Why are my speakers distorting at higher volumes?

[Asterix]

I'm using Vandersteen 1C's... I can't seem to get the volume too high with hearing some distortion. Why is this? My Senn HD650's can play a bit louder before they will distort.

 

[Necros]

Checked it's not the amp?- tried another set of speakers with the amp?
Checked it's not the speakers?- tried another integrated amp with your 1C's?
Checked cables are tight?

 

[elnero]

It could be that your amp is crapping out on you at higher volumes. Typically the biggest mistake people make is underpowering their speakers and driving them into distortion and possibly blowing them.

Looking at the 1C's spec's on the Vandersteen website on the surface they appear to be a fairly easy drive but I did notice they have a nominal impedance of 6 ohms with a minimum of 2 ohms. Depending on how much it's dipping down that low could cause a problem for some amps.

 

[Asterix]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Necros Checked it's not the amp?- tried another set of speakers with the amp? Checked it's not the speakers?- tried another integrated amp with your 1C's? Checked cables are tight?

I don't have any other comparable speakers to test right now. I am getting some new cables soon. I have tried another amp with the speakers, but it was not a very powerful one and I didn't turn it up very loud, although it did not distort. Still not an easy comparison.

 

[elnero]

Remember wattage means very little when it comes to actually driving speakers.

 

[Asterix]

Quote:

Originally Posted by elnero Remember wattage means very little when it comes to actually driving speakers.

I don't know what the wattage was actually, but it was a Yamaha mini-component system designed for the bookshelf speakers that came with it.

 

[elnero]

Definately doesn't sound like the type of thing that would drive the 1C's better than your Luxman. Odd...

 

[Asterix]

Quote:

Originally Posted by elnero Definately doesn't sound like the type of thing that would drive the 1C's better than your Luxman. Odd...

The Luxman seems to drive the 1C's just fine... it's when I turn it up really loud for those intensive listening sessions, then I can hear distortion. One interesting thing I noted was, that playing louder recordings seemed to reduce the problem a bit (because I could turn the amp down some?) So my guess is maybe the amp is a little underpowered for the speakers... I never really turned it up loud with the Yamaha. I bet it would distort too.

 

[ooheadsoo]

It's probably the amp clipping.

 

[breez]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asterix One interesting thing I noted was, that playing louder recordings seemed to reduce the problem a bit (because I could turn the amp down some?)

Sounds right, loud recordings have small peak to average ratio and thus need less power to play clean.

Very dynamic recordings actually need a truckload of power. Let's say we have an orchestra playing with an average to peak ratio of ~20dB. Playing with 1 Watt average listening power requires an amp which is capable of delivering 100 Watts for the loud passages

A compressed record with only ~10dB peak to average ratio would get away with a 10 Watt amp with the same subjective loudness.

 

[Holden Fourth]

The lower the amps power the more the chance of clipping the power to the speakers. Quite simply, you haven't got the bang for your buck from your amplifier.

This leaves you with three choices:

Use headphones all the time (they take very little power to drive them)

Lower the volume

Get a new amp!

There is a fourth choice - blow the tweeters in your Vandersteens which will happen if you use an underpwered amplifier at high levels. Maybe you already have.

 

[morphie]

When you say that wattage isnt what matters, what exactly do you mean? I just bought speakers and a power amp which I will receive soon, the speakers are Dynaudio Audience 62s 160w each and the power amp is a NAD C270 120w/2channels. Could it be that I picked the wrong amp to drive them?

 

[Necros]

No. The ability for the amp to drive low impedance speakers is important too.

In most instances you need a good stable amp and only use a few watts. I use 60W and 100W amps but these are high current (25amp & 45amp per channel) so won't have a problem.

Although speaker nominal & lowest impedance, sensivity, size of room, requested dB level, whether or not sending the amps full-range or through bass management comes into the equation too.

 

[Asterix]

Vandersteen 1C's:

IMPEDANCE:
6.8 ohms 2 ohms
EFFICIENCY:
90dB with 2.83 volts of pink noise input at 1 meter on axis.
RECOMMENDED AMPLIFICATION:
20 to 100 watts per channel

Luxman LX-33

30 watts/channel

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My room is about 15 x 15 feet I am guessing. Do these specs confirm what has been said? How high can I set the volume without damaging the speakers?

 

[Necros]

Use this a rough guide..

http://www.myhometheater.homestead.c...alculator.html

I get 95.8dB in your system..which is very loud, but I guess not much reserve (91dB is very loud during peaks, but usual level would be a few dB below that) With my system I get a possible theorical 117.2dB, that's with the 7 speakers (not excluding sub) Lots of reserve (my average listening level is 88dB) or -20dB after calibration @ 75dB. In 2 channel system I get a maximum of 106.3dB. In use peaks are 90dB, so again lots in reserve..