Trace Elliot burning speakers

Rokknbass · #1 11-14-2011, 10:45 AM

Have a problem with my Trace elliot AH500X. The amp is twenty Yrs old, and never had a problem been playing with my current configuration for 8 yrs. Carvin 1x15 4ohm bottom with a Carvin 2x10 4-ohm top.
Problem is I am frying my 15" speakers almost every gig.
You can smell the burning, last night it happened after 4 songs and we were playing very low in volume.
EQ is set at flat, no effects in line just bass to head.
The amp is 2 channels 250w at 4ohms. I am running it bi-amped.
I gig every weekend for years with no problems, nothing has changed, nothing added no work done to any equipment.
Im just tired of buying speakers. Can't figure this out.
Any suggestions ?

Rokknbass · #2 11-14-2011, 10:56 AM

wanted to add settings -
Back of the amp - Speaker output volumes (A) Set to 5 - 2x10 cab
Speaker Output (B) set to 8 - 1x15" Cab
Gain set to - 5
Stage output set to - 8
No EQ used - set flat

johnk_10 · #3 11-14-2011, 11:05 AM

i'd take it in for a checkup. to me, it sounds like DC is getting to your 15".

FuzzBoxVoodoo · #4 11-14-2011, 11:06 AM

+1

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

i'd take it in for a checkup. to me, it sounds like DC is getting to your 15".

Nightlyraider · #5 11-14-2011, 02:36 PM

No advice on the burning smell, but once you get stuff figured out you should try running your amp in dual mono (setting 1)

Both of your cabinets are full-range cabs, and the combination of more power to the bottom and having a cabinet that is less efficient/has lower handling on the bottom half on the signal is a recipe for disaster.

Otherwise, I am rocking the same amp and love it bunches.

Rokknbass · #6 11-14-2011, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightlyraider

No advice on the burning smell, but once you get stuff figured out you should try running your amp in dual mono (setting 1)

Both of your cabinets are full-range cabs, and the combination of more power to the bottom and having a cabinet that is less efficient/has lower handling on the bottom half on the signal is a recipe for disaster.

Otherwise, I am rocking the same amp and love it bunches.

Just got back from the tech - Scope and waveform shows there is a problem when running in Bi-amp mode. Running in dual mono looks clean.
Question, is it a problem to run the 2x10 cab with a low speaker output (3 or 4) so as not to stress the 10 inch speakers ?

Nightlyraider · #7 11-14-2011, 04:30 PM

Your experiences may vary, but try starting with both channel levels on the back of the amp at 5, and adjust master volume as needed.

Your 115 (in all likelihood, I don't know what model cabs you have) rated for a nearly identical frequency response as the 210. Unless you are matching an actual "subwoofer" with a midbass cab, the speaker size doesn't mean much by itself.

will33 · #8 11-14-2011, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rokknbass

Just got back from the tech - Scope and waveform shows there is a problem when running in Bi-amp mode. Running in dual mono looks clean.
Question, is it a problem to run the 2x10 cab with a low speaker output (3 or 4) so as not to stress the 10 inch speakers ?

Your 2 cabs are really full range bass cabs, not really a dedicated sub and mid/high cab though they can be run that way. Putting your 210 on the low side wouldn't hurt anything when the amp is operating normally but I still wouldn't do it until the amp is fixed. Apparently whatever fault it showed is taking out speakers on the low side and will do the same thing to your 210 if you run it that way.

If it checks out clean in dual mono mode, I'd run it that way if I just had to. Best to get it fixed right. Just because the problem is isolated to biamp mode now doesn't mean it's going to stay that way.

Sneakypete · #9 11-14-2011, 04:42 PM

Hmmmm...do you mean a problem on both channels? It's very odd that the same channels are clean in mono mode. As I'm sure our old friend Tracebassplayer would confirm - TE stuff is very conservatively rated. I have a 350X which has a 250W full range channel and a (seldom used) 150W highpass channel. To me that 250W sounds a helluva lot louder than some 300W heads I've owned. I reckon you need cabs with a claimed handling power of something like 500W or the frying will continue.

**B-string** · #10 11-14-2011, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rokknbass

Just got back from the tech - Scope and waveform shows there is a problem when running in Bi-amp mode. Running in dual mono looks clean.
Question, is it a problem to run the 2x10 cab with a low speaker output (3 or 4) so as not to stress the 10 inch speakers ?

Question is: Waveform or not is there excessive DC offset in one or both amps? Waveforms can look okay at low levels running on top of DC offset.

johnk_10 · #11 11-14-2011, 05:13 PM

saying that there's a problem on the scope in the biamp mode doesn't tell us much. it would help if you described the problem.

Nightlyraider · #12 11-14-2011, 05:36 PM

The amp in question has a selector (three-way rotary style) on the back of the amp, completely separate from the preamp section. Bi-amp is some mystery factory preset that sends "highs" and "lows" thru the two halves of the power section. The two other sections are dual mono and stereo (using both inputs on the front of the amp for each half on the back).

The power section has both channels wound in one unit like the SVT 4 pro.

Rokknbass · #13 11-15-2011, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

saying that there's a problem on the scope in the biamp mode doesn't tell us much. it would help if you described the problem.

I am blowing my bottom 15" speakers. The voice coils are heating up very fast and burning. It has happened every time I gig. This last time within 15 min.s. I have bought 4 replacement speakers in the last month and a half.
I am mostly doing classic rock. During our first set we are playing very low in volume.
I had it in the shop and the tech said there was some loose items and a mosfet was leaking. He did mention some DC output. Thought it was resolved but first gig after i picked it up the unit fried the speaker even quicker.

BassmanPaul · #14 11-15-2011, 11:32 AM

You've destroyed four drivers in six weeks and you're STILL using the amp!!!! Man, what's wrong with you? How many more drivers are you going to burn? For the price of the drivers alone you could have bought a different amp. Please don't use the amp again until it has been properly repaired!

Please consider this post as "tough love".

Rokknbass · #15 11-15-2011, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

You've destroyed four drivers in six weeks and you're STILL using the amp!!!! Man, what's wrong with you? How many more drivers are you going to burn? For the price of the drivers alone you could have bought a different amp. Please don't use the amp again until it has been properly repaired!

Please consider this post as "tough love".

LOL !!! I know, I know
I just kept thinking it was configuration problems, it got worse the last two weeks.
It's in the shop now, thanks for the reality check !

BassmanPaul · #16 11-15-2011, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rokknbass

LOL !!! I know, I know
I just kept thinking it was configuration problems, it got worse the last two weeks.
It's in the shop now, thanks for the reality check !

I DO try to help in my own little way!