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EA CXL-112 fluttering/chuffing sounds??

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by Mcrelly, Jul 9, 2003.

  1. Jul 9, 2003 #1
    Mcrelly

    Mcrelly

    Jun 16, 2003
    Minnesota, USA
    I am a new EA CXL-110 owner, but my complaint has been the noises that the cab makes. starting at about 90dB I hear a small "fluttering" noise from the box. EA assures me that this is normal due to the small cab combined with the amount of cone movement. I DO NOT HEAR THIS SOUND when playing with music or other musicians, but it bugs me when I play solo, practicing. I'm considering exchanging it for the CXL-112 instead and I'm wondering if any of the CXL-112 owners hear a similar sound coming from their 112 cabs??

    thanks
     
  2. Jul 9, 2003 #2
    DaveB

    DaveB

    Mar 29, 2000
    Toronto Ontario
    I've got a CXL 112 and I can't say that I've experienced anything that would be described by those terms.I am very surprised though that EA says this is "normal". Go figure.
     
  3. Jul 9, 2003 #3
    Mcrelly

    Mcrelly

    Jun 16, 2003
    Minnesota, USA
    well my first statement was a conclusion of several different things that John from EA said. Here is the official e-mail explaination: "What you heard was not chuffing but the sound of the front suspension when the excursion is pushed too far. All speakers suffer this effect but the 110 occurs at a lower level than the 112." I am a little confused, but that occured at around 90 dB and up on a low (4string) F,G or A? Oh well they are gonna ship me a CXL-112 instead and see if I like that better. I hope I will. I really like the sound of EA minus the weird sound.
     
  4. Jul 9, 2003 #4
    basss

    basss Supporting Member

    Aug 27, 2001
    NY
    You were probably either overdriving your preamp or clipping your power amp. You could have been overpowering your speaker but I doubt it since you said you werent that loud. The EA cabs handle a lot of power and have a very clean distortion free sound. There should be a not fluttering sound. If you are going for a super bass heavy sound this could be part of the problem- its only a 1x10 after all. Anyway you are dealing with a company with top notch customer service - you should come out ok.
     
  5. Jul 9, 2003 #5
    Mcrelly

    Mcrelly

    Jun 16, 2003
    Minnesota, USA
    that was the strange part, I got the fluttering sound even when running the bass at zero level. sometimes when performing I'd have to back off the bass even more to prevent it from being too heavy on stage. I don't like to hear myself too loud over the rest of the band. when I'm on stage I'm almost "mixing" myself "what would I like this performance to sound like if it was recorded?" is kind of the question. The result is actually most of the band can't hear my on-stage bass very well, so usually it a little louder than I'd personally like right where I stand.

    no, I do not expect the 110s (I had two) to pump out amazing low-lows, but I did test it once or twice just to see, but the volume before breakup was not loud enough to perform with so I backed it off. I usually ran about 10 o'clock, if 0 was 12 o'clock.

    Yes, EA is trying very hard to accomodate me and I appreciate that!
     
  6. Jul 9, 2003 #6
    pitbill

    pitbill Supporting Member

    Mar 27, 2003
    Bluefield, WV
    Don't worry about a thing! Those guys at EA (John, Gary, and Larry) will be more than happy to help with any problems you have with any of their products. I know from experience that this company will do whatever it takes to make you a satisfied user/customer. Just kick back and relax 'til that new 112 gets there! You'll love it! :)
     
  7. Jul 9, 2003 #7
    Bob Gollihur

    Bob Gollihur GollihurMusic.com In Memoriam

    Mar 22, 2000
    Cape of New Jersey
    Big Cheese Emeritus: Gollihur Music (retired)
    Funny, I've taken a 110 cab out on gigs with my five string fretless (and an iAMP 350 head), and I have one right here in my demo room. Can't make it flutter, chuff, huff, or blow my house down. I've tried it with three different amps, 120w, 500w, and 1200w.

    I can hear amp artifacts when the 120w runs out of gas, and signs of overexcursion at much higher volumes when the speaker is starting to yell for help and a wise man turns down the volume. But certainly nothing at the levels for which the CXL-110 is designed, it's clean and clear. It is a single ten inch driver, and no matter whose, there are limitations.
     
  8. Jul 9, 2003 #8
    Geoff St. Germaine

    Geoff St. Germaine Commercial User

    Aug 31, 2001
    Victoria, British Columbia
    I have a CXL-112 and I have never heard anything like that, even when driving the iAmp 350 pretty hard into it. I'm no expert, but it would seem to me that there is something wrong somewhere in the chain.

    Geoff
     
  9. Jul 9, 2003 #9
    wneff

    wneff Supporting Member

    May 27, 2003
    Woburn, MA
    I have the CxL112 and I also can not hear any distortion or "huffing and puffing".

    I hear that with my Trace Elliot 2103X
    (not the "H", the "X" with the 2x10"+2x5"),
    used by itself I can get it to distort with my
    GK 200 MB. Not the EA, it is pure, clean punch.

    However, the EA does not have the sweet and warm mids of the Trace. But tighter bass and clearer treble.
     
  10. Jul 10, 2003 #10
    Mcrelly

    Mcrelly

    Jun 16, 2003
    Minnesota, USA
    Thats the weird thing, Bob, [email protected] said "I checked out the CxL-110's and they are performing to the factory specs." in one email and "What you heard was not chuffing but the sound of the front suspension when the excursion is pushed too far. All speakers suffer this effect but the 110 occurs at a lower level than the 112." in another email. So you SHOULD HAVE heard what I heard that with your 110 if they are "to specs" I was playing my passive 4-string G&L sb-1 with my swr 350w into 4ohm amp, playing a low A, G or F and at about 90 dBc the "fluttering" noise started to come ON TOP OF the still clean (non-breakingup) tone of the A,G or F. Mind you I was playing without other music or instruments in order to hear the unwanted sound.

    weird, just weird!!:confused:
     
  11. Aug 25, 2003 #11
    Mark Gollihur

    Mark Gollihur Supporting Member Commercial User

    Jul 19, 2000
    Mullica Hill, NJ
    Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
    Somehow, I doubt it's the speaker. I'd check the amp chain, even the bass - perhaps it's noise that you couldn't hear before because your previous speaker didn't have the detail that your new one does.

    I've demoed the EA's and never heard anything like what you're describing. Or, you're simply expecting too much from a single 10" cone (and the EA's seem to exceed most people's expectations, so yours may be particularly high.)
     
  12. Aug 25, 2003 #12
    Mcrelly

    Mcrelly

    Jun 16, 2003
    Minnesota, USA
    6&8s,
    I eventually upgraded to a CXL-112L and DID NOT hear any funny sounds from that cab. so your #1 theory doesn't hold water, no offence. and on point #2 90,100, or even 110 dBc is NOT unreasonable to expect from two 10s. heck, I had a SWR WM-10 with an extension 10 and I got those up to, if I remember right 118! on the internal 100w into 4 ohms amp! BEFORE the speaker distorted and I believe I have a better handle on overpower distortion than quite a few people on this board.

    I had the funny sound on the CXL-110s starting at 90 dBc, my home stereo is louder than that!

    anyway I still believe it was the cabs. CXL-112L is impressive, but tonal characteristics not fully to my liking. little thin, but strong on bass if that makes any sense and midrange is very strong, but not harsh.