• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Are my speakers ok?

I don't currently have a head to test them, but the last few times I played my 120 Peavey tube Butcher head through my Avatar cabs I would get a lot of extraneous noise and distortion from my speakers if I put the volume above 6. At around 7, it's a good volume for jamming with a drummer and guitarist. I felt the Butcher wasn't going to cut it, assuming that maybe it was the preamp overdriving too much causing the noise, but I fear I may have blown a speaker or two.

When I turned back down to 5-6 the cabs sounded fine. Is this an indication that I didn't likely blow any speakers? Would I notice at mid volume if I had blown some speakers? For what it's worth, it sounded good at mid volume, but I got terrible overtones when I pushed it a bit higher.
 
You really need to test with a different amp. No need to lug the cabs...

I had my 2x12 cab wired wrong. Avatar sent me the wrong impedence so I just had them send me the proper speakers and I wired it up myself, but I did it wrong. Now that I've got it straight it's tight and normal sounding. I think I was taxing them bigtime, though. They seem to be fine. I ran my PA poweramp into them.