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crackling tweeter?

J

jjl5590

Inactive
Mar 28, 2008
406
0
London, UK
#1
hey guys,

im really worried about my cab. Basically, i usually play with the tweeter completely off, but someone said it will burn up the crossover, so lately i've had the tweeter on a tiny amount.
anyways, in the past few days ive noticed that the tweeter (i think) is making a weird crackly sound. At least i think its the tweeter, maybe it could be the woofer though i dont think so.
any ideas what this could mean? is my tweeter busted?


thanks for any help
 
#4
Burn up the Crossover, just another old wive's tale. Continually spread by the masses.

Sure there might be a few poorly designed systems that can't take the thing turned down, but all the decent ones can. I mean why have a setting on a piece of gear that causes DAMAGE when you use it? Well ok I take that back, turning the Volume all the way up is also a setting but I think you get the drift of my comment.

You haven't mentioned what kind of cab that is. The AMPEG's can be turned down.

Blown up tweeter is a very strong reality. They make a nasty crackling snap when broken or when being overdriven. My favorite is smoke pouring out of them and then a sort of fuzzy buzz... They only do that once so enjoy it when it happens.

You have several options. Turn the countrol off. Open the cab and bypass the crossover and tweeter by changing the wiring (my fav). Replace the tweeter. Tell everybody it's the new tone you have been searching for and just play it that way.

I don't know if the masses will fall for the last one though. BOB
 
#5
Probably the tweeter is damaged. They're not expensive. You may be able to replace just its driver element, the small part at the back of the horn. Even if you must replace the entire horn, it's still not expensive.

As for "burning out the crossover," there are some manufacturers who advise that turning the tweeter control full off can damage the control under high-power conditions, not the crossover.
 
#8
jjl5590 said:
someone said it will burn up the crossover
Click to expand...
No, though it may burn up the LPad, as all of the high frequency power is diverted through it and none through the tweeter itself. If that happens further damage could result, up to and including eventual damage to your amp. If you never use the tweeter you should disconnect the crossover completely and wire the woofers direct to the jacks.
 

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