable's other end is connected to a device, then if you switch off the other device before you switch off the active speakers, you may get the same sound and effect.

Eg, my active speakers are connected to my active subwoofer via RCA. I make sure to switch on my subwoofer before switching on my speakers. And I make sure to switch off my speakers before switching off the subwoofer.

However, when my speakers's RCA are connected to a DAC, the sound thing which is probably to do with voltage doesn't happen. Maybe the power architecture is different or something.
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post #7 of 7
2/18/10 at 4:04am
Yup.... same thing here - I have the A2's as well... and they are sensitive speakers: - in the beginning break-in [burn-in] period. I had my first set of A2's and I think i screwed them up. - and yes - I did unplug the cable from my comp to my iphone a few times... actually alot of times with them turned on --- and POPPing sounds - loud each time.

Guess I was quite noob - and didn't know about speaker burnin... then I started reading about burnin being myth and that it is unecessary [proven by measurements etc] --- but seriously, I notice a huge difference!
*anyone else believes in Burn-in?*...

Anyways... I had to return them - cuz I thought there was something wrong with them. - they distorted at any volume over half.
Like distorted really bad* - the bass was like puking sound lol.
Got The second pair: - I ensured they get 100+ hours of pink noise and mixture of different music @ a touch*above normal listening levels.

I also installed a few small heatsinks [pretty much pieces of metal: aluminum in my case - bent in a way to dissapate heat] + a computer fan - on the left speaker which houses the amp. Check your's out... at the back of the left speaker, after longer listening times @ louder volumes, that area below the volume knob gets really hot.

All amps have internal heatsinks - but this speakers mustn't be very efficient at it. So If you are worried about the condition and sq of these awesome speakers [investment] - then I'd suggest putting a small heatsink and fan at the back of that area. AudioEngine support email: support@audioengine.com actually suggested this... i did email them a few times to ask for advice They are very very helpful and answers within 24hrs.

Hope this helps! L

PS... after my current pair of A2's were burned in properly, they go all the way to 80% volume without any distortion for most songs! --- songs with alot of info below 65hz will cause them to distort some. ... .. but IMHO they sound and perform much better after burnin.
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